3rd FSB up armors Iraqi vehicles

Courtesy Photo | Iraqi army soldiers bring two "bongo" trucks to the metal workers of B company, 3rd forward support battalion, 1st brigade, 3rd infantry division, to be up armored.  

BALAD, IRAQ

11.12.2005

Courtesy Story

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Pfc. Joshua R. Ford
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Since the 3rd Forward Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry division mechanics have been in Iraq they have worked on everything from a basic humvee to an M-1 Abrams tank.

When Soldiers were told that they"d be armoring Iraqi army vehicles, the mechanics didn't miss a step.

"We can fix, weld and tow anything, so we were up for the challenge," said Sgt. Shawn Landeen, auto shop foreman for the service and recovery section, Company B, 3rd FSB, 1st Bde., 3rd Inf.Div.

For the past six months, mechanics and metal workers from the 3rd FSB have been helping the Iraqi forces up-armor their vehicles.

"The purpose of up armoring these vehicles is to give the Iraqis added protection while conducting operations," said Maj. Phillip E. Graham, military transition team leader, 369th Armor Battalion, 1st Bde., 3rd Inf. Div.

"The Iraqi army need assistance up-armoring their trucks so they send the trucks here, and we armor them," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Nicholson, machinist, Co. B, 3rd FSB, 1st Bde., 3rd Inf. Div.

The motor pool's support operations shop has been pushing the mechanics to get these vehicles armored so Iraqi forces can conduct operations on their own, Nicholson said.

There are no instructions on how to up-armor the vehicles used by the Iraqi army, so the mechanics had to come up with their own blueprints and start from scratch, said Spc. Ernesto Almazan, metal worker, Co. B, 3rd FSB, 1st Bde., 3rd Inf. Div.

Some of the trucks the 3rd FSB mechanics have armored are Russian five-ton trucks, civilian pick up trucks and what the mechanics call civilian long bed "bongo" trucks, Nicholson said.

These trucks primarily serve as troop carriers for the Iraqi army.

The mechanics have to look at the structure design for each of these vehicles before armoring them.

"After we look at the structure design we take measurements on the vehicle," Almazan said."We take measurements of the gas tank, the bed of the truck, the cab and the sides."

The mechanics then cut the metal to the precise measurement taken.

"The floor bed is the hardest part to armor on the trucks because we have to pull the whole thing out, armor it, and then put it back in," Almazan added.

Mechanics also have to check if the vehicle is structurally sound.

"We have to make sure that the truck won't roll over easily after the armor has been put on," said Almazan.

"Once we look at that we will put an armor plate anywhere we can," said Landeen.

The 3rd FSB motor pool works on three or four trucks at a time and each truck takes anywhere from three to four days to complete, Landeen added.

"This is really giving us the chance to do something challenging and different. It's a good change of pace," Landeen said.

The shop has received numerous coins and awards for the outstanding job done armoring the Iraqi army's vehicles.

"This is just part of our mission here to assist the Iraqi army by up-armoring their vehicles so they can conduct independent operations and that brings the U.S. one step closer to pulling out of Iraq," added Landeen.

As long as the Iraqis keep bringing trucks to be up armored, the 3rd FSB will be there to get the job done.

"So far these guys have done an outstanding job and the Iraqi's seem to think so as well," said Nicholson.

• Date Taken: 11.12.2005
• Date Posted: 11.12.2005 13:53
• Story ID: 3730
• Location: BALAD, IQ