My work Toyota Landcruiser, just after the Tank mine.

[mreagleeyes]

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2002128&...

The reason I left the security world and now find myself as a carpenter. The device was a Double stacked Anti-Tank Mine dug in to the road. We went over it with the front right tyre and this is what it did.
The vehicle luckily was armoured up to a B6 standard so was obviously Bomb proof. No casualties and we found the trigger man.

[SMKurt]

Bugger me! Bet that was a interesting few seconds when it went off.

[fluffnik]

T-Cut?

[The Riddler]

That looks like fun! Hope everyones ok!

[MadDad]

bloody hell - that was a lucky escape! Is that the A4 into Slough?

[mreagleeyes]

MadDad said:

bloody hell - that was a lucky escape! Is that the A4 into Slough?

Close but no cigar. A road just South of Ar Ramadi that runs for 30 km and is only open to the military and security vehicles. The most dangerous road in the world, always a sleepless night before that mission.

[mreagleeyes]

SMKurt said:

Bugger me! Bet that was a interesting few seconds when it went off.

It happens so quickly that you would'nt know if you had gone to see the mates in the sky. Blink and it's happened.
No casualties on that one but plenty on others.

[Dr G]

Holy crap - that nails the point home!

I suppose there's no more effective way of yelling 'get orf my land!'

Both impressed and very glad you walked away

[OllieWinchester]

Any way of posting the pics up here? Can't get on facebook at work...

[Great Pretender]

[Flanders.]

Something tells me that'll be a write off .

Edited by Flanders. on Tuesday 30th June 20:17

[matty_doh]

Most dangerous road in the world and you stayed and took pictures? Hats off to ya fella' :P

It certainly took a bit of a bash. I wouldn't have liked to see the results if it wasn't as well made and bomb proof (in more ways than one - <3 Toyota build quality). Very lucky that no one was killed from that. Did the blast send bits of the car (like the tyre) flying? or has it all fused together?

Edited by matty_doh on Tuesday 30th June 21:08

[mreagleeyes]

matty_doh said:

Most dangerous road in the world and you stayed and took pictures? Hats off to ya fella' :P

It certainly took a bit of a bash. I wouldn't have liked to see the results if it wasn't as well made and bomb proof (in more ways than one - <3 Toyota build quality). Very lucky that no one was killed from that. Did the blast send bits of the car (like the tyre) flying? or has it all fused together?

Edited by matty_doh on Tuesday 30th June 21:08

There great vehicles the old Toyota's, a little top heavy though to say the least, they are over three tonnes and have a turbo fitted, so good for 100 mph, I always found speed is your best bet against an IED.
Your more likely to be killed from being smashed around inside the vehicle after the blast than the vehicle giving way. The windows are about 50mm thick and good against a 7.62 round, not armour piercing though, they'll go straight through it.
As for the tire, no idea, one minute it was there helping us on our way and then it was gone. Doubt it fussed though as that takes monster heat and the ordinance they use is a bit dated.

We got the cameras out because there is a Gunship hovering about a Klick out looking for the trigger man, they got him.

[mreagleeyes]

Another vehicle. This time a road side bomb that went off a millisecond to late so just hit the back of the vehicle. It was driven back to camp on the rims, again everyone OK.

[mreagleeyes]

Small arms fire against the client vehicle. This vehicle was less than a week old. Not bad for over $500,000 of armour. That's right, each vehicle was shipped to Jordan and came back with half a million dollar receipts attached.

[Frik]

What, no runflats?

Fantastic bits of kits these plated Landcruisers. I very nearly ended up selling them a few years ago.

[mreagleeyes]

Frik said:

What, no runflats?

Fantastic bits of kits these plated Landcruisers. I very nearly ended up selling them a few years ago.

They all had run flats, fine if you've got a nail in it, different matter if the thing has been blown up. When I first went out there we used standard vehicles that we use to buy in Jordan or Kuwait, no armour, just every window had a gun hanging out of it, LOL, the good old days.
You could have retired on what they pay for armoured vehicles.

[dugt]

if you dont mind me asking, who is AEGIS? dont answer if you dont want to? just never heard of them?

and what are the round bits on the windows? for shooting out of?

doug

[mreagleeyes]

dugt said:

if you dont mind me asking, who is AEGIS? dont answer if you dont want to? just never heard of them?

and what are the round bits on the windows? for shooting out of?

doug

No problem, AEGIS are a British security company that operates in hostile countries all over the world. You may remember them from a video a few years back http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-573452887...


The 'Holes' are Gun Ports, yes we shoot out of them, best to leave the the side ones closed though as there snipers are getting quiet good.
Before I left we were getting all shots on the drivers window at head height, these guys are about 400m away and we are doing about 80 mph on average and there hitting the target. Crazy days but no better buzz.

[Taita]

Out of interest what military experience do you have? Were you with the Para's as from my limited understanding it can be hard to break into the contractor world unless you have experience from Para/RM/Them/<insert any SF/SFSG unit>?