Posted on 08/02/2004 1:44:55 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
IT may be brand spanking new but already the Royal Artillery’s futuristic Mamba radar system has saved the lives of countless British troops based at Camp Abu Naji, Iraq.
The system, which is mounted on a Alvis Hagglunds BV206 tracked vehicle, can detect virtually any airborne missile launched within a 20km radius and provide an early warning of exactly where and when it will impact.
This is good news for the battle-weary soldiers of Abu Naji, near Al Amarah, who have been mortared on an almost daily basis.
Sitting in the cool, air-conditioned cab of his Mamba, Sgt Patrick Murray, K Battery, 5 Regiment RA, heaped praise on the vehicle.
He said: “Make no mistake this is the future of warfare. Not only can we give our men on the ground a warning of incoming fire but the Mamba will also tell us exactly where the missile or round was fired from and where it will land.
“In normal circumstances that would allow us to strike back at the enemy firing party almost immediately.
“But because of the risk of civilian casualties in Iraq we have to pass on the map coordinates to a patrol who will deal with the attackers.”
Mamba (the name is an acronym for Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar) can go virtually anywhere thanks to its tracks. It is also amphibious and can easily be transported by C-130 or underslung by Chinook.
It takes just minutes to deploy and can be operated by a single soldier although its full team is six-strong.
Mamba can also make mincemeat of multiple attacks as its powerful computer can handle eight incoming projectiles simultaneously.
While a single Mamba has a tactical range of around 20km, several networked together can cover an area in excess of 2,000 sq km.
Built by Swedish electronics giant Ericsson, Mamba can also operate as a fire-control system, tracking Army shells to their point of impact. The system works by scanning the area to its front, dividing each sweep into 16 sectors. Individual sectors can be switched off to save power or avoid detection.
Mamba operators are now awaiting the installation of a digital mapping package which will further boost the system’s capabilities.
The Army boasts four Mambas at present, with three saving British lives in and around the town of Al Amarah in Iraq’s Maysan Province.
Sgt Murray said: “In practice Mamba can detect projectiles as small as rocket-propelled grenades and even heavy machine-gun fire.
“Using Mamba we often monitor opposing tribes as they fight in nearby Al Amarah. They fire rockets and mortars at each other and every now and then fire one at us.
“Thanks to Mamba we can raise the alarm and everyone can run for cover.
“Mamba is an awesome piece of kit and the lads are very glad to have it out here in Iraq. “
Protecting the troops: Mamba mounted on a tracked and articulated Alvis Hagglund BV206.
On screen: Sgt Patrick Murray using the Mamba radar
FAMPL ping
Now if they just had an MLRS hooked up to thing so they fire a counter battery mission in a minute or less...
Ratheon had one of these under development quite some time ago, in the late 70s.
Cool, I want one (thousand)!
IIRC on the history channel a few years back there was something like that in development.
This seems to be describing the capabilities (in general terms, of course) of the counterbattery radars we were fieling 25-30 years ago.
ping......LOL
Well, reason I mentioned I wanted one... thousand of them, it's because we had the FireFinder radar setup with my unit during Annual Training at fort Drum, and were looking at having OpFor try to take it out every night.
Prior to the set going hot, the gunny and myself were working on the next briefing for Advance Party out in the only place clear for us to piece a briefing together at.
In front of the radar set.
We had ten minutes, plenty of time, and were halfway through the details of which knucklehead was going to do what when my watch screams, and we start feeling warm.
Seems our effete whiny Captain decided to push the radar guys into starting up the radar early.
With us in front of it.
Mamaba looks like it wouldn't be much of a problem with that.
Especially if it's set up on the standard dirt pile in the middle of the firebase position.
You know, that watch hasn't been the same since?
That is exactly what should happen. Whether the incoming round is from an orchard, a mouse-que or someones roof. We should have a bigger one going out before incoming arrives. Those who shoot would be eliminated by now and so would the sympathizers who allow shots from their property.
That is exactly what should happen. Whether the incoming round is from an orchard, a mouse-que or someones roof. We should have a bigger one going out before incoming arrives. Those who shoot would be eliminated by now and so would the sympathizers who allow shots from their property.
That is exactly what should happen. Whether the incoming round is from an orchard, a mouse-que or someones roof. We should have a bigger one going out before incoming arrives. Those who shoot would be eliminated by now and so would the sympathizers who allow shots from their property.
Does it freeze time now?
No.
It dies, and kills batteries really quickly.
Sorry about the multiple. Danged dial-up dropped out twice.
While I'm sure we're all intrigued by the question of what Gunner's reptile is doing these days, I feel someone must beseech him to holster it. ;)
And neither have you! :)
Yes . Once word gets around that you can pinpoint the location of enemy fire and immediately counter it, it will "concentrate the minds " (one way or another) of the terrorists about engaging in that sort of activity.
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