Monday, September 15, 2014

Praxis: The hidden hazards of MRAPs

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles — now being acquired as surplus equipment by police agencies under states’ 1033 programs — have a high center of gravity, making them prone to topple
See also: Fort Campbell Soldiers Train to Mitigate MRAP Rollovers

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

MRAP's suck. Trust me on that. We had one guy separate his shoulder just getting out of his harness when the simulator was upside down. He was on a plane home the next day, never came back. They are deathtraps. They will not stop an EFP device, unless you have a special EXTRA armor kit which of course we did not have in Iraq.....

These vehicles were created for one thing and one thing only, IED and mine protection. Every other consideration, such as inherent stability for example, was subordinate to that. They copied the South African vehicle that was the inspiration for it but made it 2x as heavy/awkward, with no provision for self defense but that top turret. Snipe that dude and it's all over. If it rolls, you will kill or seriously injure everyone inside it unless they are all belted in, and even then it won't be a fun day.

The San Diego Unified School District got one of these. Yup, the School District. Unbelievable. They "expect maintenance to cost $500@ year". They are dreaming. Maybe if they never drive it. At 6 miles to the gallon maybe they can fill it up a couple times.

Anonymous said...

So...you're telling me that ramming them tail-gate first with a dump truck is a solid strategy, then. Thanks, chief, we owe you one.

Anonymous said...

When the SHTF, how are you going to get gasoline to these things on a consistent basis anyway? How many abaondoned cars will have to be pushed off the highways to make them usable? Also, how are you going to focus when we are all sick from radiation poisoning when all our nuclear reactors start going Fukishima during economic collapse?

Cederq said...

That exposed fuel tank even if it is self-sealing can't take too many hits before it loses it's integrity and fuel will do what fuel does when exposed to a flame/heat source...