Bulldozers to Baghdad Sixty-five tons of Caterpillar D-9 dozer

[Robert]

This was a awesome article about the Sixty-five tons of Caterpillar D-9 dozer. Made by Caterpillar modified by the Isrealies and used in combat. I have never seen a dozer with armor plating, bullet proof windows, guns and can withstand gas attacts. Great read thought you guys who love heavy equipment might like this. Great pics and good read.

Below is a copy and paste along with the rest of the article.

http://salutetargets.com/blog/bulldozers-to-baghdad/#prettyPhoto

Pics and specs
http://www.military-today.com/engineering/caterpillar_d9.htm 


The Battle for Fallujah, November 2004: A Marine infantry platoon is pinned down, taking heavy fire from a three story, cinder-block construction warehouse across the broad street in front of them. An eight foot wall with heavy iron doors is in front of the structure. Most of the enemy fire is from the roof. The lieutenant quickly ponders: How best to get across this killing zone and reduce a tough obstacle and enemy position?

USMC D-9 'Lynn' with RPG screen, Fallujah, Nov 2004 w 1-8 Inf BnThe gunny takes one look at the lieutenant and they both nod, thinking and exclaiming the same thing: “Time for Teddy Bears and Tanks. ENGINEERS UP!” Their closest squad leader calls back to one of his NCO’s who further signals behind them down a neighboring ally to their attached combat engineers. With that, a huge Caterpillar diesel clears its throat, and a friendly, familiar belch of black smoke signals the move forward. As Shakespeare said in King Henry the Fifth: “Once more unto the breach.” Sixty-five tons of Caterpillar D-9 dozer, reinforced with its thick Israeli armor kit and other combat modifications, moves forward. A second D-9 is not far behind, and their operators call for their flank security of two outboard M-1 Abrams tanks. Yes, thinks the senior dozer operator as he says into his radio: “It’s all about supporting Maine infantry ‘at the tip of the spear’. Without the grunts, us supporting arms are unemployed.”

[Rams]

Good Stuff!!!      Thanks for posting that.

Don't give a damn what anyone  says, if you were there, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[wiggydotcom]

Robert,

Thanks for posting that. I have 41 yrs in at the Aurora, Illinois Cat plant. We make the biggest wheel loaders that Cat produces...the 950s through the behometh 994. We've had many government contracts though the years for our equipment including the Army. It was always weird to see them going out the door in camouflage green.

Caterpillar has literally reshaped the world, no doubt about that.

This is a pretty cool link to a timeline of some of the world's accomplishments.
But two of the coolest examples from the timeline are the Alaskan Pipeline and the putting out of the Kuwait oil fires that Sadaam set.

Here are those two:

1972-1977 - Alaska
 More than 2,000 Caterpillar machines help construct the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline.
 The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was one of the most difficult and costly construction projects ever attempted. Running 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez across three mountain ranges and 120 rivers and streams, the pipeline was built to withstand earthquakes, wind and extreme cold with a minimal impact on the local environment and wildlife populations. Two Caterpillar dealers - N.C. Machinery Co. and Fabick CAT - formed a joint venture to handle sales and service of Caterpillar machines on the mammoth construction project. As of 2006, the pipeline had transported more than 15 billion barrels of oil.

1991 - Kuwait
 Around 700 Caterpillar machines help extinguish the 750 oil wells on fire in Kuwait.
 When Coalition forces liberated Kuwait in February of 1991, they were confronted with one of the world's worst environmental disasters. More than six million barrels of oil had spilled into the sea off the Kuwait coast. In the oil fields nearly 750 wells had been set ablaze or were left gushing millions of gallons of crude onto the surrounding desert. Raging fires were consuming five million barrels of oil each day. Noxious black smoke hung over the country, filtering out the sun and turning day into night. Prevailing winds spread air-borne pollutants throughout the region to fall as acid rain in Saudi Arabia, Iran and even parts of the Indian sub-continent.
 Within days after the liberation, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) aided by Bechtel Group organized the toughest and longest well blowout and firefighting operation in the history of the oil industry. The operation's ultimate success resulted from the fastest and largest peacetime mobilization of people and machinery ever seen. Caterpillar machines were the principle tools in this operation. By early November, a job which most people thought would take five years was completed.

Also a more sombering way in which Cat was there when needed.

2001 - U.S.
 Within hours of the terrorist attack on September 11, Caterpillar joins forces with Caterpillar dealers to provide machines, power and people for the rescue and relief efforts.
 In the days following the attack, most of the equipment at Ground Zero was manufactured by Caterpillar.

http://www.caterpillar.com/nl/company/history.html


Viewing the timeline, even I didn't realize the vastness and the extent to which our equipment was used throughout history.

[Rams]

I'm thinking Cat should consider taking over what the Israeli's do.   I don't expect that to happen but, I'd like to see it.

[98valk]

so we have tanks there but they're not allowed to fire to take down the building?
tanks fire, job done in a few minutes, bulldozers, hours later with much small arms fire.
corporations and unions running this?

Patton is turning over in his grave.

[Robert]

so we have tanks there but they're not allowed to fire to take down the building?
tanks fire, job done in a few minutes, bulldozers, hours later with much small arms fire.
corporations and unions running this?

Patton is turning over in his grave.

Can you say collateral damage? The tanks can fire and bring down a building but not as controlled and if you read it didn't take hours. Just like Sept 11th take out the main columns and watch the building come down. I would say also cost also would be a factor.

  If you want to totally destroy a city then bomb them, but the problem is where are the people going to live and what about reconstruction costs? We didn't declare war like in Patton's time this is a effort to destroy an ideology rather than a people. In getting rid of terrorists we have adopted a policy to help the Afgans not destroy them totally and try to limit collateral damage. Its not really good PR to destroy someones home and expect them to like you. I don't necessarily agree with this type of limited use of force but that was not my decision and the dozers are awesome at what they are doing.

[Robert]

Robert,

Thanks for posting that. I have 41 yrs in at the Aurora, Illinois Cat plant. We make the biggest wheel loaders that Cat produces...the 950s through the behometh 994. We've had many government contracts though the years for our equipment including the Army. It was always weird to see them going out the door in camouflage green.


Viewing the timeline, even I didn't realize the vastness and the extent to which our equipment was used throughout history.

I loved the story in the article that the guys had to clear a line of ied's and the commander thought they were history but it just laughed off the explosions. I was thinking if you could just get 65 tons moving a bit faster they might even be more useful. But the Israelis are creative if nothing else to armor the cab. I have seen the steel they use on some of the equipment they build its just amazing. The size of the bolts 

[Serk]

The IDF is good at taking normal things and making them work to do whatever it is they need them to do...

Found this fascinating, the IDF takes Ruger 10/22's and customizes them for crowd control usage. (It seems having a 40 grain slug fired into one's shin makes one less excitable about throwing rocks and such)

http://www.rugertalk.com/The-plinker-went-to-war-The-IDFs-Ruger-10-22-Ruger-Talk.html

[Raider]

so we have tanks there but they're not allowed to fire to take down the building?
tanks fire, job done in a few minutes, bulldozers, hours later with much small arms fire.
corporations and unions running this?

Patton is turning over in his grave.

Marine Engineer here with service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  For most types of construction, the D-9 is far more effective at bringing a building than a tank round, or even several tank rounds for that matter.