Steve Martin, R22eR, R.I.P.

This from a CF news release:

“One Canadian Forces member was killed yesterday, December 18th, 2010, after an improvised explosive device detonated while on operations in the Panjwa’i district of Kandahar Province, at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time.  Killed in action was Corporal Steve Martin, from 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, serving with 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group, based at CFB Valcartier, Quebec.  Our thoughts are with the families and friends of our fallen soldier during this difficult time …. “

Condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the latest fallen.  We mourn with you.

Beefing Up LAV Belly Armour: Bidder Worries about Test Targets?

One of the potential bidders to beef up Canada’s LAV belly armour has questions about how proposed solutions will be tested.

Remember this from MERX last November?

This requirement is for the Department of National Defence (DND) to procure Belly Armour Kits (BAK) which will provide enhanced armour protection to the LAV II fleet of vehicles, including the Coyote and Bison armoured vehicle. The kit will be installed on the LAV II armoured vehicles deployed in operational theatres where the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and mine threats are considered high.

According to a bid update document obtained by MILNEWS.ca (PDF downloadable here), a potential bidder appears to worry that the proposed test targets (things that’ll be blown up while using the proposed system as a way to test how well the solution will protect from the blast) are weaker than the real LAV, which could eliminate solutions that may work on the real thing.

The CF’s response to the concern, in its own words:

A: To ensure fairness of the evaluation process, all Hull Targets were manufactured using the same process and specifications.
1. Production of all Hull Targets was completed in accordance with the vehicle CFTO.  Welding of all Hull Targets was completed by qualified welders.
2. The integrity of all welds has been validated by Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) confirming that there are no cracks, porosity, inclusions or lack of fusion.
3. Grinding of welds is permitted as per the specification used in the production of all Hull Targets.
4. All Hull Targets have the center weld of the 1/4″ armour plate ground flush as per our specifications. This is a deviation from the drawing provided in the RFP, but is within the CFTO specification, which is more representative of the vehicle.
5. The welds along the top 1/2″ mild steel plate will not be evaluated for failure during testing.
6. All Hull Targets will be inspected prior to testing to ensure the fairness of the bid evaluation process.

You read it here first.

Quote of the Day

From the Canadian Press:

“I don’t think anybody who watches a soldier disappear on
an IED can not be affected”

DND Beefing Up LAV II’s Belly Armour

As the Taliban work at finding ways to make IEDs deadlier (more on that from Afghanistan Conflict Monitor here, CanWest News Service here, and the BBC here), this pops out at me from Canada’s public tendering web page MERX:

This requirement is for the Department of National Defence (DND) to procure Belly Armour Kits (BAK) which will provide enhanced armour protection to the LAV II fleet of vehicles, including the Coyote and Bison armoured vehicle. The kit will be installed on the LAV II armoured vehicles deployed in operational theatres where the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and mine threats are considered high.

A PDF of the public posting is available here – with nothing of intrigue to help the bad guys, by the way.

Good to see.

Kudos to CF Info-Meisters on New Web Page

I know I can be harsh when the media or other message distributors could be doing a better job, so I have to give credit where it’s due.

I just spotted this piece, based on a CF Army News interview, about new web pages for the Counter Improvised Explosive Device Task Force (C-IED TF):

“The classified and non-classified websites will act as repositories for all relevant C-IED information. They will serve as the primary platforms for C-IED collaboration, training content development, and timely information sharing and communication as it relates to the IED threat.

These websites will help the CF to access the latest C-IED information. The sites will support future deployment preparations, provide C-IED initiatives awareness, enable situational awareness of the global IED threat and enable intelligence-led operations in support of our overall C-IED efforts.

Soldiers can visit the site to request information directly from the C-IED TF and provide feedback.”

Here’s the links:

DWAN: http://ciedtf.mil.ca
CSNI: http://cls.mil.ca//default.aspx
Internet: http://www.ciedtf-focdec.forces.gc.ca

Kudos to the efforts of the Task Force, kudos for using the internet as a way to get vital information back and forth quickly, and kudos for having a web site giving a public face to the Task Force’s vital work.