OK, having spent this morning shovelling over a foot of snow from around my car, and with neighbours assisting in clearing the roads within our estate, only to be thwarted in any journey by what are still terrible driving conditions in this part of the country, I can't help wondering, why does the DF rely on 4x4 wheeled vehicles.
Our winter lasts from November to March. It always has done. Some parts of the country are completely impassable for the majority of these months. Our vehicles are designed to be used on roads, or prepared tracks, away from this you want to have a good recovery vehicle handy.
For the rest of the year, venturing off these roads and tracks can also be a hazard. The mountans are boggy after a heavy shower. Once the sod is broken you are struggling with wheels.
During the summer months, we frequently have periods of heavy rain which leaves most of the country flooded. Your 4x4 or 6x6 may get through, depending on your intake position, but in deep floods there is always the danger of striking submerged obstacles.
This latest emergency has seen the DF heroically provide all wheel drive vehicles for use of the emergency services. However on many occasions even these have to be pulled from the ditch, mostly by agricultural vehicles.
So it isn't practical to have the DF in tractors. However, there is an answer, a vehicle that is already in limited use in both the DF and Civil defence. Tried and tested in civilian and military service worldwide.
Its as practical as a Nissan or Pajero (with greater capacity). Powered by either a Ford transit or Mercedes engine. Tried and tested worldwide. Rubber tracks so you can drive them on road, if you need to. Alternatively fits happily on the back of a DROPS.
Also available as an armoured version if so required.
One would think it had been designed for Ireland.
Our winter lasts from November to March. It always has done. Some parts of the country are completely impassable for the majority of these months. Our vehicles are designed to be used on roads, or prepared tracks, away from this you want to have a good recovery vehicle handy.
For the rest of the year, venturing off these roads and tracks can also be a hazard. The mountans are boggy after a heavy shower. Once the sod is broken you are struggling with wheels.
During the summer months, we frequently have periods of heavy rain which leaves most of the country flooded. Your 4x4 or 6x6 may get through, depending on your intake position, but in deep floods there is always the danger of striking submerged obstacles.
This latest emergency has seen the DF heroically provide all wheel drive vehicles for use of the emergency services. However on many occasions even these have to be pulled from the ditch, mostly by agricultural vehicles.
So it isn't practical to have the DF in tractors. However, there is an answer, a vehicle that is already in limited use in both the DF and Civil defence. Tried and tested in civilian and military service worldwide.
Its as practical as a Nissan or Pajero (with greater capacity). Powered by either a Ford transit or Mercedes engine. Tried and tested worldwide. Rubber tracks so you can drive them on road, if you need to. Alternatively fits happily on the back of a DROPS.
Also available as an armoured version if so required.
One would think it had been designed for Ireland.
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