Viking in Helmand, Afghanistan
Posted on 01/28/2008 9:47:25 AM PST by Rikstir
The Vikings are unstoppable in Afghanistan. The All Terrain Protected Vehicles' arrival at a scene of conflict will instil relief in the British Troops engaged there, confidence for the local population and, perhaps most importantly, fear from the Taliban.
In the barren dusty desert landscape of Helmand, the Vikings' two squat shaped square hunks of metal that trundle along on tank like tracks look like something from the apocalypse. The protection from the hell outside that the vehicles offer though is making them one of the British Forces most popular bits of war fighting kit.
Originally deployed with the Royal Marines to Afghanistan in autumn 2006, the Vikings have since been used by both Marine and Army units to patrol the deserts, villages, towns and jungle like areas of Helmand:
"They are extremely good for rocking up and scaring the shit out of the Taliban. They really don't like it," says Corporal Kev Walker.
(Excerpt) Read more at mod.uk ...
Looks like an old American “CAT” from WW2.
If it works, use it!
Nice to see a positive article about the Brits in Afghanistan. They are doing a great job there.
Stay safe, guys!
Aptly name, given that this is a Swedish design. However, as an IFV this is rather lighly armed. One 7.62mm machine gun is pathetic. It should havea CROWs type remote gun system on the back.
Google “Bren gun carrier”
This is nothing new.
I think they're "pre-owned" snow-cats purchased from the ski-resorts in the Alps and up-armored.......LOL!
I need one of these for the Freeways in LA/Orange County.
The weaponry is a bit light I guess, but it seems they have an option of a 7.62mm GPMG or a 12.7mm Browning HMG. And I’m not entirely sure you can classify it as a Armoured Fighting Vehicle, I’ve found it listed as a ‘Viking (BvS10) Amphibious Armoured All-Terrain Vehicle’.
The only extra thing that the CROWS offers is that its remote. But then, i would rather a chap out on top cover checking the ground than MR Microsoft.
Many thanks for your support of UK operations in Afghanistan. There are too many of these threads that seeks out UK links so they can bash them, but you took time out of your day to offer thanks.
Regards, Mr Max, and cheers!
But since they're going to the south, most to the Helmed - can we PLEASE send a couple of the 500 MRAPs we're sending the Afghanistan up to the 173rd Paratroopers in the northeastern Kunar District???
Our troops up there, particularly in the hellish fire posts in the Korengal Valley, are pretty much left to their own devices in the WOT zone known as "the Most Dangerous spot on earth" and "Taliban Central" = They are pretty much ignored = and going through hell. They don't get the backup and cover they need...nor will you find much coverage on them from the military = or media, as it's too dangerous an area to go into
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htarm/articles/20080126.aspx
"January 26, 2008: The U.S. is sending 500 MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles to Afghanistan. Several thousand of these vehicles are already in Iraq"
From what I've read, even these to-little-too-late MRAPs to Afghanistan are slated to also go the the south = seems like they could spare 2 out of 500 for our Paratroopers in hell =
I have seen some reports on the conditions that US soldiers in Kunar have to endure. The pictures remind me of the isolated fire posts the US had in the jungles of Vietnam, a little island effectively under siege.
I always thought the best mine resistant vehicle was a helicopter. Especially in Afghanistan.
Cheers for the post.
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