MRAP

This is coolbert:

Well, you can guess that this headline from the BBC caught my attention right away:

"SAS commander quits 'over kit'"

The "kit" in question here is the "Snatch" version of the Land Rover. Currently being used by British forces in Afghan!

When a senior commander of an elite unit resigns in protest, YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE UNIT IS THE BRITISH SAS! IT DOESN'T GET ANYMORE ELITE THAN THAT!
"Snatch Land Rovers are lightly armoured"

"An SAS reservist commander in Afghanistan has resigned over what he calls 'chronic underinvestment' in troops' equipment, reports say."

"The commander - quoted in The Daily Telegraph - says ministers have ignored his warnings about the safety of the Army's Snatch Land Rovers."

"The vehicle has been criticised because its armour is not designed to withstand roadside bombs."

That "Snatch" does not look too robust to me. Just appears to be an ordinary street-style Land Rover with a slight military upgrade to it? NOT designed under almost any circumstances as a combat fighting vehicle.

AND CERTAINLY NOT DESIGNED FROM THE GET-GO TO WITHSTAND AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE [IED] OR AN EXPLOSIVELY FORMED PROJECTILE [EFP]. Please recall that the latter, an EFP, CAN DEFEAT THE ARMOR OF AN ABRAMS TANK!!
What chance does a "Snatch" have in the presence of such road-side bombs? NONE!

The "Snatch" is not even as sturdy as an American Humvee in the most basic form. And certainly not as sturdy as an American Humvee that received an armor upgrade. An upgrade to the Humvee that is an improvement to the basic model, but also has drawbacks

Those armored doors with the bullet-resistant glass, each weight 700 pounds each! If that Humvee rolls over, the men trapped inside cannot open the door and escape. And if you must remove a wounded man, forget it.



THE HUMVEE, EVEN WITH ARMOR UPGRADE KIT, WAS JUST NOT NEVER INTENDED TO BE RIDDEN INTO COMBAT!!
Much more suitable are the latest versions of MRAP! This too is what the British need!

"Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are a family of armored fighting vehicles designed to survive IED attacks and ambushes. IEDs cause the majority (63%) of US deaths in Iraq."

Such as the MaxxPro.



Or the Cougar.



"The Cougar is an armored fighting vehicle designed to be resistant to anti-vehicle mines and improvised munitions."

All these wheeled combat vehicles, machines of formidable and rugged design, come equipped with the turret and gun shields, reminiscent of the ACAV in Vietnam! Troops can not only ride into battle in style, they can fight from the vehicles too!

Wheeled combat vehicles were at one time anathema to the U.S. Army. Felt to be too susceptible to having the wheels knocked off by the concussion from an incoming enemy artillery round? NOW - - WHEELED ARMORED COMBAT VEHICLES ARE ALL THE RAGE!!

And, are based on a well-developed technology to begin with. The current varieties of U.S. MRAP are modeled upon the very successful South African Buffel [Buffalo] and Casspir mine-resistant combat vehicles.

And here, finally, is an amazing photo. What remains of a Cougar after a hit from a 500 pound IED detonation. Amazingly so, the occupants of the Cougar all survived with only minor injury!



"Snatch" NO - - MRAP SI!

coolbert.