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Vulnerable Humvees yield to Husky, Meerkat, Buffalo and RG-31
The U.S. Army has devised counter-measures against roadside bombs placed by Sunni insurgents which have taken a heavy toll on Humvees and other U.S. equipment. The army has helped develop a new series of platforms to detect and track improvised explosive devices. The new, heavily armored vehicles were also meant to protect U.S. troops. Officials said the army has lost numerous Humvees and other vehicles to IEDs. They said Humvees have been lost on a daily basis during the Shiâite revolt in mid-April. "We continue to lose small numbers of Humvees on a daily basis, partially damaged by IEDs and such, and I think we had today some fuel trailers that were blown up," Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for coalition operations, said. The platforms were deemed the Husky, Meerkat, Buffalo and RG-31. All of the armored cars â designed in South Africa and the United States â were deployed by the 82nd Airborne Divisionâs Task Force Pathfinder. The vehicles, primarily designed to detect buried mines, have been searching the roadways for IEDs and other threats to soldiers on convoys and patrols. So far, the equipment has proven effective for a number of reasons, chiefly the detection abilities of the Husky and Meerkat vehicles. "These vehicles are designed to take a blast," Pfc. Lester Rhodes, a combat engineer and operator of the RG-31 armored car, said. "The safety given by these vehicles allows us to focus more energy on finding the rounds." Each vehicles is heavily armored and designed to resist blasts from both mines and IEDs. So far, the vehicles have found six IEDs. Posted by: Super Hose 2004-07-02 |
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