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This is a vehicle you do *not* want to try and rush...

By The Armorer on February 20, 2008 | | Comments (9)

...from the side.

AF M113 with claymores used as a Quick Reaction Force vehicle at the Theater Internment Facility, Camp Bucca, Iraq.

Senior Airman Travis Hummel (standing) and Airman 1st Class Adam Giebitz patrol Feb. 10 in an M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier at the Theater Internment Facility at Camp Bucca, Iraq. Airmen Hummel and Giebitz are deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and are assigned to the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's quick response force. The QRF responds to issues within the TIF in which a show of force or escalation of force is required beyond the capabilities for the TIF's guard force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Jason McCree)

Those Claymore mines on the side of that M113 make that a very dangerous vehicle, and clearly only usable in a very specific situation - i.e., crowd control where the crowd contains no one but legal targets. Which is the purpose of this vehicle, as the caption notes. Not coming to a police force near you anytime soon. But something like this might well come to a police state near you...

If you want a larger version of the picture, click here.

Update: In the comments, Murray makes an important point. While the vehicle and it's mines may be scary - the guy inside is who you have to be *really* respectful of...


Update 2: The strength of blogs... someone usually knows something you don't - in this case, OldGaijin. His contribution in the comments were that the "Claymores" are far more likely to be M5 Modular Crowd Control Munitions, or MCCM's. So, I went trolling for them - and what I found likely confirms OldGaijin's information - and my reaction to the picture validates the concept:

M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition The M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition (MCCM) is a non-lethal munition used to incapacitate large group of personnel with the Flash Bang and Impact of rubber balls. It can be deployed by mounted or dismounted troops and provides a visual deterrent due to similarity in appearance to the M18A1 Claymore munition. The MCCM can be fired singularly or in a group and has an effective range of 5 to 30 meters with a 60 degree coverage.

Info courtesy our friends at GlobalSecurity.Org.

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9 Comments

By Murray on February 20, 2008 1:33 PM
I used to caryy a co2 revolver when i was driving a 113. The infantry used to delight in running up the front of the wagon and butt stroking the driver with their SLR's. I only had to shoot two cabbage heads in the face before they worked out which wagon not to try it on. Respect has to be earned, but fear is faster.
 
By oldgaijiin on February 20, 2008 2:32 PM
Those "Claymores" are probably (better be) M5 MCCMs (Modular Crowd Control Munition)loaded with rubber balls vice steel pellets. DODIC is WA97 vice K143. Explosive weight is .0321 vice 1.57 pounds. [I've never even heard of 'em before - but it makes sense. I think I'd still view them as Claymores... -the Armorer]
 
By oldgaijiin on February 20, 2008 2:40 PM
M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition The M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition (MCCM) is a non-lethal munition used to incapacitate large group of personnel with the Flash Bang and Impact of rubber balls. It can be deployed by mounted or dismounted troops and provides a visual deterrent due to similarity in appearance to the M18A1 Claymore munition. The MCCM can be fired singularly or in a group and has an effective range of 5 to 30 meters with a 60 degree coverage. The Modular Crowd Control Munition is similar in operation to a claymore mine, but it delivers nonlethal effects to the threat by delivering a strong, nonpenetrating blow to the body with multiple submunitions (600 rubber balls). This round has a wide range of capabilities for tactical, law enforcement, I/R, and US military detention operations. In crowd control, it provides a nonlethal counterpersonnel capability that can be used to break contact, enforce a buffer zone (standoff distance), or demonstrate a show of force. This round is designed to be fired at the center mass of adult threats at ranges of 5 to 15 meters. It has a shot arc covering between 60 to 80 degrees (laterally). The MCCM will be utilized in the ground employment. In the ground employment mode it will increase fixed site and area security capabilities against potentially hostile forces without the sole reliance of the application of deadly force and will be used by military forces to apply the minimum force necessary while performing missions of and site and area security of key facilities. The MCCM is intended to be a direct fire, low hazard munition that produces an N-L effect upon impact by incapacitating personnel through robust flash-bang and stinging plastic balls. The MCCM uses 600 PVC balls (32 caliber) set in a two-layer matrix of inert binder chemically similar to children's "glow-dough". Sheet explosive of .042" thickness is used as the propellant. The sheet is sandwiched in-between the ball matrix and a polyethylene foam layer. The balls are launched in a fan shaped distribution pattern with a maximum effective range of 15 meters. The MCCM outside characteristics are similar to that of the M18A1 lethal Claymore with the exception of the back cover which has molded raised diamonds for tactile discrimination by troops wearing work gloves, and/or in MOPP level IV and is a different color (light green). The MCCM is initiated using a blasting cap assembly and initiator supplied in the bandoleer.
 
By Cannoneer No. 4 on February 20, 2008 5:48 PM
Somebody give that TC an AirSoft .50 cal to stand behind. He's making me feel naked. Something about Air Force and tracked armored fighting vehicles does not compute.
 
By Justthisguy on February 20, 2008 6:40 PM
Ah, yes, Cannoneer, I mind the Ren and Stimpy cartoon about the armored paratroops. Yup, that thing won't fly. That aside, I've been wondering when the real world would catch up to SF. Keith Laumer and David Drake both had nasty anti-personnel weapons on the sides of the tanks in their stories. Sometimes there ain't no infantry around to keep the pesky enemy from crawling all over yer AFV and spraying your optics with black paint. P.s. About 100 yds away from me as I type, there is an M4 tank at the County Museum. On inspecting it, I decided that I could disable it with my revolver if allowed to sneak up un-molested and empty the piece through the armor louvres into its radiato
   
By sandman6actual on February 20, 2008 8:41 PM
SNERK!!! Hey, John, why am I thinking you're wanting one of these?? Make a cool addition to the Castle Armory.... Heck, I want one myself. Would do a good job in the traffic here around base.
 
By SezaGeoff on February 21, 2008 6:00 AM
I would go for the MCCM as well. There is far too much explosive in a Claymore. I heard a story about someone in Vietnam who set up his truck with 1/4" plates for armour, with Claymores for fire suppression attached to the outside. Not realizing that an explosion was a spherical event (even though the distribution of ball-bearings is directional), he luckily tested the set up (that was meant to protect him and his crew), and blew the plates together in the truck bed. Even a M113 would suffer from claymores going off on the outside, and would be regarded as sledgehammer/nut material. I have a few Fiocchi "Anti-crime" cartridges - 12G loaded with about 12 00-buck sized rubber balls. Ideal for the loadout of your 7-shot pump to discourage those bent on evil, but unfortunately not readily available. (1 blank, 1 anti-crime, 2 x no.7 shot and the rest BB or buck - loaded in reverse order of course.) Though the bloody government took away my beautiful (function-wise) Fabarm SDASS pump gun! Bastards.
 
By Murray on February 21, 2008 2:39 PM
I'll drive. Going to need a new revolver though.
 
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