Damnation Alley meets the British Forces

[R-CON]MrD · 07-26-2006, 12:04 PM

I had to post this in the gadgets section as they are just so incredibly visual. With the important need for better armour to defend troops again roadside bombs a variety of new armoured vehicles are being ordered. The first vehicle looks just like the main vehicle used in the movie version of the book, Damnation Alley

Code:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/DefenceSecretaryOrdersNewVehiclesForTroopsInIraqAndAfghanistan.htm

Military Operations
Defence Secretary orders new vehicles for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
25 Jul 06

Defence Secretary, Des Browne, has unveiled a package of new equipment to help protect UK Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan following an armoured vehicles review.
The COUGAR medium-weight armoured vehicle (6x6 variant) which is being procured for UK Forces. [Picture: Force Protection Inc.] . Opens in a new window.

The COUGAR medium-weight armoured vehicle (6x6 variant) which is being procured for UK Forces.
[Picture: Force Protection Inc.]

This will include: the purchase of around 100 additional Pinzgauer 'Vector' for Afghanistan, on top of the 66 already on contract, with deliveries to begin early in 2007; the provision, for Iraq, of around 70 uparmoured and upgraded FV430 troop carriers, in addition to the 54 already on contract, with deliveries starting late this year and building up to a mechanised infantry battlegroup by Spring 2007; and the acquisition of around 100 of a new medium weight vehicle, 'Cougar', which is manufactured by Force Protection Incorporated of Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to be delivered to Iraq and Afghanistan in batches over the next six month rotation, with an effective capability in place in Iraq by the end of the year.

The new package emerged from the urgent review ordered by the Defence Secretary last month, and builds on work that had been ongoing with the MoD. Complementing heavily armoured Warriors and lighter Snatch patrol vehicles, these new vehicles will give commanders on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan more options to deal with the developing threats they are facing.

Des Browne said:

"The protection of our Forces is a top priority. I have made clear my determination to provide commanders on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan with the resources they need to do the job.

The enhanced 6 x 6 Pinzgauer force protection vehicle. [Picture: MOD] . Opens in a new window.

The enhanced 6 x 6 Pinzgauer force protection vehicle.
[Picture: MOD]

"Military operations are inherently risky and armour is only the innermost layer in the force protection system. But this package of new equipment shows we are doing everything possible to provide our troops with some of the best protection available.

"May I take this opportunity to congratulate all those within the MoD for their excellent work in assessing the available options and sourcing an excellent solution to our soldiers' requirements."

VECTOR provides good protection and, importantly, increased mobility and capacity compared to SNATCH Landrovers which makes it very suitable for the rugged terrain and long patrol distances in Afghanistan.

The up-armoured FV430 will provide a similar level of protection to Warrior while being less intimidating and having less impact on local infrastructure - thereby providing commanders with an important additional option. It will be able to carry out many of the same tasks as Warrior, so it will also relieve pressure on heavily committed Warrior vehicles and armoured infantry battlegroups.
AFV 430 . Opens in a new window.

An AFV 430
[Picture: Army]

Cougar meets the requirement for a well protected, wheeled patrol vehicle with a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles like Warrior or FV430. Once the vehicles are delivered they will be customised with essential Bowman radios and electronic counter-measures - and then fitted with additional armour beyond the standard level, to ensure they have the best possible protection.

Before today's announcement, the Ministry of Defence had already spent over £527m on Urgent Operational Requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan designed to improve force protection. This is in addition to the planned £6bn annual defence procurement budget.

Force Protection Urgent Operational Requirement – Key Facts

Expenditure on Force Protection

* Iraq – over £404M spent
* Afghanistan - over £123M
* Total of over £527M: In addition to £6bn annual defence procurement budget
* £147M on vehicle and personal protection
* £181M on aircraft protection
* £199M on ECM

Vehicle protection already completed

* Protection upgrades for AFVs including Challenger 2, Warrior, FV430 (in progress), Saxon, CVR(T), Challenger Armoured Recovery Vehicles
* Conversion of Saxon to produce armoured ambulances including air-con
* Conversion and new-build of Snatch Mk2 Land Rovers
* Protected vehicles for specialist tasks, such as VIP transport
* Blast and ballistic protection for soft-skin B vehicles including DROPs, recovery vehicles, Heavy Equipment Transporters
* Machine-gun mounts for self-defence of Heavy Equipment Transporters
* Wire cutter defences (in progress) for vehicles – local immediate modifications will be replaced by purpose-designed kit

Personal protection

*
Osprey Improved Combat Body Armour for normal operational duties
*
Kestrel Enhanced Protection Body Armour for top-cover sentries
*
Body armour for specialist personnel
*
Ballistic Eye Protection
*
Camp/base surveillance and attack alarm systems

ECM/EOD

* Comprehensive Electronic Counter-Measures suites for all vehicle and foot patrols
* Training versions of ECM for pre-deployment training
* Specialist ECM to support Explosive Ordnance Disposal tasks
* Protected specialist vehicles for EOD teams
* Lightweight heli-borne EOD vehicles for Afghanistan
* Improved lightweight EOD robot vehicles
* Mine clearance equipment

Aircraft protection

* Explosion Suppressant Foam being installed on C-130s
* Improved defensive aids suites for air transport and helicopters
* Improved flares
* Improved communications for air transport and helicopters to aid situational awareness
* Flight deck armour for air transport and Nimrods

[R-DEV]Eddie Baker · 07-26-2006, 05:17 PM

But will it stop the giant scorpions?

NikovK · 07-29-2006, 01:58 PM

Why are your vehicles utilitarian and butt ugly but ours are utilitarian and sexy?

~~Pence~~ · 07-29-2006, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [R-CON]NikovK

Why are your vehicles utilitarian and butt ugly but ours are utilitarian and sexy?

Quality and ability to do its job is a priority over public popularity i suppose?

I do think the Land Rover is pretty.

Doug97 · 07-31-2006, 11:59 PM

I don't understand why they didn't just buy turretless Warriors instead of the FV430s ... commonality of spares and training is always an advantage.

trogdor1289 · 08-01-2006, 12:27 AM

They wanted unthreating non tracked vichels. For patroling urban areas I believe.

Doug97 · 08-01-2006, 10:01 AM

The FV430 is tracked.

07-26-2006, 12:04 PM	#1
[R-CON]MrD PR Contributor Join Date: May 2006 Location: York Posts: 3,201	Damnation Alley meets the British Forces I had to post this in the gadgets section as they are just so incredibly visual. With the important need for better armour to defend troops again roadside bombs a variety of new armoured vehicles are being ordered. The first vehicle looks just like the main vehicle used in the movie version of the book, Damnation Alley Code: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/DefenceSecretaryOrdersNewVehiclesForTroopsInIraqAndAfghanistan.htm Military Operations Defence Secretary orders new vehicles for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan 25 Jul 06 Defence Secretary, Des Browne, has unveiled a package of new equipment to help protect UK Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan following an armoured vehicles review. The COUGAR medium-weight armoured vehicle (6x6 variant) which is being procured for UK Forces. [Picture: Force Protection Inc.] . Opens in a new window. The COUGAR medium-weight armoured vehicle (6x6 variant) which is being procured for UK Forces. [Picture: Force Protection Inc.] This will include: the purchase of around 100 additional Pinzgauer 'Vector' for Afghanistan, on top of the 66 already on contract, with deliveries to begin early in 2007; the provision, for Iraq, of around 70 uparmoured and upgraded FV430 troop carriers, in addition to the 54 already on contract, with deliveries starting late this year and building up to a mechanised infantry battlegroup by Spring 2007; and the acquisition of around 100 of a new medium weight vehicle, 'Cougar', which is manufactured by Force Protection Incorporated of Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to be delivered to Iraq and Afghanistan in batches over the next six month rotation, with an effective capability in place in Iraq by the end of the year. The new package emerged from the urgent review ordered by the Defence Secretary last month, and builds on work that had been ongoing with the MoD. Complementing heavily armoured Warriors and lighter Snatch patrol vehicles, these new vehicles will give commanders on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan more options to deal with the developing threats they are facing. Des Browne said: "The protection of our Forces is a top priority. I have made clear my determination to provide commanders on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan with the resources they need to do the job. The enhanced 6 x 6 Pinzgauer force protection vehicle. [Picture: MOD] . Opens in a new window. The enhanced 6 x 6 Pinzgauer force protection vehicle. [Picture: MOD] "Military operations are inherently risky and armour is only the innermost layer in the force protection system. But this package of new equipment shows we are doing everything possible to provide our troops with some of the best protection available. "May I take this opportunity to congratulate all those within the MoD for their excellent work in assessing the available options and sourcing an excellent solution to our soldiers' requirements." VECTOR provides good protection and, importantly, increased mobility and capacity compared to SNATCH Landrovers which makes it very suitable for the rugged terrain and long patrol distances in Afghanistan. The up-armoured FV430 will provide a similar level of protection to Warrior while being less intimidating and having less impact on local infrastructure - thereby providing commanders with an important additional option. It will be able to carry out many of the same tasks as Warrior, so it will also relieve pressure on heavily committed Warrior vehicles and armoured infantry battlegroups. AFV 430 . Opens in a new window. An AFV 430 [Picture: Army] Cougar meets the requirement for a well protected, wheeled patrol vehicle with a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles like Warrior or FV430. Once the vehicles are delivered they will be customised with essential Bowman radios and electronic counter-measures - and then fitted with additional armour beyond the standard level, to ensure they have the best possible protection. Before today's announcement, the Ministry of Defence had already spent over £527m on Urgent Operational Requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan designed to improve force protection. This is in addition to the planned £6bn annual defence procurement budget. Force Protection Urgent Operational Requirement – Key Facts Expenditure on Force Protection * Iraq – over £404M spent * Afghanistan - over £123M * Total of over £527M: In addition to £6bn annual defence procurement budget * £147M on vehicle and personal protection * £181M on aircraft protection * £199M on ECM Vehicle protection already completed * Protection upgrades for AFVs including Challenger 2, Warrior, FV430 (in progress), Saxon, CVR(T), Challenger Armoured Recovery Vehicles * Conversion of Saxon to produce armoured ambulances including air-con * Conversion and new-build of Snatch Mk2 Land Rovers * Protected vehicles for specialist tasks, such as VIP transport * Blast and ballistic protection for soft-skin B vehicles including DROPs, recovery vehicles, Heavy Equipment Transporters * Machine-gun mounts for self-defence of Heavy Equipment Transporters * Wire cutter defences (in progress) for vehicles – local immediate modifications will be replaced by purpose-designed kit Personal protection * Osprey Improved Combat Body Armour for normal operational duties * Kestrel Enhanced Protection Body Armour for top-cover sentries * Body armour for specialist personnel * Ballistic Eye Protection * Camp/base surveillance and attack alarm systems ECM/EOD * Comprehensive Electronic Counter-Measures suites for all vehicle and foot patrols * Training versions of ECM for pre-deployment training * Specialist ECM to support Explosive Ordnance Disposal tasks * Protected specialist vehicles for EOD teams * Lightweight heli-borne EOD vehicles for Afghanistan * Improved lightweight EOD robot vehicles * Mine clearance equipment Aircraft protection * Explosion Suppressant Foam being installed on C-130s * Improved defensive aids suites for air transport and helicopters * Improved flares * Improved communications for air transport and helicopters to aid situational awareness * Flight deck armour for air transport and Nimrods
	[R-MOD]Mongolian Dude: AH man, sarcasm is so hard to get across the web, even if we are both british [R-DEV]Jaymz: That has to be...the most epic response to a welcome thread I have ever seen. [R-CON]Mr.D ladies and gentlemen!
	Last edited by [R-CON]MrD; 07-26-2006 at 12:11 PM.

07-29-2006, 01:58 PM	#3
NikovK Retired PR Developer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,630	Why are your vehicles utilitarian and butt ugly but ours are utilitarian and sexy?
	Mapper of Road to Kyongan'Ni and Hills of Hamgyong; Genius behind many Really Stupid Ideas, and some Decent Ones.

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07-26-2006, 05:17 PM	#2
[R-DEV]Eddie Baker PR Military Advisor Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,902	But will it stop the giant scorpions?

07-31-2006, 11:59 PM	#5
Doug97 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 396	I don't understand why they didn't just buy turretless Warriors instead of the FV430s ... commonality of spares and training is always an advantage.

08-01-2006, 12:27 AM	#6
trogdor1289 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Classified. Posts: 5,232	They wanted unthreating non tracked vichels. For patroling urban areas I believe.

08-01-2006, 10:01 AM	#7
Doug97 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 396	The FV430 is tracked.

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