DHS Purchases 2,700 Light-Armored Tanks For Service On Streets of the US

Not sure if this thread should go under this topic. Moderators move it if needed.

I don't normally follow the conspiracies involving the United States turning into a 'police state' but this news story caught my attention. These light armored tanks are specifically designed to resist mines.



What are these going to be used for? I immediately thought they would be used for border patrol but apparently they are going to be used by Homeland Security on the streets. Expecting massive riots? Add this to the fact that the DHS has been stockpiling ammo and I'm starting to get a little curious about what's going to happen. According to one estimate, since last year the Department of Homeland Security has stockpiled more than 1.6 billion bullets, mainly .40 caliber and 9mm. So, am I overreacting? Anybody out there have any other suggestions of what these tanks will be used for?

These power hungry ego maniacs we have running DHS and lower agencies are insane and as anti-American as it comes. I don't care if, in reality, that's just a BIG BIG truck and nothing more. It was DESIGNED as a combat vehicle. Every American knows what it was designed for and it's impossible not to associate it with an offensive combat mission of occupation.

After all, if I'm not mistaken, a good % of that vehicles design is dedicated to surviving large IED blasts. Nice message to send to the public.... That's the problem tho. To clinically ILL people like Aunt Janet, appearances are for movies and we shouldn't care a bit what it looks like.

I think Janet took a job that is a scary thing for anyone ....but she's got a weaker mind than most and just became overtaken by the sheer paranoia and bunker mentality that must be a major professional hazard of the job. Time for ANYONE ELSE to take DHS. She's a power hungry tyrant.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


So you feel that they will be used for more of a scare tactic than anything? Or perhaps they are preparing for an all out uprising? I agree with you about Janet. Thanks for the comments.

reply to post by jtrenthacker


They have to spend the money they are allotted in their budget or it gets cut the following financial cycle.

I'm curious as to which department is getting these. Remember that DHS is a conglomeration of agencies, not a unit itself. You have the Coast Guard in there, immigration, border patrol....you get the idea.

These agencies are basically military in nature so its not surprising they are ordering military equiptment. Not sure why they don't just buy more helicopters or ships for the Coast Guard but then again, i'm not involved in their planning process.

reply to post by jtrenthacker


What's the source? I didn't see a link.

Source, please.

Stars and flags with no source? Come on, people.

Transfering large blocks of money to foreign countries will be coming under heavy scrutiny in the next couple months. They know that.

Transfering materials to foreign countries using the purchasing agent that is not DOD (that's very important) barters up the same level of favors as cash. It's like using the Dept of Education to buy blocks of materials then ship them to Germany to buy favors.

reply to post by jtrenthacker

I think they will primarily be used for intimidation and appearance impact, yes. The problem, of course, is that they can be used for pretty much anything, right? They have the size, mass and armor to do pretty well anything DHS or local authority could ask.

I could REALLY see these vehicles being helpful in something like SAR or high water crossing for a community cut off by a flooded creek or small river. (A community near where I was raised got cut off that way, like clockwork, several times a season. It took a MASSIVE Army earth-mover to safely cross the water....but those would too!)

If anyone asked me, I'd say we've had FAR FAR too much surplus military gear dumped into the civilian law enforcement market as it is. Enough with the armored vehicles, machine guns and military grade drones. Enough! Eh?

Originally posted by Hopechest
reply to post by jtrenthacker

 

They have to spend the money they are allotted in their budget or it gets cut the following financial cycle.

I'm curious as to which department is getting these. Remember that DHS is a conglomeration of agencies, not a unit itself. You have the Coast Guard in there, immigration, border patrol....you get the idea.

These agencies are basically military in nature so its not surprising they are ordering military equiptment. Not sure why they don't just buy more helicopters or ships for the Coast Guard but then again, i'm not involved in their planning process.

The Coast Guard is in the final phases of their 20-year plan called "Deepwater" which is replacing most every ship and aircraft already. Bolting on to that contract has been very popular over these years and not have it raise alarm overseas as DOD procurements.

reply to post by GreenGlassDoor


Sorry. I read it this morning on a link from Drudge. Tracked it down to Modern Survival Blog.

modernsurvivalblog.com...

The Department of Homeland Security (through the U.S. Army Forces Command) recently retrofitted 2,717 of these ‘Mine Resistant Protected’ vehicles for service on the streets of the United States.

Although I’ve seen and read several online blurbs about this vehicle of late, I decided to dig slightly deeper and discover more about the vehicle itself.

The new DHS sanctioned ‘Street Sweeper’ (my own slang due to the gun ports) is built by Navistar Defense (NavistarDefense.com), a division within the Navistar organization. Under the Navistar umbrella are several other companies including International Trucks, IC Bus (they make school buses), Monaco RV (recreational vehicles), WorkHorse (they make chassis), MaxxForce (diesel engines), and Navistar Financial (the money arm of the company)

From Navistar Defense:

The International® MaxxPro® is Navistar Defense’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and incorporates the latest design in armoring technology. Extensively tested by the military and used in theater today, the MaxxPro features a V-shaped hull and other design features that greatly improve survivability. With so much protection, it’s the vehicle that every crew wants when they’re out in the field.

MaxxPro® MRAP specifications:

Length: 254″ (21.2 feet)
Width: 102″ (8.5 feet)
Height: 120″ (10 feet)
Wheel base: 153″ (12.8 feet)
Curb weight: 37,850 lbs. (18.9 tons)
Engine: MaxxForce® 9.3

The MaxxPro MRAP is built to withstand ballistic arms fire, mine blasts, IEDs, and other emerging threats. Its V-shaped hull helps deflect blasts out and away from the crew and its armoring can be customized to meet any mission requirement.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Well the Coast Guard isn't civilian and for those agencies that are, its obvious they are facing more firepower whether its from the drug war, immigration, or smuggling.

Its not outside of the scope of plausibility that they would purchase new toys to deal with this. Maybe they are simply putting in the orders because they have room in their budget and these vehicles will remain in storage until they are needed in our next invasion.

So many legitimate possibilities that can't be ruled out. It would be nice if they simply told us though.

Indeed... A vehicle and platform made for war, from the tires to the rooftop...literally.

..and Aunt Janet figures American civilians need over 2,700 of them on our public streets and in our faces when we LEAST need force down our throats. Likely, in disaster or other major emergency. Way to go Janet!

We so desperately need adult supervision in Washington. The kids see a new toy and they clamor over the top of each other to order some. NEED for them comes a distant second to "Neat shiny thing!! Gimmie some!!"

reply to post by jtrenthacker

Sorry. I read it this morning on a link from Drudge. Tracked it down to Modern Survival Blog.

Thanks, jtrenthacker.

reply to post by jtrenthacker


I thought we were broke.... They cut benefits.... Delayed VA burials of War Dead Heroes.... Cut Back School payments.... Obama has said Federal workers are going to have to be cut.... So my only question is when War Heroes are delayed burial where did they find the money for all the Ammo they have purchased and of course where did they find the money for these?

Clearly anyone entering the US Arm Forces should have their heads examined.... Not anti Patriotic just why would anyone do a dangerous sport knowing that they are uninsured?

SnF OP thanks for the heads up!

Interesting, first it was hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition and now tanks? And people say that anyone concerned with these types of things are just being paranoid. I think it is obvious what these agencies are preparing for, but my question is what do they know that we don't know?

reply to post by IceHappy


Security always should come first for a nation.

Unfortunate but its the world we live in.

reply to post by jtrenthacker

Didn't you read the stenciled letters on the side of the MRAP in the photo???

It says POLICE/RESCUE.

They are for the POLICE to come RESCUE us, of course!

Hmmmm, why do they have to be mineproof?

I guess they are going to need 2,717 of these things to rescue us from minefields.

Originally posted by Hopechest
reply to post by IceHappy

 

Security always should come first for a nation.

Unfortunate but its the world we live in.

Security from minefields???

Money well spent, eh?

Why I have a minefield in my backyard.... Wanna buy it?

reply to post by butcherguy


As I stated earlier, these are probably being purchased for use in future overseas deployments, the DHS probably bought them because they had room in their budget.

If you can disprove that I'd be happy to entertain your conspiracies. Usually though, with rational thought, there is more than likely a reasonable explantion.

LjI can think of a half a dozen ways to turn this into an oven.
The angle that this picture was taken says alot. It is meant to appear ominous and large and intimidating. NaviStar products suck and any body who knows about the recent EGR failure that led to their CEO being sacked probably realizes that if the govt didnt buy these many shareholders would lose. My bet is they alreadyb built them as they were ordered and HS bought them because well, where else would they go? Perhaps it was a matter of natl security and homeland stepped in.
Ever wonder why these things are freighted in? Fuel economy.
Look, i believe our govt has become corrupted. I have to have faith in our founders. I have to believe in my and our communities. I have faith in America.
These light tanks have a short range. They must eventually refuel and when they do if it really comes to that...
..