Story by: Spc. Matthew McLaughlin
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - If the Buffalo that once roamed the great plains of America had an impenetrable metal frame and a gigantic claw, they probably wouldn't be an endangered species.
In fact, they would prove quite resourceful in the global war against terrorism.
Soldiers from the 27th Engineer Company, Fort Bragg, N.C. are keeping the streets safe from improvised explosive devices with the Mine Clearing Purpose Vehicle "Buffalo," a massive armored vehicle built to uncover IEDs and sustain their dangerous explosions.
The Buffalo was originally intended to deal with land mines, but the Army has adapted the vehicle to deal with the constant problem of IEDs. Currently, there are 14 Buffalos in Iraq, with as many as 15 being contracted for production, according to Defense Daily.
The 27th Engineers use the Buffalo to clear roads within the Commando Brigade's area of responsibility. Sgt. Kevin Chose, a team leader with 27th Engineers, said he and his Soldiers are having a tremendous positive impact keeping the streets of Baghdad safe from IEDs.
"Every day before we go out, we say "let's go find some bombs,"" he said.
"Even finding one IED makes a big difference. We know finding one saved lives. We're all motivated to find something."
Soldiers from 58th Engineers have already discovered and helped disarm many IEDs in less than a month, Chose said. They also helped take out several IEDs in the unconventional way: getting hit.
"We get a first hand view of IED impacts," said Spc. Mark Campo, 27th Engineers. "It was like slow motion. I saw the cloud of debris coming towards me."
All Soldiers in the Buffalo said they would rather have an IED hit them in a well-protected Buffalo than their comrades in a humvee.
One example of the Buffalo's resistance to IEDs the engineers were especially proud of probably saved the lives of unsuspecting Iraqi Army Soldiers.
On Dec. 4, the 27th Engineer Soldiers were approaching a suspected IED when it detonated only a few feet in front of them. No one was hurt in the attack and the Buffalo was not damaged, but moments later IASoldiers passed in an unarmored humvee.
If the IED went off on the IA Soldiers, it would have been far worse, Chose said.
"It reaffirmed to me what we are doing over here," he said. "If we weren't there, eight or 10 guys wouldn't be going home."
Soldiers in the Buffalo also gained confidence in the abilities of their vehicle. A blast at such a close range would cause serious damage to a regular armored vehicle, but the Buffalo kept rolling, Campo said.
"I opened the top hatch to pull security," he said. "There was debris everywhere, but there wasn't a scratch on (the Buffalo.)"
The design and intention are different from any armored vehicle.
The outside looks like a disgruntled trucker's dream come true. Aside from its nearly impenetrable exterior, the Buffalo also features a remote-controlled mechanical claw used for inspecting IEDs.
The inside of the Buffalo, however, looks more like a commercial aircraft than a combat vehicle. Five imitation-leather seats line the right and left windows. There is even a television monitor like those used in high-priced automobiles, used to examine potential IEDs.
Gale Aguilar, Force Protection executive officer, said the Buffalos" success directly contributes to the Army's decision to spend $11.8 million on new Buffalos.
"Our vehicles are saving lives by protecting our troops against the threat of landmine attacks and improvised explosive devices, which have been a deadly feature of the current combat."