Soldiers in Afghanistan Say MRAPs Have Their Weak PointsOctober 02, 2009
 Soldiers in Afghanistan are saying that mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, or MRAPs, are not as useful as they are made out to be, and are difficult to navigate along Afghanistan's narrow, muddy roads. But worse, soldiers say, the vehicles are not impenetrable, according to an article in the New York Daily News. "We can make bigger trucks, but they just make bigger bombs," one soldier told the Daily News. Afghan roads are difficult to traverse during the summer, and nearly impossible to cross during the winter. One soldier noted that the MRAPs "roll over and get stuck, which leaves us vulnerable until we can get a tow." Soldiers, however, admit that the MRAPs are far safer than Humvees. The bottom of an MRAP is higher off the ground, allowing the vehicle to better withstand an explosion. They were designed for deployment in Iraq, where Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, were commonly used. Soldiers noted that road conditions in Iraq are much better in Afghanistan. The incidence of IED attacks has rapidly risen in Afghanistan, requiring Defense Secretary Robert Gates to order more than 2,000 MRAPs for use there. According to the Daily News, commanders have directed soldiers not to drive Humvees anymore. An additional feature that adds protection for soldiers is the virtual gunner system called CROW, or common remotely operated weapon system. It allows a gunner to remain safely inside a protected vehicle while using a computer screen to survey the landscape, return enemy fire or attack. Soldiers told the Daily News, however, that the system cannot replace the human eye or ear. "It limits your situation awareness," a gunner told the Daily News. |
|
