Last Friday, near Baghdad, a newly-developed armored vehicle was hit by an IED (Improvised
Explosive Devise). That's not news, you say?
Oh, yes it is. The vehicle sustained no significant damage and no injuries were suffered by passengers or crew.
Here is the story of how this new urban warfare vehicle came to be. It is told by W. Thomas Smith. He is
a contributing editor to NavySEALs.com
You may remember. On March 31, 2004, terrorists and a hysterical mob ambushed a group of four civilian contractors
in the city of Fallujah. They were pulled from their SUVs, killed and mutilated. Two of them were hung from a bridge
crossing the Euphrates River. One body was chained to a car and dragged through the city streets. With Arab television
conveniently nearby, the scene was deliberately created to remind the world of Somalia.
The world-wide propagandist media produced extensive coverage of one of the most highly-publicized acts of pure
terror in the war.
Chris Berman, a Navy SEAL Reservist was also working for Blackwater USA, the security company that employed the
four civilian contractors. Berman was supposed to be a part of that ill-fated team but a schedule change put him
in the south of Iraq, near Umm Qasr. One of Berman's personal friends - Scott Helvenston - had been a member of
the team.
Berman accompanied the four bodies home to Dover, Delaware. He then took his friend home to Florida. The memorial
services completed, Berman was determined to do something beyond just bury his friends. He thought he could save
lives if he could develop an urban combat vehicle. The Humvee is a rough terrain vehicle. The war had shifted to
city streets with many hidden corners.
In a short period of time Berman founded a company he would base in Kuwait - Granite Global Services (graniteglobalservices.com). Using a Ford F-550
for the heavy-duty chassis, Berman developed a fully-armored urban vehicle. The first one was produced in June
of 2004, less than 90 days after the Fallujah atrocity. After testing and refining the vehicle, the first production
model was available in June of 2005.
Nicknamed "The Rock," these urban warfare vehicles are specifically designed to operate in cities
where the occupants need to defend themselves against organized ambush teams, suicide bombers on foot, car bombs,
the dreaded IEDs, snipers and random shooters of unknown origin. The cost? Around $200,000, US.
Riding around in this urban environment in an SUV or pickup is a flat invitation to be attacked. Imagine instead,
riding in a Rock.
The Ford F-550 chassis is not modified in its engine or transmission. Therefore, it can be serviced and parts can
be found at any Ford dealer. . It comes in both 2x4 and 4x4 configurations. The gross vehicle weight is 19,500
pounds. The completely armored vehicle weighs in at 15,500 pounds which means that ten people each weighing 300
pounds with their equipment can be accommodated.
With upgraded suspension, the weight of the armor does not affect stability and the vehicle can cruise at 75 mph.
All tires are fitted with run flat inserts and all passengers are protected by five-way restraints and mine seats
that protect against shock waves. The air conditioning runs off a secondary generator so that patrols with long
waiting periods can switch off the engine.
Two roof turrets mounted with belt-fed machine guns plus six side and rear gun ports allow weapons to be fired
from behind armor plated protection for the floor, side walls, roof and engine. The armor protects completely against
the AK-47 round. The cooling system is protected by a skid plate and the gas tank and radiator are also protected.
Generally, the Rock is configured for a crew of four and six passengers. The front cab allows the driver and front
seat passenger to change positions or rotate with the front gunner without opening the door. The outer skin of
the vehicle has a bolt on feature so that additional armor can be attached.
Most of the current casualties in vehicles come from ambushes and IEDs. Two Rocks coming down the road would bring
with them four turret machine guns and 12 gun ports. Berman says that of the 40 deaths he has dealt with personally,
most were killed in ambushes or by highway mines while bringing food to outlying posts.
Chris Berman thinks that warfare has entered a new phase. He is ready for it. The question is "Are we?"
12/02/05
