Despite First Casualty, New Vehicle Viewed Well
A new MRAP vehicle was involved in its first casualty recently. Despite that event, the new ambush resistant, mine resistant vehicles are seen as a much-needed improvement in the ongoing Iraqi mission.
A soldier in the Army, a Gunner, was killed and three fellow soldiers were injured when a very large, very deeply buried IED exploded on January 19th. This was the first direct death involving the new MRAP. It is believed that one or more of the injured soldiers would not have survived the blast without the protection the new vehicle gave them.
Geoff Morrell addressed a Pentagon media gathering yesterday. “We believe that even though it was a very large bomb, the crew compartment itself was not breached,†said Morell. Morell is Press Secretary for the Pentagon. “The injured members were inside and came away with cuts and bruises for the most part, and some broken bones in their feet,†stated Morell.
The Mine Resistant Attack Vehicle has a very unique V hull, and is resistant to most explosive attempts. “These new MRAP vehicles are proving to be just as strong as we had hoped, and very lifesaving due to their construction,†said Morell. “Reports given in the press tend to question the usefulness of the new vehicles,†said Morell. “In fact, if it was not for the new MRAP’s these soldiers would likely not be alive today,†said Morell.
It was reported in the New York Times that the MRAP vehicles were not doing what they were supposed to do. “The attack just served to prove that they are functioning even better than we had hoped for,†said Morell.
The attack and the single death are under investigation. The vehicle was blown up and tumbled over and over. It appears the gunner was either on top of the vehicle or hanging out of a hatch that resulted in his death.
