Engineering:Buffalo (mine protected vehicle)

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Short description: Light tactical military vehicle
Buffalo
A U.S. Army Buffalo explosive device detection vehicle, assigned to 1221st Route Clearance Company, South Carolina Army National Guard, digs up an improvised explosive device (IED) during route clearance 140624-Z-XH297-029.jpg
Buffalo being used to dig up an IED during training
TypeMRAP
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used bySee Operators
WarsIraq War, Afghanistan War
Production history
ManufacturerForce Protection, Inc.
Produced2003
Specifications
Mass45,320 lb (20,560 kg) (curb weight)[1]
56,000 lb (25,000 kg) (max weight)[1]
Length27 ft (8.2 m)
Width8.5 ft (2.6 m)
Height13 ft (4.0 m)
Crew2+4
ArmourAll wheels and centerline mine protected
EngineMack ASET AI-400 I6
330 KW (450 HP)
Payload capacity38,680 lb
TransmissionAllison HD-4560P automatic
Suspension6×6 wheeled
Ground clearance15 in (410 mm)
Fuel capacity85 gal
Operational
range
300 mi (483 km)
Speed65 mph (105 km/h)

The Buffalo is a wheeled mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored military vehicle built by Force Protection, Inc., a division of General Dynamics. It is the largest vehicle in Force Protection's line-up, followed by the Cougar MRAP and the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV).

History

The Buffalo vehicle was designed based on the successful South Africa n Casspir mine-protected vehicle.[2] The Casspir is a four-wheeled vehicle, while the Buffalo has six wheels. Buffalo is also fitted with a large articulated arm, used for ordnance disposal. Both vehicles incorporate a "V" shaped monohull chassis that directs the force of the blast away from the occupants.[3]

Buffalo is also now equipped with BAE Systems' LROD cage armor for additional protection against RPG-7 anti-tank rounds.[4] Glass armor is sufficient at 6 inches thickness. Run-flat tires are mounted on all six wheels. The Buffalo combines ballistic and blast protection with infrared technology to detect the presence of dangerous ordnance and a robotic arm to disable the explosive ordnance. Personnel operate the Buffalo’s 30-foot robotic arm and claw from within the armored hull via a mounted camera and sensory equipment, to safely dispose of mines and IEDs.

In 2004, the United States had a limited number of Buffaloes in service, with an order for 15 more, at a cost of $10 million.[5] On June 6, 2008 Force Protection, Inc delivered its 200th Buffalo to the U.S. Military.[6]

In 2009 Force Protection started producing the A2 version, with major changes in the Axle Tech rear axles, Cat C13 engine, Cat CX31 transmission, and suspension, along with additional upgrades to the HVAC system, hood and front bumper. The easiest way to identify an A1 version from the A2 version is that the front bumper of the A2 has a larger profile. The last Buffalo A2 MRAP truck 795 was completed in June 2014. Force Protection was acquired by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in 2011 for $350 million.

Variants

  • Buffalo H
  • Buffalo A2[7]

Operators

Map with Buffalo operators in blue

Notable appearances in media

The Buffalo appeared as the vehicle mode of the Decepticon Bonecrusher in the movie Transformers (2007), and in the sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Production designer Jeff Mann stated, "We found this image of a mine-sweeping vehicle that had a huge arm with what appeared to be a fork on the end. So we called the people who owned it, hoping there was a chance we could rent it or buy it, but when we got the data, it turned out the fork was only 14 inches (360 mm) wide—they had totally cheated the whole thing in Photoshop.... We had to make an appliance to fit over the existing arm, that wouldn’t bounce around too much because it was about 10 feet (3.0 m) wide."[14]

Buffalo vehicles and JERRVs are used by the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team in the television show "Bomb Patrol Afghanistan".[citation needed]

See also

Gallery

  • Buffalo mine-protected vehicle and GI

  • Buffalo showing remote manipulator arm

  • A Buffalo that survived with its cabin intact after an IED attack took its two front wheels and axle off

  • Buffalo in Italian service

  • Buffalo in British service with additional slat armour

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buffalo fact sheet , Force Protection. (requires login)
  2. ↑ Buffalo Armoured Vehicle . armedforces-int.com
  3. ↑ "Combat engineers comb streets of Iraq for IEDs". United States Department of Defense. August 2005. http://www.ng.mil/news/theonguard/2005/2005-08.pdf. 
  4. ↑ BAE’s LROD Cage Armor. Defense Industry Daily
  5. ↑ "Buffalo helps protect from bullets, blasts". Department of Defense. 2004-09-10. http://www.dix.army.mil/PAO/Post04/post111904/bullets.htm. 
  6. ↑ "200th Buffalo MRAP delivered to military". Upi.com. 2008-06-06. http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2008/06/06/200th_Buffalo_MRAP_delivered_to_military/UPI-15781212771850/. 
  7. ↑ "Buffalo A2 Undergoes Testing at White Sands". http://www.asd-network.com/press_detail/18127/Buffalo_A2_Undergoes_Testing_at_White_Sands.htm. 
  8. ↑ (in French) ["TF700". http://www.ttu.fr/francais/Articles/tf700.html.  La Task Force 700 se prépare au théâtre afghan, 06/28/2008, TTU
  9. ↑ French Military Orders Buffalo Vehicles from Force Protection, 07/23/2008
  10. ↑ "Mine-protected Transports". armada international. 2013. https://www.armadainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ARM_COM_1302_03_MineProtectedTransport.pdf. 
  11. ↑ "Major U.S. Arms Sales and Grants to Pakistan Since 2001". https://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/196190.pdf. 
  12. ↑ SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
  13. ↑ "Force Protection Receives Multiple Buffalo Vehicle Orders". Business Wire. 2008-11-13. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20081113005694/en. 
  14. ↑ "The Making Of The Transformers Movie - Production Design: The Robots, The Vehicles, The Sets". ENI. 2007-06-15. http://enewsi.com/news.php?catid=190&itemid=11213. 

External links





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