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| Science & Technology |
| The Instant Gun Truck Kit |
| 2005-10-24 |
| October 24, 2005: A second firm is now producing armored shipping containers, for protecting people (from roadside bombs and gunfire) being transported through hostile territory. Last summer, "TransProtec," which is literally a cargo container with armor, was introduced. Now it’s MTTCS (Multipurpose Troop Transport Carrier System). Think of MTTCS as modified cargo containers, built to fit on the beds of 2 Âœ, five and seven ton military trucks. The lightweight armor protects against rifle bullets (7.62) and nearly all bomb fragments. MTTCS is actually a modular system. With center and end modules. There are two and four foot long (7.8 feet wide and 8 feet high) and two foot long center sections, as well as end sections. The four foot module has a hatch on top, and a ring mount, so you can mount a machine-gun and swing it around in all directions. The four foot sections weigh 4,400 pounds with the roof and end sections, 3,650 without the roof. The sections are light enough to use available lifting equipment to put them on a truck bed, where they are quickly bolted together. Thus for the smallest truck, a 2 Âœ ton one, you would use a single four foot module, and two end modules, creating space for four troops inside. For a longer seven ton truck, you could use two fours and a two, plus end modules, which all weighs 9,600 pounds, and can carry 16 troops, plus having two ring mounts topside. Such a configuration would be 20.2 feet long. The MTTCS can also be used on the ground, as part of base defenses. The MTTCS has undergone combat testing in Iraq, last Summer and is going into mass production. Commanders in Iraq want protection like MTTCS, or custom built gun trucks (using heavy, as in 5 or 7 ton trucks) for convoy and supply movement work. The big trucks are much safer than a hummer if you are hit with a bomb. While the terrorists are using larger bombs, the increased size of such bombs limits the number places they can plant them, it takes longer to place them and this makes it more likely that the crew planting the bomb will get caught. But these larger bombs are rough on M-2 Bradleys and hummers. While the army has armored the cabs of many heavy trucks, it is reluctant to do so with the truck beds, because that limits the amount of cargo the truck can carry. Putting on and taking off the armor sets is also not a good idea, as it takes time and wears out the fittings. So MTTCS has a ready market, not just for Iraq, but in other troublespots where terrorists are attacking. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #7 I imagine one big innovation will come when they can set this up so the gun and gunner is hidden from view until the attack. Another will come if they put this on commercial shippping. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-10-24 23:38 |
| #6 Does anyone have any links to some pictures of these things? The company web page is not very good, and the one picture I could find was almost a thumbnail. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-10-24 16:55 |
| #5 My experience at home in Memphis says little to nothing is "ghetto proof". Nor would these containers be secure in Iraq(or South Memphis) were it to sit in one place long enough. Some enterprising young criminal einstein would figure out how to get into them soon enough. But that doesn't negate the usefulness of such a module based approach to up armoring vehicles.It's a great, cheap, and flexible system; sounds like a winner for the short term. My bet is that we'll see one of these used in Saddam's near future for his one way trip to the gas chambers. Hell, throw some bullet proof glass on both sides and parade him around Baghdad like a "condemned to death" pope mobile of sorts. Maybe they could even pump a little tear gas in every now and then just to entertain the locals with Saddam's writhing before they let loose the good stuff on him. Popcorn anyone? EP |
| Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding 2005-10-24 16:53 |
| #4 ghetto proof [prolly not, island near Venice where Jews were made to live in the 16th century] venacular for "The Hood", Ima go check on my biyatch in the hood. /... see little red riding |
| Posted by: Dawg 2005-10-24 16:03 |
| #3 The locals wouldn't be able to "find" the contents and carry them off. |
| Posted by: gromky 2005-10-24 15:17 |
| #2 ghetto proof Definition, please, Danielle. I'm not familiar with this term. Thanks! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-10-24 13:34 |
| #1 I see a real market for these armored containers. They also can also afford protection for up to 16 smugglers or be dual-use homes for Taliban-types! Also, cargo containers used for storage units would be ghetto proof! |
| Posted by: Danielle 2005-10-24 10:03 |