Buffalo (mine protected vehicle)

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Buffalo H
[description]
Service history
Used by United States Armed Forces, United Kingdom, French Army, Canadian Forces, Italian Army
Wars Iraq War, Afghanistan War
Production history
Manufacturer Force Protection Industries
Specifications
Weight 45,320 lb (20,560 kg) (curb weight)[1]
56,000 lb (25,000 kg) (max weight)[1]
Length 27 ft (8.2 m)
Width 8.5 ft (2.6 m)
Height 13 ft (4.0 m)
Crew 2+4
Armor All wheels and centerline mine protected
Engine Mack ASET AI-400 I6
330 KW (450 HP)
Payload capacity 38,680 lb
Transmission Allison HD-4560P automatic
Suspension 6x6 wheeled
Ground clearance 15 in (410 mm)
Fuel capacity 85 gal
Operational
range
 300 mi (483 km)
Speed 65 mph (105 km/h)

The Buffalo is a wheeled mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored vehicle built by Force Protection Inc.

History

The Buffalo vehicle was designed based on the successful South African Casspir mine-protected vehicle.[2] While the Casspir is a four wheeled vehicle, 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 present in all tires. 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 armoured 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 work on the A2 version, with major changes in the Axle Tech rear axles, Cat C13 engine, Cat CX31 transmission and suspension, along with addition upgrades to the HVAC system, hood and front bumper. the easiest way to identify an A1 version from the A2 version is the front bumper of the A2 has a larger profile. The last Buffalo A2 truck 795 will be completed in June 2014. Force protection was bought by General Dynamics Land Systems.

Variants

  • Buffalo H
  • Buffalo A2[7]

Operators

File:Buffalo operators.png
Map with Buffalo operators in blue

Current operators

Notable appearances in media

The Buffalo appeared as the vehicle aspect 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."[16]

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.jpg

    Buffalo mine-protected vehicle and GI

  • Buffalo showing remote manipulator arm

  • Buffalo IED.jpg

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

  • Buffalo in Italian service

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buffalo fact sheet, Force Protection. (requires login)
  2. ↑ Buffalo Armoured Vehicle. armedforces-int.com
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ BAE’s LROD Cage Armor. Defense Industry Daily
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ http://www.asd-network.com/press_detail/18127/Buffalo_A2_Undergoes_Testing_at_White_Sands.htm
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. mirror
  11. ↑ (French) [http://www.ttu.fr/francais/Articles/tf700.html La Task Force 700 se prépare au théâtre afghan, 06/28/2008, TTU
  12. ↑ French Military Orders Buffalo Vehicles from Force Protection, 07/23/2008[dead link]
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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