The Buffalo MRAP of U.S. Marine Corps will be upgraded with a new powered rear door 0304136

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Defence & Security News - United States
 
 
Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 11:58 AM
 
The Buffalo MRAP of U.S. Marine Corps will be upgraded with a new powered rear door.
The U.S. Navy reports that Buffalo Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles operated by the Marine Corps are being upgraded with a rear-door assist device. The rear door of the armored vehicle weighs 500 pounds and is opened manually. It was designed for flat ground, which makes opening it difficult on uneven terrain or in a rollover situation.
     
The U.S. Navy reports that Buffalo Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles operated by the Marine Corps are being upgraded with a rear-door assist device. The rear door of the armored vehicle weighs 500 pounds and is opened manually. It was designed for flat ground, which makes opening it difficult on uneven terrain or in a rollover situation.
The Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle (MPCV) is the recognized leader in route clearance missions around the globe and is currently in service with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France and Italy.
     

The new rear door system, developed by engineers from the Naval Surface Warfare Center using commercial off-the shelf hardware, is electric. It is self-powered and can be activated from two locations within the vehicle and from a switch outside the vehicle.

"If all else fails, we have a manual way to crank out the pump's hydraulic cylinder," said Buffalo Systems Deputy Project Engineer Steven (Tate) Carow. "A Marine can pull out a handle, which fits into a slot in the integrated hydraulic cylinder and he or she can then simply use this to jack the door open."

The Buffalo is a wheeled mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored vehicle built by Force Protection Inc, now a subdivision of General Dynamics.

The Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle (MPCV) is the recognized leader in route clearance missions around the globe and is currently in service with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France and Italy. The Buffalo’s improvements include increased engine power and greater compatibility, increased driving range, increased fording and slope angle performance, enhanced HVAC and a common spare for all six tires.

The enhanced safety features include, larger roof hatches for crew egress and both crew and engine compartment Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems (AFES). With bar armor and an air spade as optional features, the more powerful, improved Buffalo is ready to roll.