Aust armoured D8 dozer

oztankboy · #1 02-03-10, 05:53

Here are two pics of and armoured D8 dozer for use on army range/training areas. Circa 1980's

Phil...

Grant Bowker · #2 02-03-10, 13:04

Does the driver sit in the box or on top of it?
If insde, does it strike anyone else as odd that they armoured the driver's compartment but didn't armour the motor that could let the driver move out of harm's way? It seems to me that if the motor is damaged the driver and machine could be left stranded, in the path of the bullets/shells/blast that the armour is meant to protect them from.
If on top, was the intent to remove the driver from the immediate hazard of blast if he set something off while dozing (not in the context of sleep)?

Phil Waterman · #3 02-03-10, 14:47

Interesting unit, you mention that this was used on training range, I wonder if it was fabricated for the range use only (which would go to the heart of Grants comment) if it was for range only they probably were trying to protect the driver from relatively small caliber explosive rounds. I sure would not want to drive over and explode a 105 or large shell in any kind of a dozer.

Wonder how much of the cabin on this unit is used in shock absorbing seating for the drive.

I understand that there are sections of the Firing Range at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in the US that for all intensive purpose impossible to clear because of the number of very large unexploded artillery and naval shells.

oztankboy · #4 02-03-10, 16:00

I don't know any of the technical details of the dozer. But it could be used to make access tracks, clear ranges and cut fire breaks.
I have seen an un-armoured dozer that was being used in a airfield construction on the Holsworthy Range that set of some bang and it made a hell of a mess under the engine and put the D8 over. Also there was an incident on the same job where a self loading scaper picked up a shell in its loading hopper... fortunatly it did not go off but the opperator hit the frog-n-toad

Phil...