Posted on 06/22/2006 7:05:09 PM PDT by Reaganesque
June 23, 2006
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the number one killer of US soldiers in Iraq, and the focus of an enormous effort by the US military - in 2005, the U.S. military spent US$3.3 billion to defeat IEDs and one of the key answers found in the quest was the 28,550-pound Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Cougar. The Cougar’s v-shaped hull assists deflection of a mine or improvised explosive device blast away from the vehicle’s capsule, keeping the passengers safe and the vehicle intact. The ballistic glass with gun ports allow the passengers to engage insurgents ambush attempts without leaving the cab. The Cougar is driven by a six-speed, split-shift, all-wheel drive transmission, produced in both 4 and 6 wheel form and can be customized for multiple tasks including troop transport, mine and EOD disposal, command and control, reconnaissance, ambulance, and as a lead convoy vehicle. The Cougar is also built to roll over to absorb blast and is equipped with multi-point, motor racing harnesses, so passengers avoid injury.
The Cougar began arriving in Iraq late in 2004 as part of an accelerated Defence acquisition program and has been getting rave reviews ever since – indeed, despite IEDs claiming between a dozen and five dozen American servicemen in Iraq each month, the Cougar has not yet experienced one death from an occupant – indeed, not even close.
"These vehicles provide unmatched protection capabilities for combat engineers and EOD teams by withstanding both armor-piercing and anti-tank mine blasts," Marine Maj. Gen. William D. Catto told House Armed Services Committee members during a June 15 hearing here. The Marines have fielded 26 Cougars in Iraq, thus far, Catto said.
Joint EOD rapid response vehicles, known by the acronym JERRVs, are another, similar variant of the Cougar concept. The Marine Corps has ordered 122 JERRVs, Catto said, for overseas deployment to joint-military explosive ordnance disposal teams. The Marine Corps is slated to get 38 JERRVs of its own.
These vehicles "are designed with protection capabilities that are very similar to the Cougar," Catto, who heads Marine Corps Systems Command, said at the hearing.
Catto said all 122 JERRV deliveries are to be completed this month. And MCSC, he added, awarded a contract in May 2006 for 57 more trucks earmarked for joint forces' use.
"The Marine Corps is committed to aggressively matching our equipment to changing threats," Catto told the committee. "Our ability to rapidly modify our vehicle armoring systems is another testament to this commitment."
The Cougar is a product of South Carolina company Force Protection, which has become a world leader in designing and producing ballistic- and blast-protected vehicles, which have been used to support armed forces and security personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots around the globe.
More, more, more!!
C'mon, you know the answer. The left will not come out and say "Great, this is a big step forward and proof of American ingenuity".
No, the left will say: "Why do we not have enough of these to protect all Americans in Iraq? Why has Rumsfeld been so slow in ordering the Cougars? The President should have known we needed the Cougar before we went into Iraq?"
And on and on and on...................
It's a complete waste of time to try to respond to the nonsense from the Left.
The cougar is a good vehicle, but only available in small numbers due to production limitations.
However, there is no such thing as an IED proof vehicle. None of these have been lost yet, but they will be. Put 500 to 1000 lbs of high explosive in a roadbed and detonate it at the right moment and no vehice will survive. Physics rules here.
not to be an asshole but that doesn't look very tactical. I mean with the hummer they can be in and out of a situation but this thing looks like it would be a sitting duck.
Also how do troops get out of this thing quickly without getting hurt?
other than that I'm all for protecting the troops.
I'm no expert, but I'm thinking all vehicles are going to have to make some kind of compromise in combat situations.
Hopefully with enough choices, the best vehicle can be chosen for the jobs needed to be done.
No, it is not completely bomb proof. What is? (BTW, Wouldn't an IED with 500-1,000 lbs. of explosives be rather large and easier to spot?) Anyway, the point is, we're doing something about the biggest threat our troops face and we are seeing success, however slowly that may be.
It certainly raises the ante, but the VLIED (Very Large IED) are, in fact, the big killers today. They will take out anything, up to and including an M-1 Tank. They are concealed in drainage pipes underneath roadways, or in another technique - pour gasoline on the asphalt roadway, light it. Then scoop away the soft asphalt, dig a hole to bury your IED and then recover with asphalt. Wait for patrol.
I'm not trying to badmouth the Cougar. I wish we had more, but I'm just tired of hearing gutless politicians use something like the Cougar to attack the military because every supply clerk and chaplain's assistant doesn't have his own personal Cougar.
Try hiding that much explosives.
Mines are small so they don't leave
an obvious tell-tale sign of disturbed earth.
I don't think you are vey well informed about the current situation in Iraq. Very large IED's are the number one killer of American soldiers and have been for months.
awsome.
That was actually the Army. The system was sent to Iraq for evaluation. The results weren't good. Not ready for prime time. Maybe in another time and in another Galaxy, that solution will be ready. Just not now.
OK, so you can build a bomb big enough to blow up anything. So I suppose we shouldn't do anything more to protect the troops, just give up and get out?
Of course not. I'm just saying that there are no Silver Bullets. Pay attention.
Well said. We have largely neutralized the single 155 round. The larger devices are harder to hide, harder to emplace, and more likely to be discovered. However, when they do get lucky, you have 3/4 KIA. No point in treating for shock.
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