MRAP simulator brings driving practice into new age
US Marine Corps News
9/19/2008 By Lance Cpl. Michael Nerl, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — One of the leading causes of death for service members in Operation Iraqi freedom has been vehicle roll-overs, and new simulators at the Combat Center are being put to work to give drivers more practice without putting them in harm’s way.
The tactical vehicle simulations are computer-generated, low-risk, maneuver trainers that provide realistic vehicle operations training to Marines without leaving the simulator building.
The fidelity of the simulators are keeping pace with the Marine Corps as they constantly improved their tactical vehicles.
Simulators for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, as well as humvees and 7-tons, are maintained at the Combat Center’s Battle Simulation Center to give Marines a feel for driving tactical vehicles without the huge expenditures in fuel, maintenance and repairs.
The cost of upkeep and repairs on the simulators is very low compared to the actual vehicles and there haven’t been any problems in almost three years, said Douglas Peercy, an operator and maintainer at the BSC. Problems caused by driver inexperience due to a lack of road time have been whittled down with the introduction of simulation technology. Peercy teaches Marines about the machines and guides them through the various exercises.
The simulator has the ability to change various conditions at the trainer’s will to include weather, traffic and other aspects of driving while the Marines are going through the system, said Peercy, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“The best part of these simulators is that we are able to run Marines through training without damaging vehicles or having to spend tons of money on them,” said Peercy.
Peercy said the training teaches similar lessons, but it does not add up for licenses as real driving would for tactical vehicles.
Peercy added there are far fewer accidents involving real vehicles because all he has to do is press “reset” on his control consol and the vehicle is back on the road in the simulator.
The towing winch alone on one MRAP variant, nicknamed the Cougar, is 5,000 pounds, said Peercy. If one of these were to flip over then the Marines would need either a 7-ton truck or a tank recovery vehicle to get them back on the road, which aren’t always brought along on convoys, said Peercy.
“These vehicles can be flipped fairly easily, and very few Marines have experience driving these new machines,” Peercy added. “It’s a logistical nightmare if a Cougar gets turned over. The average Class One weighs around 40,000 pounds depending on what modifications are on it.
Dirt roads in particular are dangerous for these vehicles. They’re made to travel on hardball [paved surfaces],” he explained. “The suspension of these vehicles is made so they easily come apart if there is an explosion underneath the vehicle. The cast iron suspension is not independent. It’s all anchored to the frame of the vehicle and has very little flexibility, which adds up to trouble for an inexperienced driver.”
Peercy guided two Marines from 1st Tank Battalion through the MRAP simulator Monday.
“I’ve never actually driven an MRAP before,” said Lance Cpl. Richard D. Smith, a motor transportation operator with Headquarters and Service Company and a native of Nashville, Tenn. “I normally drive a 7-ton, and it’s similar to this in a lot of ways with the really limited visibility and how high the center of gravity is. I look forward to driving one of these in reality.”
The other Marine practicing on the simulator also had little experience with the MRAP vehicle.
“I’ve never driven one either,” said Sgt. Mike Trotter, a motor transportation mechanic with Headquarters and Service Company. “I’m not even a driver so I’m still learning some about the other vehicles, and I hope that getting extra practice like this will really help me be more skilled in that area.”
You can contact Peercy for information, or to schedule training in the BSC at (734)-972-9365, or by e-mail at dpeercy@faac.com.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
