New vehicles helping against IEDs
Army News Service
Release Date: 2/11/2004
By Cpl. Joe Niesen
FOB RIDGWAY, Iraq(Army News Service, Feb. 11, 2004) -- The U.S. Army has a few new weapons to use in its war against the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices on Iraq's roadways.
The Husky, Meerkat, Buffalo, and RG-31 armored car are now being used by soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's Task Force Pathfinder. The unit comprises soldiers from a number of active Army, Reserve, and National Guard units attached to the 82nd.
The soldiers, many of whom had never seen the equipment prior to the training they received in theater, have quickly grown fond of the vehicles which were designed both in the United States and South Africa.
"All of our training has been off-the-cuff," said Capt. Michael Biankowski, commander, A Company, 27th Engineers and Task Force Pathfinder.
The soldiers of Pathfinder had to learn everything about the vehicles in theater. The mechanics had to learn how to repair them, the operators how to drive them, and commanders how to use them. For operators, the driving is the easy part; it's learning to operate and interpret the data collected by the sensors while driving that is the challenge.
"Probably the hardest part is the multitasking involved. You have to drive, listen and watch both the screen and the road around you as you drive," said Cpl. Robert Scott, a vehicle operator on the Husky detection vehicle.
The vehicles, primarily designed to detect buried mines, have been searching the roadways for IEDs and other threats to soldiers on convoys and patrols. So far, the equipment has proven effective for a number of reasons, chiefly the detection abilities of the Husky and Meerkat vehicles.
"We've found at least six IEDs in the short time that we have had the vehicles," said 1st Lt. David Moore, a platoon leader with A Company, 27th Engineers, assigned to the Task Force.
Another reason the soldiers in Task Force Pathfinder have taken to the vehicles is the fact that each is heavily armored and designed to resist blasts from both mines and IEDs.
"These vehicles are designed to take a blast," said Pfc. Lester Rhodes, a combat engineer and operator of the RG-31 armored car. "The safety given by these vehicles allows us to focus more energy on finding the rounds. Plus, it (the RG-31) is comfortable, like riding in an armored Cadillac."
The Task Force, since acquiring the equipment, has attempted to support the entire division's area of responsibility. The vehicles will be handed over to replacing units and remain in theater as long as the threat of IEDs exists.
However, many of the soldiers assigned to Pathfinder said they are hopeful that the equipment will be standard issue for engineering units.
"At first, I thought that it was just another Army toy," said Scott. "After taking them out on missions and finding IEDs, they definitely do the job. They are the best pieces of equipment out there."
A few of the vehicles have already been sent to the combat engineer school at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., where soldiers are now being trained, according to Biankowski.
The team will continue to provide support to units in the area and prepare to train its replacements. The awkward-looking vehicles will visit various bases and attempt to ensure that at least the routes they cover will be free of IEDs, and soldiers can feel a little safer as they continue to traverse and patrol Iraq's dangerous roads.
"Every round we find is one less that could injure or kill a Soldier," said Sgt. 1st Class Martin Humphreys, a Pathfinder platoon sergeant. "So I'm glad we have this equipment."
(Editor's note: Cpl. Joe Niesen is a member of the 350th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment at Forward Operating Base Ridgway.)
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