More Cougars for the Marines

Strategy Page ^ | October 9, 2005

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The U.S. Marine Corps is buying 38 more Cougar armored vehicles, in addition to the 27 they already have. The official name of these armored trucks is JERRV (joint explosive ordnance disposal rapid response Vehicles). The U.S. Army also uses over a hundred of them. Basically, JERRV is a 12 ton truck that is hardened to survive bombs and mines. The Cougar can get engineers into combat situations where mines, explosives or any kind of obstacle, have to be cleared. The bulletproof Cougars are built using the same construction techniques pioneered by South African firms that have, over the years, delivered over 14,000 landmine resistant vehicles to the South African armed forces. The South African technology was imported into the U.S. in 1998, and has already been used in the design of vehicles used by peacekeepers in the Balkans. The Cougar comes in two versions. The four wheel one can carry ten passengers, the six wheel one can carry 16. The vehicle uses a capsule design to protect the passengers and key vehicle components mines and roadside bombs. The trucks cost about $730,000 each, fully equipped. About one percent of the attacks in Iraq are from landmines, while about a third are from roadside bombs. The Cougars have proved very popular with the troops.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Cougar

[Ninian Dryhope]

"The trucks cost about $730,000 each"

Well worth the price, to save American lives.

[marmar]

Some of the guys have been coming thru here and talking about a vech called the buffalo...it is purchased from South Africa......is this it???? Just curious.....

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=FRPT.OB

[BamaGirl]

Well worth the price, to save American lives.

I was going to say the exact same thing. Nice to know my tax dollars are funding *something* useful.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

I'm in line, right behind Muttly!
(didn't want to get trampled!)

Regards,
GtG

PS with a sticker price like that, you don't concern yourself w/ $3/gal fuel cost!

[coydog]

Imagine dropping your kids off at school in that thing...

[marmar]

OOpps....they are the ones the Wounded Warriors have been talking about. I have heard some really good things about them. They are saving lives......

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Cannoneer No. 4]

This is the Buffalo.

[ryan71]

Awesome vehicle!

But it needs a 105 howitzer on top.

[SevenMinusOne]

Well worth the price, to save American lives.

Without a doubt - The faster we can get more of these in Country to Iraq the better -

Armor transports of this ilk (even spec'ed out alternatives) should have been being put in Country at a much faster rate over a year ago (by all means necessary here on the home front).

[marmar]

Cool.......I am happy with anything that protects the guys. I have had one thru here that used one of these and he liked it pretty well. I have heard a few different opinion...but I figure you go with the guy who has personal experience.......Thanx

[Paladin2]

Looks like Chevy Chase's "Iraq Vacation" SUV.

[NerdDad]

bump to show at work.

[Doctor Raoul]

Sure as hell beats P Diddy's Pepsi truck in the commercials...

Think I saw one of these in Compton with 66" Spreewells.

[Darksheare]

I want one.
With a weapons pod mounting twin barrel 30MM cannon.

[Doctor Raoul]

How do these things stand up to IEDs? Tank mines?

These are specialty vehicles that Congress would NEVER have authorized prior to this war in the qunatities that we now need. It's better than the HUMMER in a lot of respects, but who wants to ride in something two stories high in any other battle field scenario? Now Congress wants the miliatry to pull something much bigger than a rabbit out of their arse.

Next war, watch CONGRESS bring Generals before committees and lecture how the vehicles are too high, presenting an unecessary risk to our soldiers.

[Khurkris]

...with a cooler, a cd/dvd/vcd player and cup-holders. And maybe a sat-link for internet...cruisin' and bruisin'


Keepth thy head down.

[Qout]

You want a cooler? Then try one of the Australian Bushmasters. They're air conditioned and carry 270 liters of chilled water -- enough for a long desert ride. The Cougar and the Buffalo are modified from Peterbilt trucks. They add armor and a V-shaped hull. Force Protection builds them in South Carolina.