First Soldier Killed In MRAP
BAGHDAD - A soldier killed over the weekend south of Baghdad was the first American casualty in a roadside bomb attack on a newly introduced, heavily armored vehicle, a military spokeswoman said Tuesday.
The V-shaped hull of the huge MRAP—Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected—truck is designed to deflect blasts from roadside bombs, a weapon that has killed more American soldiers than any other tactic used by Sunni insurgents and militia fighters in Iraq.
The soldier who died Saturday was the gunner who sits atop the MRAP vehicle. Three crew members tucked inside the cabin were wounded. The vehicle rolled over after the blast and it was not clear how the gunner died—from wounds in the explosion or in the subsequent roll- over.
Maj. Alayne P. Conway, deputy spokeswoman for the 3rd Infantry Division, said the attack and the death were under investigation.
There now are more than 1,500 of the costly vehicles in service in Iraq and the Pentagon is working to get at least 12,000 more, using $21 billion provided by Congress. MRAPs cost between $500,000 and $1 million, depending on their size and how they are equipped.
The sophisticated vehicles are being built and put into service in a bid to provide soldiers and Marines more protection than is offered by armored Humvees, which have flat bottoms that absorb the shock waves from a blast. The bottom of an MRAP also is 36 inches above the ground, while Humvees sit much closer to the roadway.
(AP)
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They just look very top heavy to me. If you were to toss one of them very high in the air, Which end would come down first? Top or Bottom?
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 amSorry to hear this. Thanks and RIP
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 amI would guess it would be the rollover that did it. I just dont see how a blast wave could stay strong enough after being interrupted by the lines of that truck. That thing has still had a great track record.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 amRe: Kurt’s comment
The “thing” that has a great record is the Force Protection MRAP, the Cougar. It was one of the Navistar International MaxxPro models that was hit, since that is the version received by the 1/30th Infantry, 3rd ID (widely reported in November). The Cougar has been in Iraq, used by Marines and also in the JERRV versions by Army EOD and combat engineers. They have a record of only one KIA in over 3000 IED blasts. My Marine son saw one hit with what he described as a “crowd killer” blast and the Marines literally walked out of the vehicle and set up a security perimeter and searched fro the enemy perpetrators. Cougars are welded and highly effective (see the article today in DefenseLink (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48733) that describes how Cougars are made, along with a great photo essay. The Navistar MaxxPro was a late comer that includes a blast-resistant compartment bolted (not welded) to an International 7000 ton truck chassis. They boasted at the November 2007 HASC hearing about how they start out with the same chassis they use for their cement mixers and garbage trucks. Also, check out U-tube for videos of their ridiculous very-slow hydraulic single-wide back door–takes over 15 seconds to open and shut the thing. The broken feet are also not a surprise–one reporter who rode in one recently said he was warned by the soldiers to watch his feet when they went over rough terrain. I guess those suspended web seats bounce around a lot. At any rate, from the time I first saw the design of the MaxxPro, I have been concerned for my son (one of the 1/30th company commanders). Obviously I am concerned for his safety and that of his soldiers. I sure wish they had received Cougars. It will be interesting to see what the forensic investigative team determines in this incident–hoping it is comprised of IG and DoD personnel and engineers and not Navistar field reps who have a vested interest in keeping future contracts coming. In my opinion this particular vehicle has design flaws that should be corrected before placing more orders. Send thre Army the basttle-tested Cougars!
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 pm