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http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/03/05/371007-cp.html
New Mercedes-Benz G Wagons arrive in Kabul to replace ageing Iltis jeeps
By LES PERREAUX
KABUL (CP) - The first beefy new jeeps to replace the ailing Iltis rolled off a transport plane Friday to waiting Canadian troops.
Eighteen new Mercedes-Benz G Wagons were delivered to the Kabul airport, the first of 60 to arrive over the next week. Happy Canadian soldiers got to test out the four-wheel drive armoured jeep on the 20 kilometre drive through downtown Kabul back to Camp Julien. "I love it," said Priv. Martin Lavoie, an army driver who is out in light jeeps almost every day. "It‘s really impressive. It‘s really really good, superior to the Iltis in every way."
The G-wagon will eventually replace the much-maligned Iltis, a lighter, topless vehicle with no armour.
Three Canadian soldiers have died in the past six months in explosive attacks targeting the Iltis. In October, two soldiers died when at least one anti-tank mine was set off. In January, a soldier died when a suicide bomber targeted his jeep.
Col. Alain Tremblay, the head of the Canadian contingent in Afghanistan, said the new armoured jeep probably would not have saved the soldiers in the mine attack. However it might have made a difference in the suicide attack Jan. 27 that killed Cpl. Jamie Murphy and injured three soldiers.
"In that case, it is highly likely this vehicle would have made a difference," Tremblay said.
"But this is not a tank. It has a limited anti-mine capability. But it‘s better than the Iltis, obviously."
The G Wagon will be used to bolster Canada‘s fleet of vehicles for patrols and transport, however some of the smaller Iltis jeeps will remain in use on Kabul‘s narrow streets.
Most of the 1,900 Iltis in the Canadian fleet have been in service for about 20 years. Frequent breakdowns have plagued the jeep on the Afghanistan mission.
The Canadian government has ordered 802 G-wagons and 1061 sport utility vehicles to replace the Iltis. The arrival of the new jeeps was sped up after the October attack.
The rest of the jeeps will be delivered to Canada over the next year.
New Mercedes-Benz G Wagons arrive in Kabul to replace ageing Iltis jeeps
By LES PERREAUX
KABUL (CP) - The first beefy new jeeps to replace the ailing Iltis rolled off a transport plane Friday to waiting Canadian troops.
Eighteen new Mercedes-Benz G Wagons were delivered to the Kabul airport, the first of 60 to arrive over the next week. Happy Canadian soldiers got to test out the four-wheel drive armoured jeep on the 20 kilometre drive through downtown Kabul back to Camp Julien. "I love it," said Priv. Martin Lavoie, an army driver who is out in light jeeps almost every day. "It‘s really impressive. It‘s really really good, superior to the Iltis in every way."
The G-wagon will eventually replace the much-maligned Iltis, a lighter, topless vehicle with no armour.
Three Canadian soldiers have died in the past six months in explosive attacks targeting the Iltis. In October, two soldiers died when at least one anti-tank mine was set off. In January, a soldier died when a suicide bomber targeted his jeep.
Col. Alain Tremblay, the head of the Canadian contingent in Afghanistan, said the new armoured jeep probably would not have saved the soldiers in the mine attack. However it might have made a difference in the suicide attack Jan. 27 that killed Cpl. Jamie Murphy and injured three soldiers.
"In that case, it is highly likely this vehicle would have made a difference," Tremblay said.
"But this is not a tank. It has a limited anti-mine capability. But it‘s better than the Iltis, obviously."
The G Wagon will be used to bolster Canada‘s fleet of vehicles for patrols and transport, however some of the smaller Iltis jeeps will remain in use on Kabul‘s narrow streets.
Most of the 1,900 Iltis in the Canadian fleet have been in service for about 20 years. Frequent breakdowns have plagued the jeep on the Afghanistan mission.
The Canadian government has ordered 802 G-wagons and 1061 sport utility vehicles to replace the Iltis. The arrival of the new jeeps was sped up after the October attack.
The rest of the jeeps will be delivered to Canada over the next year.
hehe...
