Seabee Ingenuity Creates New OIF Vehicle Armor

Seabee Ingenuity Creates New OIF Vehicle Armor

Story Number: NNS040504-08
Release Date: 5/4/2004 7:16:00 PM

By Chief Journalist Siegfried Bruner, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Engineer Group Public Affairs

CAMP MOREELL, Kuwait (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 used ingenuity and initiative to fabricate vehicle protection for convoys heading into harm’s way during Operation Iraqi Freedom in April.

Steelworker 1st Class (SCW) Jeffrey Ballas and a crew of eight other steelworkers from NMCB 74 developed an enterprising armor concept and presented the cardboard templates to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Engineer Group (MEG) for review. Once the brainstorm was approved, steel was worked around the clock in two shifts to outfit 100 trucks with armor inside and out.

The steelworkers cut plate steel for a week and a half, performing a well-choreographed armor installation rodeo.

The goal is effective protection for all types of vehicles and the warriors inside.

“I was really proud of my guys,” Ballas said. “The night crew did the cutting and fabricating, and the day crew did the finishing and installation. They did what comes natural to Seabee steelworkers - they took the bull by the horns.”

Along with external armor, seats were covered with Kevlar blankets or Kevlar vests. Convoy personnel also wear body armor. As shipments of armor from Marine Logistics Command began to arrive, a combination of locally fabricated and pre-fab armor was installed.

“We were able to get our vehicle doors 100 percent up-armored even before we got all our shipments [of manufactured armor] in,” said Lt. Stephen Padhi, a member of the future operations team for the MEG.

Combined, these force-protection measures help ensure that everyone aboard is as safe as possible. A little ingenuity and a lot of sweat equity paid big dividends for Seabees and Marines working convoys out of this key staging base in Kuwait.

For related news, visit the Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/1ncd.

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Thanks for the ping. Absolutely great to read about it. If you see pics posted, please drop me a note.

21 posted on 05/07/2004 11:51:24 AM PDT by Ranger

To: Ragtime Cowgirl; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub

What a great thing to learn that the innovations continue! This thread is an official Prayer Warrior Field Trip destination!

For those who wish to support our troops spiritually with other FReepers, please feel invited and welcome to check out the Troop Prayer Threads. Lurkers welcome! We have been praying for protection and spiritual armor for our troops. It is exciting to see that the spiritual armor is also being precipitated into physical armor. What a blessing. Way to go, SEABEES!!

http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1101474/posts?page=546

22 posted on 05/07/2004 3:26:55 PM PDT by TEXOKIE (The Will of God is Good! Not my will, not my will, not my will, but Thine be done!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

23 posted on 05/07/2004 7:31:01 PM PDT by windchime (Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))

Thanks for the ping, Reb.

That was a great article.

24 posted on 05/08/2004 2:52:00 AM PDT by G.Mason (A President is best judged by the enemies he makes when he has really hit his stride…Max Lerner)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

A great read. Thanks for posting.

25 posted on 05/08/2004 2:54:02 AM PDT by G.Mason (A President is best judged by the enemies he makes when he has really hit his stride…Max Lerner)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

This is precisely what scares the dems, and their brethren on the left, the most...Americans with a brain, Americans who can get the job done, Americans who are *gasp* Military, Americans who are American.

26 posted on 05/08/2004 3:09:58 AM PDT by hmmmmm

27 posted on 05/30/2004 12:43:36 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)

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