bobdina
12-07-2009, 12:32 PM
Sappers visit makers of vehicle that saved their lives
An Equipment and Logistics news article
7 Dec 09
Two Royal Engineers who walked away unscathed when their armoured diggers hit roadside bombs in Afghanistan met the people who built the vehicles last week.
Sapper Daniel Boden of 28 Engineer Regiment with the Finning Caterpillar 434E Backhoe Loader
Army Sappers Craig Cook and Daniel Boden were both operating Caterpillar armoured diggers when they drove over the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in two separate incidents while performing construction roles on the front line during 2009.
The diggers were bought under an £8m Urgent Operational Requirements programme which provides the Royal Engineers with diggers and tractors protected against the IED threat in Afghanistan.
Sapper Daniel Boden, serving with 28 Engineer Regiment, emailed Caterpillar, the company which made the diggers, from Helmand after the IED blast to thank them for saving his life. He said:
"I was on a route maintenance patrol, filling in potholes left from previous IED blasts. I had just finished when I turned round to go back to base and I drove over an IED.
"From what I have been told it was quite a large blast - I was sat in the cab and felt the blast. There was a flash and lots of dust everywhere - although I didn't realise at first that it was my vehicle that had been hit.
"I got out of the vehicle and my legs were shaking and I didn't know what to think at first. After I got back to the base I phoned my family and told them initially that I had been in an accident but when I admitted I had been blown up they were really shocked."
Sapper Craig Cook, of 38 Engineer Regiment, also wrote to Caterpillar to thank them for saving his life and allowing him to go home safely to see the birth of his baby daughter.
Sapper Cook was undertaking a route clearance job in June this year when the blast happened. He said:
"Whilst on operations this summer I was tasked with a construction job which involved driving two kilometres along a well-known IED route. Unfortunately I drove over one and it went off. Luckily I walked away unharmed thanks to the improved protection of the plant equipment I was using.
"Knowing that this equipment is safe has given me future faith to go out on further patrols in the machines. I would like to thank the people at Caterpillar from the bottom of my heart, because of their hard work I can go home to see my wife and the birth of my first child. I really can't thank you enough."
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
"It's great to hear that these two brave soldiers escaped unscathed from well-protected equipment bought under an Urgent Operational Requirement specifically for the Afghanistan front line.
"The Royal Engineers have a vital role to play in Afghanistan ensuring the mobility of our troops and constructing bases on the front line, often under dangerous conditions, so it is essential that they can do their jobs safely."
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/SappersVisitMakersOfVehicleThatSavedTheirLives.
An Equipment and Logistics news article
7 Dec 09
Two Royal Engineers who walked away unscathed when their armoured diggers hit roadside bombs in Afghanistan met the people who built the vehicles last week.
Sapper Daniel Boden of 28 Engineer Regiment with the Finning Caterpillar 434E Backhoe Loader
Army Sappers Craig Cook and Daniel Boden were both operating Caterpillar armoured diggers when they drove over the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in two separate incidents while performing construction roles on the front line during 2009.
The diggers were bought under an £8m Urgent Operational Requirements programme which provides the Royal Engineers with diggers and tractors protected against the IED threat in Afghanistan.
Sapper Daniel Boden, serving with 28 Engineer Regiment, emailed Caterpillar, the company which made the diggers, from Helmand after the IED blast to thank them for saving his life. He said:
"I was on a route maintenance patrol, filling in potholes left from previous IED blasts. I had just finished when I turned round to go back to base and I drove over an IED.
"From what I have been told it was quite a large blast - I was sat in the cab and felt the blast. There was a flash and lots of dust everywhere - although I didn't realise at first that it was my vehicle that had been hit.
"I got out of the vehicle and my legs were shaking and I didn't know what to think at first. After I got back to the base I phoned my family and told them initially that I had been in an accident but when I admitted I had been blown up they were really shocked."
Sapper Craig Cook, of 38 Engineer Regiment, also wrote to Caterpillar to thank them for saving his life and allowing him to go home safely to see the birth of his baby daughter.
Sapper Cook was undertaking a route clearance job in June this year when the blast happened. He said:
"Whilst on operations this summer I was tasked with a construction job which involved driving two kilometres along a well-known IED route. Unfortunately I drove over one and it went off. Luckily I walked away unharmed thanks to the improved protection of the plant equipment I was using.
"Knowing that this equipment is safe has given me future faith to go out on further patrols in the machines. I would like to thank the people at Caterpillar from the bottom of my heart, because of their hard work I can go home to see my wife and the birth of my first child. I really can't thank you enough."
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
"It's great to hear that these two brave soldiers escaped unscathed from well-protected equipment bought under an Urgent Operational Requirement specifically for the Afghanistan front line.
"The Royal Engineers have a vital role to play in Afghanistan ensuring the mobility of our troops and constructing bases on the front line, often under dangerous conditions, so it is essential that they can do their jobs safely."
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/SappersVisitMakersOfVehicleThatSavedTheirLives.