This Thursday the 2nd, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground operations reached their fifth day. Now the Israeli troops have the help of armored and armed bulldozers.
The purpose of these vehicles is to move through the densely populated terrain and narrow streets of the Gaza Strip.
North American excavators
About 100 excavators were manufactured by the North American company Catterpillar and named D9R and mobilized to the front in the Palestinian territory. The vehicles are controlled by soldiers from the Combat Engineering Corps and are tasked with clearing the way and clearing bombs.
Special armor
The D9R is equipped with highly durable armor to protect Israeli soldiers from Israeli attacks. Hamas. The protection is in the form of a cage and covers a large part of the vehicle. The windows and pillars of the excavator cabin are armored. Because what worries the Israeli armed forces most are the terrorists’ rocket launchers.
It is not the first time that bulldozers have been used in the fight against Hamas terrorists. According to the British newspaper The Independent, armored excavators were used in Operation Cast Lead between 2008 and 2009.
Excavator with firepower
The U.S.made excavators sent to the Israel Defense Forces aren’t just used to clear paths through enemy territory. This is because the vehicles have defensive capabilities. After a series of structural changes, the excavators received machine guns.
The D9R must be operated by two soldiers. While one controls the vehicle, another is responsible for the armament and communications that connect the excavator to the Israeli army’s intelligence headquarters.
On Tuesday, October 31st, the Israeli troops advanced further into Palestinian territory under the command of Hamas terrorists. In addition to armored vehicles, tanks also helped Israel’s advance.
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