This is from Carlton Meyer's new book:  The Spectrum of Future Warfare

     One item infantrymen desperately need is a small, heavily armored fighting vehicle, which I will dub the "Rhino."   Imagine placing the turret armor from an M-1 tank on top of a small M-113, that is the idea.  It will carry nothing inside except two crewmen sitting closely in tandem, with the gunner elevated two feet higher and the head of the driver almost between his knees.  The gunner will fire one of three basic weapons: a .50 caliber machine gun,  a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, or a 7.62mm rapid fire electric mini-gun.  These are easily interchangeable so units can mount different weapons on different Rhinos to provide diverse firepower.

     A Rhino will look similar to the German 4-ton Wiesel vehicle. (right)  However, it will be much heavier, up to 8-tons, to accommodate enough frontal armor to resist RPGs and up to 50mm cannon fire.  Ideally, the side armor can offer that degree of protection as well, with the same type of armored skirts used by the M-1 tank.  This will allow crewmen to survive mines and roadside bomb attacks unharmed.  This is possible because its armament will be light, and it will be very compact with internal space no larger than a bathtub. 

      In addition, Rhinos will have no turret, which adds weight and vulnerability.  It will be relatively underpowered with a small engine to limit weight and space.  It may have a maximum road speed of just 30 mph since Rhinos are not expected to dash across rough terrain as part of armored forces; this is just a slow ox that acts as a shield for infantrymen.  It will also have side racks to carry their packs, and a fold down fireman's step in the rear so several grunts can ride along.  Perhaps an entire squad will climb aboard when combat action is minimal.

     A Rhino has two main roles.  First, it will be the centerpiece of close-in urban combat.  Each infantry squad will have its own Rhino that acts as a shield as they advance, providing direct firepower as well.  Rhinos will have a  dozer-type blade on their front to knock down gates and doors, and to push cars, bomblets, and debris aside.  It will be similar to the larger blade use by the Grizzly engineer vehicle. (below)  Rhinos can drive down narrow streets, alleys, into warehouses, and across small bridges where tanks cannot venture.  Rhinos will also prove their value in confined areas like forests and small mountain roads.  They will serve as a munitions magnet, attracting fire from defenders who are puzzled and frightened by this small indestructible "thing" that survives multiple hits from heavy machine guns, roadside bombs, and RPGs.  Meanwhile, fire support coordinators and tanks following behind Rhinos will note the location of enemy fires and destroy those targets.

    Grunts will love Rhinos since they are easy to work with.  They don't put out burning heat like the gas turbine M-1 tank, so it is easy to follow behind.  They can also see over the top of a Rhino when moving forward.  The Rhino will only work with grunts and take care not to run them over.  The gunner will have an excellent view in all directions, and his knees will be next to the driver's shoulders so they will develop an immediate tactile method to instantly maneuver in close quarters.  In addition, grunts will not worry about getting knocked out from gun blasts, which is a major issue when a massive tank fires its 120mm main gun.

     The second role for Rhinos is to support helicopter assaults.  At less than ten tons, it can be moved externally by most helicopters, and internally by large helicopters like the CH-53.  This will provide air-landed infantrymen with instant mobile firepower, and an armored vehicle that can only be defeated by a lucky shot from a major caliber gun or large anti-tank missile.  Lucky because the Rhino's tiny frontal section of sloped armor will be difficult to hit, and its heat signature will be small.  No modern army has anything like simple Rhinos in service, so all are ill-equipped for urban warfare and helicopter assaults.