Posted on 06/16/2006 5:20:18 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
Needing light armored vehicles as quickly as possible, Iraq has bought over a thousand from Turkish manufacturer Otocar. These six ton vehicles provide similar protection to that of an armored hummer. Iraq also ordered over a thousand similar DZIK 3 vehicles from Poland. These weigh 5.5 tons and are similar to the Otocar vehicles. Both the Otocar and DZIK vehicles carry up to eleven troops, and mount a machine-gun (usually 7.62mm or 12.7mm). By the end of 2006, the Iraqi police and army expect to be running all combat patrols (ones where ambush or roadside bombs might be a factor) using armored vehicles. These also include some armored hummers they have received from the United States, Russian BTRs and donations from several European and Arab countries. The Iraqis prefer the armored trucks, as they are easier to drive, operate and maintain.
The thousands of civilian security personnel in Iraq have equipped themselves with hundreds of armored SUVs and light trucks. These security contractors are frequently used as bodyguards for American and NGO officials, as well as Iraqi big-shots. In addition to armor kits (which some firms now specialize in) for the vehicles, improvised gun turrets are often added as well (mounting one or two 7.62mm machine-guns). All this isn't overkill. Kidnapping gangs or death squads will come after a target in large numbers, so some extra firepower will help the security crew, and whoever they are protecting, get out alive. Many American troops note the similarity between these improvised vehicles and those seen in movies like "Mad Max."
DZIK 3
Otokar Armored Personnel Carrier
Turkey might get to like the new Iraqi customer.
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