Efforts Continue to De-Mine Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Efforts Continue to De-Mine Afghanistan
Army News Service | Sgt. Jim Wilt | October 01, 2007


BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Sept. 24, 2007 - For most people, running over a land mine equates to a bad day. For contractors working with the Mine Action Center, it is just a routine part of the job in Afghanistan, one of the most heavily mined countries in the world according to the United Nations' E-MINE Electronic Mine Information Network.

The MAC team is tasked by CJTF-82 to clear contaminated areas in order to establish landing zones and drop zones, as well as, conduct site reconnaissance missions to clear areas for forward operating bases.

On any given day, MAC employees drive Casspir vehicles through mine fields as a part of the de-mining process here. The South African-designed vehicle, with a V-shaped hull and steel wheels that can withstand repeated mine strikes is one of many tools MAC workers are using to make Bagram Airfield and Afghanistan a safer place by clearing land mines, unexploded ordnance and scrap metal.

"The MAC removed more than 25,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance to include small-arm munitions, hand grenades, cluster munitions, rockets, and 250-kilogram (550-pound) bombs within BAF during 2007, said Australian Army Maj. Michael James Wilson, MAC officer in charge. "We also removed hundreds of anti-personnel mines and in particular seven anti-tanks mines."

Removing the mines costs about $50 million over a five-year contract period, Wilson said, noting his executive officer periodically reminds him that "De-mining costs an arm and a leg, but at the end of the day it will save people's arms and legs."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,151075,00.html



uhc comment: The Casspir is an interesting vehicle. According to wikipedia.com,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casspir



A Casspir de-mining at the Bagram Air Base


The Casspir is a landmine-protected personnel carrier (APC) that has been in use in South Africa for over 20 years. It is a four wheeled armoured vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated gear. The Casspir was unique in design when launched, providing for passive mine defence. The main body of the vehicle is raised above the ground, so that if a mine is detonated, the explosion is less likely to damage the crew compartment and kill the occupants. The cross-section of the hull is V-shaped, directing the force of the explosion outwards, further protecting the occupants. The vehicle is also armoured for added mine safety, as well as protection from small arms fire. The Casspir was the inspiration and prototype for the US Marines MRAP project.

The Casspir was ubiquitous during the days of apartheid in South Africa. It was commonly used in the townships for crowd and riot control.