| Revision as of 06:35, 7 September 2003 editRei (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users3,303 editsm "Terrorist" is non-POV. Plus, that paragraph was demonstratably false.← Previous edit | Revision as of 06:46, 7 September 2003 edit undoWji (talk | contribs)47 edits Re-incorporated previous material -- what he was saying was true, but not the whole story.Next edit → | ||
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| The '''Caterpillar D9''' is a large bulldozer developed by the ]. The largest industrial versions weigh over 50 tons on their own. Their size and durability has made them popular for ] applications as well. There is also a larger version of the D9 and it is designated D10. | The '''Caterpillar D9''' is a large bulldozer developed by the ]. The largest industrial versions weigh over 50 tons on their own. Their size and durability has made them popular for ] applications as well. There is also a larger version of the D9 and it is designated D10. | ||
| The military version of the D9, used for roles in ] and, more recently, the ], is one of a few types of armored bulldozers. The D9, specifically, has earned notoriety for this due to its use in the ] and its involvement in the death of ]. It |
The military version of the D9, used for roles in ] and, more recently, the ], is one of a few types of armored bulldozers. The D9, specifically, has earned notoriety for this due to its use in the ] and its involvement in the death of ]. It has a 400hp engine, a blade 14 feet long and 7 feet high, and two-inch thick bulletproof glass. ] are all either shielded by the exterior armor or inside ] jackets. Weighting 62 tons with light armor and without weaponry, some versions are fitted with extra ] plating, ]s, and/or ] launchers, and can weigh over 70 tons. The armored version has a crew of two - one drives, and the other acts as lookout and gunner. | ||
| The D9s can be fitted with serveral kinds of blades, including mine-breaching devices. | The D9s can be fitted with serveral kinds of blades, including mine-breaching devices. | ||
| The Israeli ] are using the D9 for digging moats, clearing terrain obstacles and engineering tasks. The D9s are also used to clear ] and booby-trapped areas. The heavy armour installed by the IDF allows the D9s to work under heavy fire in dangerous battle-zones. |
The Israeli ] are using the D9 for digging moats, clearing terrain obstacles and engineering tasks. The D9s are also used to clear ] and booby-trapped areas. The heavy armour installed by the IDF allows the D9s to work under heavy fire in dangerous battle-zones. | ||
| The D9 has been used in standoff situations with Palestinian gunmen barricaded in buildings. The bulldozer simply collapses the structure, killing anyone inside. This method is preferred to risking the lives of Israeli commandos. It has also infamously been used in demolition of Palestinian homes and orchards. Invariably it is claimed that "terrorists" used them as cover to fire on Israeli troops, but the practice has been widely condemned as collective punishment, not a legitimate security measure. | |||
| The Americans used the D9s to clear roads from burnt armored vehicles and eract moats, send-barriers and field fortifications. It was also used to destroy a house which hosted snipers who shot on American base. | The Americans used the D9s to clear roads from burnt armored vehicles and eract moats, send-barriers and field fortifications. It was also used to destroy a house which hosted snipers who shot on American base. | ||
Revision as of 06:46, 7 September 2003
The Caterpillar D9 is a large bulldozer developed by the Caterpillar Tractor Company. The largest industrial versions weigh over 50 tons on their own. Their size and durability has made them popular for military applications as well. There is also a larger version of the D9 and it is designated D10.
The military version of the D9, used for roles in Israel and, more recently, the United States, is one of a few types of armored bulldozers. The D9, specifically, has earned notoriety for this due to its use in the Al-Aqsa Intifada and its involvement in the death of Rachel Corrie. It has a 400hp engine, a blade 14 feet long and 7 feet high, and two-inch thick bulletproof glass. Hydraulics are all either shielded by the exterior armor or inside steel jackets. Weighting 62 tons with light armor and without weaponry, some versions are fitted with extra armor plating, machine guns, and/or grenade launchers, and can weigh over 70 tons. The armored version has a crew of two - one drives, and the other acts as lookout and gunner.
The D9s can be fitted with serveral kinds of blades, including mine-breaching devices.
The Israeli Combat Engineering Corps are using the D9 for digging moats, clearing terrain obstacles and engineering tasks. The D9s are also used to clear mine fields and booby-trapped areas. The heavy armour installed by the IDF allows the D9s to work under heavy fire in dangerous battle-zones.
The D9 has been used in standoff situations with Palestinian gunmen barricaded in buildings. The bulldozer simply collapses the structure, killing anyone inside. This method is preferred to risking the lives of Israeli commandos. It has also infamously been used in demolition of Palestinian homes and orchards. Invariably it is claimed that "terrorists" used them as cover to fire on Israeli troops, but the practice has been widely condemned as collective punishment, not a legitimate security measure.
The Americans used the D9s to clear roads from burnt armored vehicles and eract moats, send-barriers and field fortifications. It was also used to destroy a house which hosted snipers who shot on American base.
The typical cost of an armored D9 is over 1 million dollars (US).
More information about the IDF Caterpillae D9: