Marines Push 'Breachers' Against Taliban Lines

[tekisui]

Source: Military Times

SISTANI, Afghanistan — In comes “The Joker.”

That’s the nickname given by the crew to one of the 72-ton, 40-foot-long Assault Breacher Vehicles. Fitted with a plow and nearly 7,000 pounds of explosives, the Breachers, as they are commonly known, are the Marines Corps’ answer to the deadliest threat facing NATO troops in Afghanistan: thousands of land mines and roadside bombs, or improvised explosive devices, that litter the Afghan landscape.

The Breachers, metal monsters that look like a tank with a cannon, carry a 15-foot-wide plow supported by metallic skis that glide on the dirt, digging a safety lane through the numerous minefields laid by the Taliban.

If there are too many mines, the Breachers can fire rockets carrying high-grade C-4 explosive up to 150 yards forward, detonating the hidden bombs at a safe distance so that troops and vehicles can pass through safely.

The detonations — more than 1,700 pounds of Mine Clearing Line Charges — send a sheet fire into the air and shock waves rippling through the desert in all directions.

Reporters watched the “Breacher” in action Wednesday as Marines edged closer to Marjah, a southern Taliban stronghold that NATO commanders plan to attack in the coming days in the largest joint NATO-Afghan operation of the Afghan war. Troops are expected to face a massive threat from mines and roadside bombs as they push into Marjah, 380 miles southwest of Kabul.

“This may be the largest IED threat and largest minefield that NATO has ever faced,” said Brig Gen. Larry Nicholson, the commander of all Marines in southern Afghanistan.

Marjah assault

Several Breachers — including “The Joker” and its twin “Iceman” — will be used in the Marjah assault. Commanders hope they will make a huge difference as troops pierce through layer after layer of minefields circling the town.

more: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2010/02/ap_marine_afghanistan_assaultbreachervehicles_021110w/

[bigtree]

1. mines and other ieds

. . . absolutely (potentially) devastating to these troops ordered to advance on Marjah. I'm of course concerned about the Afghans in the way of the assault, but I'm also sympathetic to the soldiers the military leadership and the politicians expect to carry out this deadly Kabuki dance.

[Mari333]

2. american news covers nothing

at least BBC does cover things

http://www.vbs.tv/de/watch/vbs-news/obama-s-war

[Robb]

6. What's that, the Spike Jonze news channel?

Kind of interesting stuff. I'd been meaning to check that out.

[unhappycamper]

3. Kinda reminds me of this:

[M155Y_A1CH]

4. The "Breachers" are definitely siege machines

Of the classic tradition.
:kick:

[alfredo]

5. images