Technicals and Guntrucks

[Jschmus]

I apologize if this is a re-post, but Talking Points Memo have a slideshow of images related to the ongoing "war" with the drug cartels in Mexico, and it included this image:


Not a gun-truck, per se, but the sophistication of the mods is astounding.

[ChernayaAkula]

^ Wow! You'd think that something as huge as this would be a little too "high profile" for organized crime.

Now, what to do about these? M72 LAW for police use? Or maybe a 40mm HESH round for M203s/Milkor MGL or other shoulder-fired grenade launchers?

[Maverick]

Either that or just neutralise it by taking the (unarmoured) wheels out.  Bit hard to terrorise the populace sitting still or suicidal to get out to change the tires (if they carry spares) when faced with Mexican police who are no doubt toting all sorts of automatic nastiness.

Of course, the second question (and perhaps more important one) how 'armoured' is the armour?  Is it just steel plate or a serious attempt?  I'm thinking the latter.

Regards,

Mav

[Arc3371]

How about a tractor?

[pyro-manic]

Even if it's just steel plate, I suspect it's enough to deflect most small-arms fire, with the combination of angle and thickness. And it's more likely intended to be used against other drug gangs than the police.

[raafif]

those have both been posted on this thread earlier.  The tractor is Croatian.  African countries are famous for armouring bulldozers & graders -- Israeli settlers armoured mini-dozers against arab snipers in the 1950s/60s.

Central American countries (both Army & DrugLords) are famous for their improvised armoured trucks -- "AstroBoy" was the first I came across 

[NARSES2]

I was wondering when this idea of improvised armour first occured ? Not sure the Belgium Minerva's of WWI could be called improvised ? So is it possibly by Frei Korps units in 1918/1919, Spanish Civil War or were there some earlier examples in the New World ?

[scooter]

I was wondering when this idea of improvised armour first occured ? Not sure the Belgium Minerva's of WWI could be called improvised ? So is it possibly by Frei Korps units in 1918/1919, Spanish Civil War or were there some earlier examples in the New World ?

For ground vehicles or vessels?  I know the French prior too and US Navy, during the American Civil War, were working on iron clad line of battle ships, like Gloire and USS New Ironsides.  And some of the wooden hulled USN frigates had a sort of chain mail armor.

[raafif]

I was wondering when this idea of improvised armour first occured ?

well , assuming you mean "modern" not the first Knights of Olde, there were "armoured" (extra-thick wood) horse-drawn wagon-trains just as the gun was coming into service.  Followed by the armoured traction-engine & wagons in the Boer War.  Most early Armoured-Cars were improvised, certainly the very first RNAS ones were.

I think it will always continue as the "sandcrawler" in Libya has shown.

[rickshaw]

I was wondering when this idea of improvised armour first occured ? Not sure the Belgium Minerva's of WWI could be called improvised ? So is it possibly by Frei Korps units in 1918/1919, Spanish Civil War or were there some earlier examples in the New World ?

Try armoured trains in the 2nd Boer War.  There were several notable examples of where steam engines had improvised armour added to them.  The weirdest was nicknamed "Hairy Mary" as its armour consisted of lengths of hawser, about 2 inches thick draped over the body and cab of the engine.   Basically it looked a bit like Dougal from "The Magic Roundabout".  

Apparently the rope was able to absorb rifle fire from about 500 metres range and as the Boers were for the most part, only really armed with rifles, it was sufficient to do the job (as long as they didn't get closer of course ).

[NARSES2]

Yup should have been clearer. Meant land weapons after the advent of "modern" firearms. So Hussite war waggons etc don't count

So in that case I suppose it would have been the Boer War as suggested. Thanks gents

[Old Wombat]

What about the American Civil War?

I'd be surprised if there wasn't something of the kind built during that conflict.

[Mossie]

Yes, they were first used in the American Civil War & saw some use in the Franco Prussian War:
http://betweentwowaves.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1675&start=60

[Weaver]

Some interesting vehicles and equipment for technicals here, including ZPU-1 AAMGs:

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmodel-miniature.perso.sfr.fr%2Findex.html

[starship1]

I strongly believe that if the Mexican people were allowed to have firearms, they would be laughing their butts off at such a vehicle, as they "brew" it up.