May I Introduce...The MRAP

"Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?" (o51r15)
08/13/2013 at 13:54 • Filed to: May I Introduce

When I called for suggestions for things to write about (introduce to us newbies), I didn't get to many responses. 5 or 6 to be more exact. But one of those suggestions was from DanMosqueda. He said: "How about something unique and interesting to your local area?". My local area changes frequently being in the Air Force and all so I decided that I'll do a post about something local to my fellow service members downrange.

So that's where this comes in. The MRAP or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. Honestly, I could probably just do a photo dump of this thing and you'd get how awesome this is. Just look at it. It's a beast! Imagine having that thing while driving through morning traffic in L.A.! Instead, though, I'll actually give you a little bit of knowledge about it. As well as a few pictures.

One of the cool things about the MRAP's is that there a few different variants (with their respective names) based on size. There are three categories of MRAP's. The first is the MRAP-MRUV. Mine Resistant Utility Vehicle (the military does love their acronyms). It has been nicknamed the Caiman 4x4 and was designed to be smaller and lighter and used in urban environments. Category 2 is the MRAP-JERRV or Joint Explosive Ordinance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicle. Designed to be convoy lead, troop transport or ambulance as well as used for Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Combat Engineering. This one is known as the Cougar 6x6. The third and final category is just the MRAP and is dedicated to clearing out mines and IED's and is known as the Buffalo MRV.

One of the cool things about the MRAP is it has no common design. They're all unique to the manufacturers but the majority have a distinct "V" shape hull to deflect blast coming from beneath them. The MRAP is a fairly new vehicle, entering service in 2007 and used mainly by the U.S. forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They can be blown up. A lot. Just look at that. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near it but I can see that it can do its job! Other than seeing how much damage they can take, imagine how fun 4-wheeling in one would be? I could see that being a damn good time!

So I hope you enjoyed this and please give me some suggestions on the next May I Introduce. It'll help me out and give me more things to learn and write for your reading pleasure.

DISCUSSION (38)

desertdog5051 > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:05

How about a schedule of your day. What you eat, duties you perform, etc.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:06

I got to ride in these bad boys all the time when I was in Iraq, and honestly, the thing seems like driving it is comparable to driving a limo, but damn are those things tough, they can take a lickin and keep on kickin, that is until, some dumbass engineer decides he wants to take a turn going too fast in Kuwait...

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
08/13/2013 at 14:09

I see...know from experience? Ha ha gotta love the engineers!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > desertdog5051
08/13/2013 at 14:09

For me? Really? That's easy. I go to work, fix computers, browse Jalopnik/Oppo, go home. That's it.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:10

How about the grand daddy of the MRAP, the Casspir

Kinja'd!!!

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:10

Haha yeah, I love those engineers, they were great guys, but, some dumbass private decided to take one of these huge fuckin beasts and take a turn, I believe it was, at 50 mph or so? Flipped the damn thing on it's side, luckily it was in Kuwait during training and not during a convoy

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:11

Fix computers? You a helpdesk guy as well?

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
08/13/2013 at 14:15

I was at my last base. Now I just fix the computers. No more answering phones.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
08/13/2013 at 14:16

I'm sure someone got really pissed at him. And he probably never drove again!

desertdog5051 > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:16

Got to be more to being in the Air Force than that.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/13/2013 at 14:16

Alright...seriously. That thing looks cool. It honestly looks like a Russian version of the MRAP.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:18

Not entirely sure what come of it, but I never heard of that private again, I think they sent his ass home.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > desertdog5051
08/13/2013 at 14:18

Not much that I can tell you. All I do is fix computers for people. It's just another job. Wake up next to my wife, go to work, come home and relax with my wife and kid, then go to sleep and let it start all over again.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
08/13/2013 at 14:18

Good. I wouldn't want that kid driving my MRAP when I get sent downrange.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:24

Yeah, it's a bit scary being in those things when you think you are going to roll over. Another time I was in a Stryker and the guy driving it, took a turn going at least 35 or so, and yeah, he almost flipped it, wheels on one side had actually come up a bit.

Kinja'd!!!

I mean, how do you manage to almost flip this shit?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:25

It's South African, the DOD actually used one as the test bed for the MRAP.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
08/13/2013 at 14:35

Give me the keys and an open track and I'll show you how!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/13/2013 at 14:36

That's pretty cool actually!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:41

Also, if you look closely in the top picture, you'll see that someone's day is about to get ruined. Badly.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:52

Yeah, I remember as a kid watching the SANDF clear mine fields in Mozambique with those things. They'd simply driver through the mine field setting the mines off.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/13/2013 at 14:52

You gotta imagine either how crazy or how ballsy those people were to willingly drive over mines.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 14:55

They would wear shirts that said "I'm a bomb technician, if you see me running try to keep up" so yeah, kind of crazy.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/13/2013 at 14:59

Well at least they had a sense of humor.

Mosqvich > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 15:00

Of course you're forgetting to say that you could conceivably get to fix computers in Afghanistan or somewhere else. It's also possible you could deploy as a JET airman and do something completely different. So, don't sell yourself short!!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Mosqvich
08/13/2013 at 15:02

Ha ha well as a Senior Airman who hasn't deployed yet, I hadn't yet heard about all those things.

Mosqvich > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 15:09

So I was the Combat Support Flight Commander at Balad, but really worked most of the time in Kuwait. My job was topping of training for Joint Expeditionary Task airmen. After coming home, I was involved in the combat training pipeline. Typically one would go to Ft Dix or some other Army sites and get basic combat skills and how to lead a convoy. The interesting thing is that typically a fairly junior NCO would lead the convoy. You'd probably be a Heavy Weapons guy in a turret. Check out this FB page for a little bit of info.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 15:11

South African's have a very distinct sense of humor, quite sick on occasion.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/13/2013 at 15:14

That's fine with me. I'd get along with them!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Mosqvich
08/13/2013 at 15:15

So you were one of the instructors fro CST? I've heard that's actually pretty fun!

Mosqvich > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 15:22

Actually I was the Director of JET training for a bit until they found an O-6. I then became his Deputy Director. For a time I was the Ops Officer for the 602d TRG(P) as well. I never did any instruction, I just made sure it happened.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Mosqvich
08/13/2013 at 15:23

Ahh ok. I get it now. Awesome. So where is "Home Station" for you now?

Mosqvich > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 17:08

Peterson AFB in Colorado. HQ AFSPC.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Mosqvich
08/13/2013 at 17:24

Colorado. One of the places the Wife and I are looking at for a CONUS base next. I'm currently at Elmendorf, Alaska but we want England next.

Mosqvich > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 17:47

I haven't been Elmendorf, but I've been to Eileson. Alaska is beautiful. You'll love England. It's great.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Mosqvich
08/13/2013 at 17:58

Hopefully I'll get it. I haven't been to Fairbanks yet but I got some train tickets to go up there in a couple weeks. It'll be nice!

doodon2whls > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/13/2013 at 22:50

The MRAP Family of Vehicles is very large - bigger than any one unit would realistically see unless they were a logistics outfit. The MRAP Joint Program Office has published an MRAP smart book just to help DoD civilians and military members alike understand all the variants. These are the official MRAP programs as of a few years ago (pre-M-ATV);

https://acc.dau.mil/adl/en-US/4329…

The MRAP-ATV (M-ATV, top pic in this article) is a lighter more mobile and maneuverable MRAP variant developed after years of experience with the larger/heavier and therefore less mobile and maintenance intensive platforms.

doodon2whls > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/13/2013 at 22:56

The BAE RG-31 and RG-33 are based on South African designs from OMC...

The South Africans used them as Armored Personnel Carriers.

Doctor Shieldsy > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
08/14/2013 at 11:56

Ghostride the MRAP!!