Operation 'Monster Garage' complete

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Mohamed Khalifa Wasseem, a maintenance officer with 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Federal Police Division, and Chief Warrant Officer Troy Hope, officer in charge of the Monster Garage, Company B, 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, discuss final details prior to the handover and departure of four armored trucks from the Monster Garage on Contingency Operating Station Hammer, May 13. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Lindsay Rowland)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.13.2010

Courtesy Story

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

By Capt. Lindsay Rowland

BAGHDAD – Lt. Col. Mohamed Khalifa Wasseem with 1st Brigade, 1st Federal Police Division, and fellow Iraqi policemen gathered in the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division conference room with members of Company B to have a final meal together in honor of the transfer of the last of 12 "Monster Garage" trucks, May 13.

The four Iraqi security forces trucks, parked in front of the BSB tactical operations center, were handed over and driven off Contingency Operating Station Hammer by the Iraqis, marking the end of an eight-month operation that began when Company B hit the ground in October 2009.

Welders and machinists from Company B armored the trucks, which are considered a "combat enabler" for mounted urban security operations, and then turned them over to the Iraqi federal police as part of a partnership building operation.

"The focus is on providing maximum protection to the federal police as well as providing a functional weapons platform to enhance the tactical capabilities of the trucks," said 1st Sgt. Tyrone Francis, assigned to Company B.

The Monster Garage received an assortment of Ford and Chevrolet model trucks on which to work.

"The trucks were all brand new, but with each truck, we had to evolve the blue prints. We received different types of vehicles and could not use the same blue prints for each one," said Chief Warrant Officer Troy Hope, officer in charge of the Monster Garage project.

Because of Hope's planning prior to deployment, the welding shop was able to order the correct welding tools that would later aid them with the mission. Tools like the lathe and plasma cutter are not traditionally found in an authorized welding trailer, so Hope ensured Company B had these additional tools on-hand for the deployment.

The project initially started with four welders; two metal workers organic to Company B, and two Kellogg, Brown and Root contractors – Dave Harvey and "Big" Steve Pennel. The four welders worked 12-hour shifts with operations running 24 hours a day in order to complete the first two orders, totaling six trucks. The last set of trucks was more of a brigade effort.

"The biggest issues we faced with the Monster Garage [were] connecting the armor to the body due to the difference in the metal thickness. Other issues were keeping everything square and in place to be attached to the truck," said Pfc. Joshua Simons, a welder assigned to Company B. "The doors to the Ford F350 are not designed to be fabricated or manipulated. We often did a lot of trial-and-error to get it right."

"The [forward support companies] provided additional support; one welder per FSC who stayed with Bravo for the duration of the project," said Capt. Charles Sessions, the commander of Company B.

"It is a great relief to have this mission complete," said Sessions, "and it could have only been done with the hard work and effort of our very dedicated Soldiers."

• Date Taken: 05.13.2010
• Date Posted: 05.21.2010 09:12
• Story ID: 50055
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ