Rhino Runner
 Some car specifications not readily available due to trade secrets. (see article body) |
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| Manufacturer | Armour Group, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Production | 2008-present |
| Class | Armored Car |
| Body style | Bus |
| Engine | 6-cylinder turbo diesel 5.88 liters @240 hp |
| Length | unknown |
| Width | unknown |
| Height | unknown |
| Curb weight | 13 short tons[1] |
The Rhino Runner is a type of armored bus used extensively in Iraq, especially on the infamous Route Irish between Baghdad International Airport and The Green Zone. It is a customized vehicle created by Labock Technologies, which was purchased in 2008 by another company called Advanced Blast Protection. In 2010 Advanced Blast Protection was purchased by Armour Group, Inc. The Rhino Runner is made in various sizes with different purposes. Duties include normal transport of civilian contractors and military personnel, and usage by VIPs, including transport of prisoners involved in the Iraqi Special Tribunal.
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[edit] Known specifications
- Custom-built from chassis up.[2]
- Side and back doors, emergency exit hatch on roof.[2]
- Dual A/C system.[2]
- 360-degree protection includes floor, exhaust system protected by armored grille, and glass.[2]
- 12 discreet gun ports[2][3]
- 6-cylinder turbo diesel 5.88 liters 240 hp.[2]
- NIJ Level IV materials (composite armor and bullet-resistant glass) tested against .30 caliber AP (U.S. APM2) 166 grain 2850 feet per second.[2]
- Instead of adapting armoring for an existing vehicle, Labock uses the most appropriate chassis and motors, and custom builds vehicles with protection against AP (armor piercing) bullets and significant bomb blast protection.[4]
- The Rhino Runner is fully protected (sides, front, back, roof, floor, and even glass) against up to Type IV (NIJ standard) including NATO calibers.[4]
- Special composite bulletproof armor, which is so light that it floats in water, and one-way bulletproof glass that prevents bullets from penetrating, but enables you to shoot through the glass from inside the vehicle.[4]
- Available in a range of seating capacities (17, 24 and 36 people) and configurations for purposes such as prisoner transport, ambulance, SWAT, command and control, and they can be made to order.[4]
- Apart from the 360-degree ballistic protection, the vehicles have a side and back door and an emergency exit on the roof and run flat tires for when changing a tire is not a viable option.[4]
Because this is an armored vehicle, certain specifications are not readily available due to trade secrets.
[edit] Incidents
On October 29, 2011, an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber who detonated a vehicle packed with 700 kilograms of explosives near a Rhino Runner. The Rhino Runner was occupied by NATO troops and civilian contractors, in route to the Kabul Military Training Center, Afghanistan. Five ISAF troops (4 American and 1 Canadian) and eight civilian ISAF employees (5 Americans, 2 British, and 1 Kosovan)[5] were reportedly killed in the attack. Three Afghan civilians (two of which were children) and a policeman near the explosion were also killed, and six Afghan adults/two children were wounded. The Taliban claimed responsibility.[6]
[edit] Usage
The Rhino Runner is mostly used for transportation of civilians and the press between the Baghdad International Airport and the Green Zone. It is also used to transport soldiers from one base to another.
VIPs have been known to use the Rhinos, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, General Richard Myers, and Matthew Roloff.
An unpublicized usage of the buses is to transport VIP prisoners, such as the now-deceased Saddam Hussein, between their confinements and the tribunal.
[edit] References
- ^ "The World's Toughest Bus". Damn Interesting. 2006-03-11. http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=429. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g Labock Technologies Specialized Armor Vehicles Retrieved May 4th, 2006
- ^ "The World's Toughest Bus". Damn Interesting. 2006-03-11. http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=429. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ a b c d e The toughest bus on the planet gizmag June 18, 2005 Retrieved May 4th, 2006.
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/30/british-contractors-killed-kabul-attack?newsfeed=true
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/29/afghanistan-suicide-bombi_n_1065005.html
