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The War in Iraq: Tactics
Why There Are No Exploding Fuel Trucks in Iraq
by James Dunnigan
March 21, 2005
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
While half the casualties in Iraq are from roadside bombs, rarely does a
coalition truck carrying fuel or ammo get hit and destroyed. Some divisions have
gone an entire year with none of their fuel or ammo trucks being destroyed on
the road. How can this be? Simple, the fuel and ammo convoys always get the
highest level of protection. This includes air cover in the form of a
helicopter, often a helicopter gunship. Lower priority convoys have to make do
with a UAV, or no air cover at all. Air cover is not magic, the MPs or combat
troops providing the ground escort also have to be watching carefully for
camouflaged roadside bombs. It’s also important to vary the schedule and routes
for fuel and ammo convoys. The chances of getting attacked on the road have
always been low, but if you are out there several times a week, you are likely
to experience at least one roadside bomb, or some gun fire, at least once in a
12 month tour. But if you take enough precautions, you can reduce the chances of
getting hit bad, to near zero. And that’s what’s happened with the most
dangerous cargo of all.
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