Text 993, 91 rader
Skriven 2006-12-16 15:18:00 av Paul Quinn (3:640/384)
    Kommentar till text 992 av David Williams (1:250/514)
Ärende: The Weather
===================
Hi! David,

On Fri, 15 Dec 06, you wrote to me:

 ->>  MM> deliver real firestorm-quenching gunk ?

 DW> Somewhere in western Canada (I think) they've converted an old
 DW> Lockheed 10-11 airliner into a water-bomber, to dump huge amounts of 
 DW> water on forest fires. It's impressive! 

Personally, I prefer the idea of using old armoured vehicles.  Back in the
late-70s, I served in an armoured reconaissance unit.  We were once pulled into
fighting fires just using our APCs in a closed-down role (all hatches shut and
operating in NBC conditions), i.e. we just used the vehicles themselves wihout
any fire-fighting equipment.  Imagine a group of tracked armoured vehicles
doing 360s in the scrub, throwing bulldust and whatever into the flames to
quell them.

Case in point, with an update to current possibilities:

-----8<-----C-U-T--H-E-R-E----->8-----
(http://www.vop025.cz/php/index_civilni_vyroba_gb.php3?action=2003)

FIREFIGHTER-55 was designed to fight a variety of fires in difficult terrain
conditions. I t is capable of fighting oil refinery fires, fires and meltdowns
of nuclear power-stations, oil well fires, gas and oil pipeline fires, large
scale forest fires, airplane crash fires, chemical plant fires, fires of
military fuel and ammunition dumps and other hazardous fires. This vehicle is
also ideally suited for the civil defense duties when large population centers
are attacked by hostile missiles with warheads of unknown type.

In order to accomplish its mission, FIREFIGHTER-55 was based on a standard T-55
tank hull. It is very reliable tank hull that was tested in the most difficult
battlefields of the world. It is combined with a powerful 600 hp diesel engine
and a pair of steel tracks which are augmented with rubber pads in order to
reduce wear and tear of paved roads and also to reduce noise levels produced by
its treads. Attached to the front of the hull is a heavy-duty bulldozer blade
which can be used to create fire-breaks when needed, and also to carry out a
variety of earth moving chores.

On the top of the tank hull sits a new superstructure which consists of a large
water-tank, holding approx. 11,000 litters of water, a hydraulically controlled
water gun, foam making equipment with a foaming agent storage tank, warning and
broadcasting /PA/ equipment and heavy-duty closed circuit TV system.
FIREFIGHTER-55 has its very own water tank replenishment system that allows it
to draw water from lakes, rivers water tanks and other water sources without
any outside help. At the back of its superstructure are several fittings to
which ordinary fire-hoses can be attached to fight a small scale fire which
does not justify the use of a high powered water gun.

FIREFIGHTER-55 requires a crew of 2, a driver and a water gun operator. They
are protected against all types of chemical and radioactive threats by a
standard battle tank filtration system. The vehicle is provided with a unique
sprinkler system, which protects its crew from heat. The crew area it totally
sealed off the outside elements be it smoke of a chemical or radioactive
threat. However, when an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation
arises, FIREFIGHTER-55 can be remotely controlled from a safe distance via
radio control.

Technical data Maximum weight (full tanks)
45,000 kg
Weight (empty)
33,000 kg
Maximum speed
50 km/h
Driving range
200 km
Water gun range
65 m
Foam gun range
50 m
Flow volume of water gun
2,270 liters/min
Capacity of water tank
11,300 l
Capacity of foam agent
600 l
Remote control range
1.5 km
-----8<-----C-U-T--H-E-R-E----->8-----

The only major difficulty is getting enough H2O to these vehicles in a remote
bush scenario, but if priority was given to life & personal property, and, the
establishment of strategic fire breaks then such help could make the
difference.

Cheers,
Paul.

--- Radius 4.010/21.01.2005(Final)
 * Origin: Cogito sumere potum alterum. (3:640/384)