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From the Telegraph, London (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...16.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/10/16/ixworld.html):
It's a JCB... but not as we know it
By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 16/10/2005)
The United States Army, the world's most powerful military organisation, has unveiled its latest secret weapon in the war against terror - a JCB digger that can travel at 60 miles an hour.
Camouflaged to protect it from enemy fire and equipped with machine-guns, armour, bullet-proof glass and smoke dispensers, this latest vehicle is the biggest, fastest and most expensive digger ever to go into production.
It is a far cry from the design of the first digger - the creation of Joseph Cyril Bamford - which made its debut in the towns and villages of Staffordshire during the reconstruction of post-war Britain.
The 12-ton vehicle has a 5.9-litre diesel engine, four-wheel-drive and four-wheel-steer design. It can lift more than two tons and can dig to a depth of 13 feet.
But its most impressive attribute is that it has a top speed of 60mph, twice that of the civilian version, which will enable it to travel at the same speed over rough terrain and on roads as an armoured military convoy.
It is also equipped with "run-flat" tyres, which will allow it to escape from ambushes even if the wheels are damaged by small arms fire, and is fitted with a second seat that will enable another soldier to ride "shotgun".
Chris Sleight, the editor of International Construction magazine, described the machine as "an impressive feat of engineering".
He said: "It is the speed of this machine that sets it apart from others - it can travel at almost 60mph. That's twice the speed of a normal JCB and that is very, very impressive. It will look different to the JCBs seen on building sites. It will have a lot of its vital parts covered with armour plating so it will look quite different. Style will not be an issue."
An industry source added that the Americans decided to make the vehicle armoured after its construction teams in Iraq were constantly attacked by insurgents because they were unable to protect themselves properly.
He added: "The beauty of this machine is that it can get to the front line very quickly and can get out of trouble very quickly. It does 0 to 60mph in a minute, which is not bad for something that will be armour-plated. It also has air conditioning and cup holders for the driver and co-driver."
Although the armoured digger may lack the military allure of a battle tank, it is a vital component of virtually all large-scale operations. The digger, based on the famous JCB backhoe loader, will be used to dig trenches, fill in shell craters, build defensive positions and airstrips.
It is understood that the United States Army version of the machine will begin to roll off the production line in 2007 and will be dispatched to Iraq to take part in the rebuilding programme. The digger's self-defence weapons and additional armour will be fitted after the Americans has taken delivery.
The £100 million contract to provide up to 500 diggers - each costs in excess of £200,000 - was awarded to JCB, the British construction company, this month following a nine-month assessment at the army's proving grounds in Maryland. The award of the contract followed a three-year development programme.
JCB, which was founded in the 1950s, is one of Britain's most successful privately owned construction companies. The small but versatile JCB backhoe loader is the workhorse of the range and has achieved sales of more than 325,000 across five continents.
It's a JCB... but not as we know it
By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 16/10/2005)
The United States Army, the world's most powerful military organisation, has unveiled its latest secret weapon in the war against terror - a JCB digger that can travel at 60 miles an hour.
Camouflaged to protect it from enemy fire and equipped with machine-guns, armour, bullet-proof glass and smoke dispensers, this latest vehicle is the biggest, fastest and most expensive digger ever to go into production.
It is a far cry from the design of the first digger - the creation of Joseph Cyril Bamford - which made its debut in the towns and villages of Staffordshire during the reconstruction of post-war Britain.
The 12-ton vehicle has a 5.9-litre diesel engine, four-wheel-drive and four-wheel-steer design. It can lift more than two tons and can dig to a depth of 13 feet.
But its most impressive attribute is that it has a top speed of 60mph, twice that of the civilian version, which will enable it to travel at the same speed over rough terrain and on roads as an armoured military convoy.
It is also equipped with "run-flat" tyres, which will allow it to escape from ambushes even if the wheels are damaged by small arms fire, and is fitted with a second seat that will enable another soldier to ride "shotgun".
Chris Sleight, the editor of International Construction magazine, described the machine as "an impressive feat of engineering".
He said: "It is the speed of this machine that sets it apart from others - it can travel at almost 60mph. That's twice the speed of a normal JCB and that is very, very impressive. It will look different to the JCBs seen on building sites. It will have a lot of its vital parts covered with armour plating so it will look quite different. Style will not be an issue."
An industry source added that the Americans decided to make the vehicle armoured after its construction teams in Iraq were constantly attacked by insurgents because they were unable to protect themselves properly.
He added: "The beauty of this machine is that it can get to the front line very quickly and can get out of trouble very quickly. It does 0 to 60mph in a minute, which is not bad for something that will be armour-plated. It also has air conditioning and cup holders for the driver and co-driver."
Although the armoured digger may lack the military allure of a battle tank, it is a vital component of virtually all large-scale operations. The digger, based on the famous JCB backhoe loader, will be used to dig trenches, fill in shell craters, build defensive positions and airstrips.
It is understood that the United States Army version of the machine will begin to roll off the production line in 2007 and will be dispatched to Iraq to take part in the rebuilding programme. The digger's self-defence weapons and additional armour will be fitted after the Americans has taken delivery.
The £100 million contract to provide up to 500 diggers - each costs in excess of £200,000 - was awarded to JCB, the British construction company, this month following a nine-month assessment at the army's proving grounds in Maryland. The award of the contract followed a three-year development programme.
JCB, which was founded in the 1950s, is one of Britain's most successful privately owned construction companies. The small but versatile JCB backhoe loader is the workhorse of the range and has achieved sales of more than 325,000 across five continents.
