braindead

There is this question that´s been nagging me : can open-top truck be safe from IED ?
The reason for this is that our light inf. platoon in Iraq has been driving around with : at first old 2 1/2t. US trucks , converted to ´´gun truck´´ , then with (US) M-113-s , but lately with these armored Unimogs. the reason was given that in open-top truck soldiers would survive blast better than in closed M-113. On one hand the trucks have survived some landmines well , but OTOH the open-top still leaves doubt for side explosion . What happens then?
In Afghanistan they use the same Unimogs and old Pasi APC-s , because this is more ´´combat-situation´´ and more armor is needed .

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braindead

pics :
http://www.mil.ee/uudisepilt/1728pasiafgan1.jpg
http://www.mil.ee/uudisepilt/1728pasiafgan2.jpg
Kaitsejõudude Peastaabi pildid :: Afganistan.04.2006 :: aad

braindead

SORRY ; PUT IN WRONG FORUM - MEANT TO BE IN LAND FORCES - MODS, LITTLE HELP PLEASE !!!!

Officer of Engineers

Depends on the IED. Two 122mm howitzer shells on top of one another - no way. A couple of molotovs under the wheels - most certainly.

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zraver

Open top is death vs grenades and molotovs but lets the blast from mines and IED's disperse and also allows rapid disembarkment. The Unimog has the advantag eof its sheer height off the ground.

braindead

Well , officially the troops seem to be fine with it (the truck). But it´s just that my childhood friend is riding around in one of these....

Officer of Engineers

Regardless of what you're riding, the 1st and best defence is situational awareness. Tell your friend to keep his eyes open.

RadioM

I'd stay away from driving down a urban street next to tall buildings!
But it certainly looks to be a solid bugger.

omon

as afgan and chechen experience proved, you more likely to survive on top of apc than inside, if it hits the mine, blast wave will throw you off the apc if outside, inside it will kill you most likely, and you can jump off it and find cover faster if ambushed, otoh small arms fire and flack will pose more threat on outside, for the same reason in russian shitty uaz you have more chances to survive ied, cuz shock wave wiil exit the car thru big gaps, and canvas roof, but not saf and shrapnel. it's a trade off. the stick has two ends.

lemontree

The only thing that can protect you from IEDs is good road opening drills. Design changes can only minimize damage and does not guarantee complete protection .

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TheChosenOne

Open-Top trucks = bad ideal not just against IED's but other aspects such as weather, grenades and boy would I hate being in the vehicle driving threw a urban area.

For instance, having armor on the roof is going to help the gunner vis-a-via for instance against certain aimed EFP's. Since we have different vehicles, M1114, M1115's, ASV's, LMTV's, 5 TON's all of which have a different height with the exception of the m1114 and m1115(Humvee's). The enemy uses different TTP's in regards to what vehicle they are trying to target. Sometimes they target the HUMVEE or sometimes they target a LMTV.

For instance, they may have the EFP aimed for a LMTV or 5 TON and it may go off against a HUMVEE instead. The way that EFP is aimed higher, the EFP may puncture the door at the right angle, then go through the roof, and then hit the gunner's shield and armor on the turret. Same principal applies with say a 155mm artillery shell used as an IED. The shrapnel may do the same thing or it may not.

Stan187

What if some top-attack ATGMs were supplied to the insurgents, by say the Iranians or Syrians.... yikes

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