Clearing mines in Afganistan??

[1rovert]

In 1944 we had 'Flail Tanks' to clear mines off the beaches for the invasion.

My question is: Why cannot these be used in Afganistan??

I may be thick, but I would have thought, this would be better than our troops today being blown apart.

[youngmafbog]

yes, that had crossed my mind too. I guess the type of explosive used means this is not viable.
I stillfind it odd no solutiin has been found.

[Zeuhl]

I'm no expert either, but i think the flailing tanks were good for clearing roads of contact or magnetic fuse mines.

in afghanistan, the bombs are tucked away in walls, ditches and other nooks where they are harder to get at.
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[McMouse]

I believe many of the IED's are planted in the narrow alleyways of villages and they try to clear them in a way that doesn't damage the local homes and businesses. Traditionally the British way in these situations is to "win hearts and minds" by being sensitive to the needs of innocent civilians whereas the US just go in and kick ass.

[moskaski]

in some areas, vehicles would not have access and so the flail could not be used. also the ground on the roads is incredibly hard so im not sure how easily a flail would penetrate, the ones on d-day were used on beaches

The americans have a device which is pretty much a row of wheels, attached to a frame and guided infront of vehicles, when a wheel hits a mine, the frame and not the vehicle gets destroyed. They also have another vehicle, which may be a flail, but i cant remember exactly, but this would be used in the desert areas of the country.

[anotheoldgit]

Were not robots put to good use in Northern Ireland and on the mainland of England?

These could now be used to seek them out and for them to be detonated in controlled explosions.

[Zeuhl]

Where are the Israelis and their bulldozers when you need 'em?

They are good at winning hearts and minds (not)!
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[Zeuhl]

we used robots in NI for blowing open car boots and van doors when we suspected bombs.

Like a lot of battlefield technology, not always as easy to use as one might like - but sacrificing Engineers is just wrong.

And this plays to Taliban strengths. They aren't especially capable but they can produce and place these IEDs ad infinitum - and will only get better at it.
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[moskaski]

i imagine robots are not used due to cost, and again these need to be transported in vehicles so could not be used on all patrols or areas.

[anotheoldgit]

/// doesn't damage the local homes and businesses. Traditionally the British way in these situations is to "win hearts and minds" by being sensitive to the needs of innocent civilians ///

Now we all know it is far better to sacrifice our troops lives, providing we don't harm or upset 'Johnny Foreigner'.

I would make it the 'innocent civilians' responsibility to keep their own streets and buildings clear of mines.

We don't want to appear un-British at all costs do we?

[zimmer]

I was giving an informed answer to a pertinent question aog.

[moskaski]

lol

[jake-the-peg]

Robots are used - a lot there was a program on BAEs work with them a few weeks back on (cover your ears RebelSouls) BBC2

Check out TALON robots

http://www.shephard.c...-in-afghanistan/1701/

They are designed to be rapidly repaired and replaced but bombs are cheaper and easier to make than robots and you need bomb disposal people to man them

[jake-the-peg]

sorry Qinetiq (what was DERA) not BAE

[Zeuhl]

///I would make it the 'innocent civilians' responsibility to keep their own streets and buildings clear of mines///

Interesting concept.

How would you make that work exactly? So that our troops feel safe to patrol down them?
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[trt]

Good point Zeuhl.

I would have thought it better to just pull the troops out now, as when they are supposed to in 5 years, it will just go back to how it was, run by the Taliban!

[rov1200]

Why not use the captured taliban soldiers to walk in front of the platoon?

[Whickerman]

Want to see how it's actually done in fields etc?

http://www.pearson-en...duct.aspx?id=2&type=m

[jake-the-peg]

Hmmm Whickerman

How do you get one of those to Helmand? doesn't look like it'll fit under a Chinook

[anotheoldgit]

/// and you need bomb disposal people to man them ///

You also need bomb disposal people to de-fuse the mines.

The trouble is they are being killed off at an alarming rate, or are they more dispensable than machines?