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If you’re traveling one of the toughest bus routes on Earth you might want to be in a vehicle tough enough to take everything thrown at it. That bus is called a Rhino Runner and it’s a cross between a local metro bus and a tank.
One route the Rhino Runner runs is what’s called “Route Irish,” the local name for the highly dangerous road between the secure Green Zone in Baghdad and the Baghdad Airport. There were so many ambushes, Improvised Explosive Devices, and insurgent attacks on this route that only helicopters were used for some time and State Department personnel were forbidden to travel the highway.
That’s where the Rhino Runner comes in. The Runner is the toughest bus on the planet and it only takes passengers to where no unprotected vehicle could possibly go. And its had more than a few opponents take shots at it.
In November 2004, a convoy of three Rhino Runners was on Route Irish when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden BMW between the first and second vehicles. At a distance of two meters from the second Rhino Runner the terrorist detonated more than 250 pounds of explosives creating a crater 6 feet wide and 2 feet deep. There was a dust cloud over 1,000 feet long.
There were seventeen passengers and a driver on the second Rhino at the time of the explosion. There were no injuries at all in what the Army called a “massive explosion.”
Here is an account of an Army Captain who was in the second Rhino Runner:
Several weeks later another two buses were attacked in Baghdad by a BMW sedan loaded with an estimated 1,000 pounds of explosives. Once again, the bomb was detonated between the two Runners causing a huge explosion. None of the forty passengers on either of the buses were injured.
The Rhino Runner, manufactured by Labock Technologies of Florida, is a hand-made bus built from the chassis up. Everything is custom made and Rhino Runners are built to withstand every caliber of bullet, including armour-piercing rounds. The composite armour is so light it floats on water, and a special one-way bulletproof glass prevents bullets from coming in but you can shoot out through the glass just fine. The bus comes in seating configurations of 17, 24 and 36 and has run-flat tires when you don’t want to go out and change one. It weighs 13 tons, has 12 gun ports and costs about $275,000.
The buses are not just used by the US military but also by: The United Nations, The Vatican, Lloyd’s of London and the Department of Justice for the nation of Columbia. It is also the vehicle that takes Saddam Hussein and other V.I.P. prisoners between their confinements and the Iraqi Tribunal.
The vehicle’s interior is quite spartan and comes in any color you want… as long as it’s a muted gray. But despite the drab colors and hard seats, the Rhino Runner continues to be the ride of choice on the most dangerous roads in the world.
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That is amazing. I wonder how fuel efficient of one of those beasts is.
What’s with these terrorists and their obssession with using BMW’s? Do they explode better? If they don’t like BMW’s, they should just give them to me. You’d think they’d take a little more of a patriotic stance and blow up American cars???
The use of BMW’s as vehicles for “terrorist” activities dates back to at least the early 1970’s in Germany, where the Baader Meinhoff gang (among others) used the quick and agile BMW 2002 as an escape vehicle when robbing banks, etc. It was known briefly in the press as the “Baader Meinhoff Wagen”. That said, BMW’s are reliable, sturdy vehicles, universally favored by the ruling classes, and as such can often pass unchallenged on the road.
They don’t want their suicide cars breaking down on the way to the target, and not many people drive Japanese cars in Iraq so they’d kinda stand out.
I want to know how that glass works…
since the armor floats on water and there’s not much inside, it probably gets better mileage than my suburban
The stuff about stops bullets from outside but can shoot thru from inside out is pretty heavy stuff. Car jacker comes up and shoots at you a few times then you smile and blow him away thru the glass, Surprise!!
I guess the cost of those vehicles is the prohibiting factor in why the army doesn’t use them for their own men. Seems like that would be a great vehicle to be in when traveling in and around Iraq. Damn interesting and good advertisement for the manufacturer of the vehicle since I have never heard of them before.
Yeah, I’m sure reading this article will cause countless thousands of American citizens to go out and purchase their very own…
It would be a good idea if the street buses in Rio de Janeiro were like that. 178 street buses have been completely destroyed by gangmembers in Rio in the last 5 years. One of them was completely burned down with its passengers inside while the drug dealers shot at those who tried to escape. It was a “protest” against the death of a drug kingpin in a shootout with the police.
they look like they’re made of cardboard.
damn interesting nevertheless….
By all rights, I have to say that $275K just doesn’t seem that heavy a price tag. Your average nice Ferrari is going to cost that much. I would just about bet money that the typical APC is going to cost a good bit more with a lot less performance. Not to mention the rather sad track record of HUMVEEs in protecting troops. (Let’s face it; they’re still a glorified heavy-duty Jeep). But I suppose then that our wonderful Military contractors would be losing a few tax dollars, and we can’t have that now, can we?
I know a few people who would kill to have one of these, only for the appearance of conspicuous consumption.
Arcangel said: “I guess the cost of those vehicles is the prohibiting factor in why the army doesn’t use them for their own men. Seems like that would be a great vehicle to be in when traveling in and around Iraq. Damn interesting and good advertisement for the manufacturer of the vehicle since I have never heard of them before.”
I doubt that many of the people reading this article will go and buy one. Most likely they will visit the company’s website to check out their other interesting products.
Did you know that they can armor regular SUV’s like the suburban?
vranghel said: “I doubt that many of the people reading this article will go and buy one. “
Well what would an American want one of those vehicles for anyway unless they were going to travel in Iraq or Afganistan for that matter? Fact is the many soldiers stationed over there have loved ones here that would definitely want to know why Rumsfelt couldn’t get armoured vehicles over there. Remember the big rukus the soldiers put up refusing to travel i Iraq unless the vehicles were properly armoured? Now with Damn Interesting articles like this one, people who have loved ones over there can see that there are other ways to better protect their family and friends overseas in war zones and can raise the issue of better equipment with the army and President. It’s sad that we have soldiers getting injuried and killed due to inferior equipment. Kinda tells you what a soldiers life is really worth.
Of course the average American would have no use of those vehicles but you have to think outside the box and think of the people who do need them. Knowing that this type of vehicle even exists is the first step in demanding that it is provided to those who need it most.
Is anyone else reminded of the super secret army Winnebago that Bill Murray and Harold Ramis stole in STRIPES?
I’m inclined to agree with ShenWolf. $275000 is nothing for something like this. I guess the off-road capabilites leave a bit to be desired though.
Why is Saddam Hussein being transported in such a vehicle? Why not dispense with a slow and expensive justice system and transport him in one of those fully stocked BMW’s? Seems like a win-win situation to me.
Arcangel said: “I guess the cost of those vehicles is the prohibiting factor in why the army doesn’t use them for their own men. Seems like that would be a great vehicle to be in when traveling in and around Iraq. Damn interesting and good advertisement for the manufacturer of the vehicle since I have never heard of them before.”
The Marines have some really tough vehicles, the Buffalo and the Cougar. Pretty much bomb-proof. Check out the manufacturer’s web site.
http://www.forceprotection.net/
Shanachie
shanachie said: The Marines have some really tough vehicles, the Buffalo and the Cougar. Pretty much bomb-proof. Check out the manufacturer’s web site.
I checked the site and have to say those vehicles put the bus to shame. I just haven’t seen any shown on news clips when they do stories in Iraq. Good link though.
shanachie said: “The Marines have some really tough vehicles, the Buffalo and the Cougar. Pretty much bomb-proof. Check out the manufacturer’s web site.
http://www.forceprotection.net/
Shanachie”
Now those are some damn beefy lookin’ vehicles. I wonder what their top speeds are…
They’re Classified! :)
Arcangel said: “Well what would an American want one of those vehicles…”
Give it time. That’s the “American way”, apparently, to drive the biggest nonsensical, gas-eating, metallic monstrosity ever assembled. You know, to go out and buy groceries with and to pick up a dozen fat kids from some after-school activity. I’m sure there are many, many Americans who would buy it, because, you know, their Hummers just aren’t enough massive to impress their neighbors anymore.
Wonder if i will see one on CRIBS or Pimp my ride on MTV. A soldier’s life is worth nothing; they are all useless, and not smart enough to go to college. Too bad; let the trash die, that is what they are for.
ouch.. thats last comment isn’t going to attract much positive feedback.
My friend keeps on talking about attaching rocket launchers to a bus… If he gets one of these, the world better watch out.
I’m sure its got a gigantic maintainance and fuel price tag which would amount to its price in about 2 years
I could have used one of these when I was a teenager..
http://www.ezdrivingdirections.com/mapquest.html
karphi said: “……….their Hummers just aren’t enough massive to impress their neighbors anymore.”
Hummer 2 &3 are nothing more than a hummer-looking SUV on a Chevy Tahoe chassis. The original Hummer is the only model that was actually a modified HUMVEE anyway,
Armani said: “Wonder if i will see one on CRIBS or Pimp my ride on MTV. A soldier’s life is worth nothing; they are all useless, and not smart enough to go to college. Too bad; let the trash die, that is what they are for.”
You obviously over-indulged on a bowl of stupidity prior to writing this. Or rather have no real knowledge of the subject which you are writing about.
The majority of todays young soldiers are just opposite what you have written. They are smart enough to let the government pay for their college. 100% of tuition is paid and soldiers can elect to contribute money into a G.I. Bill to get spending money on a monthly basis to cover text books and such.
Believe it or not, most people don’t join the military in hopes of leaving their loved-ones behind for extended periods of time to gallivant around dangerous areas of the world. They do it to better their future by utilizing military educational programs and benefits that save them and their often lower-income families thousands of dollars. They know the risks entailed when they sign the dotted line, and they train as control measures for these risks.
So Armani, stay hidden and hide your AK’s and RPG’s and you’ll be safe… …for a while.
Armani said: “Wonder if i will see one on CRIBS or Pimp my ride on MTV. A soldier’s life is worth nothing; they are all useless, and not smart enough to go to college. Too bad; let the trash die, that is what they are for.”
a soldiers life is NOT worth nothing. they are NOT trash. they FIGHT for us. they SAVE LIVES. you might not have been BORN if it wasnt for them. They are not here to die, they are here to keep us alive and protect us. Think about this-would u rather be in the middle a a crossfire standing in plain view with 100 al qeadea trying to mow u down? tahts what it would be like without the army. WITH the army it is more like 1 guy with a lousy lougar thats jammed, he has no ammo, no idea where we are, and couldnt bring himself to kill u if he could. thats what its like WITH the army. we own. u starting to sound like a terrorist out there speakin like that
I want one! And screw you Blobbster, some of my best friends are in soldiers, and they are AT UNIVERSITY DOING DEGREES THAT THE ARMY IS PAYING FOR, w@nker
Oops sorry Blobster, I meant to say Armani, apologies :) So “Sscrew you Armani … w@nker”
I agree about using mapquest for driving directions, though you should compare them with other sites. The big search engines have got much better at providing driving directions:
http://www.321books.co.uk/directory/mapquest-driving-directions.htm
Miss Cellania said: “I know a few people who would kill to have one of these, only for the appearance of conspicuous consumption.”
Lol, here ya go: WARNING ADULT LANGUAGE:
http://www.hummerh8.com/
Hot damn (interesting), that’s a cool bus.
The Captain of my old unit was in one of those explosions! Irish is a rough road, but it was brought up in one of the previous posts about the off-road capability of these busses. I would not want to take them out of an urban area. I’ll take an MRAP over one of these buses anyday.
And yes, I have rode in both, still DI.
Nitpick time: Weight isn’t very important in determining whether things float, it’s relative density that’s the key. Battleships aren’t “light” but they float on water too. :-D
Wrong. The very purpose of a soldier is to kill people.
Well, that of course depends on the mission profile.
There are many soldiers that are deployed to get medical supplies and food to the victims of desasters. Others are to protect public buildings and probable terrorism targets. Neither of those soldiers’ purpose is it to kill people, and they’ll shoot only when attacked. Anyone who gets killed trying to attack some guy in a uniform and with a MP in his hands had it coming in my mind.
I’ll grant you the purpose of killing comes to the fore in times of war, but still it would be unfair to generalize.
Just wanted to point out that The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon does exist…
https://www.damninteresting.com/index.php?s=baader
Fuel Efficiency: Typically saves between 17 and 36 lives per route.
The original soldiers came about to engage in combat with the enemy and prove victorious. Modern methods and ethics place the standard U.S. soldier with a purpose to rescue, protect, and serve allies while neutralizing the enemies capacity to remain hostile or otherwise dangerous by utilizing all prudent but necessary force. That said, I hate the need for soldiers. I don’t hate soldiers. In fact, I find it hard not to respect soldiers. I just don’t like that we need them.
Did anyone else find it somewhat strange that the first thing the army personnel did after they successfully withstood a point-blank suicide explosion inside a heavily armoured bus was to get OUT of the bus??