THE US military is using RT-240 Kalmar box handling vehicles, specially designed for rough terrain, at its Contingency Operating Base Speicher container yard in northern Iraq.

Commenting on the effectiveness of the machines, Sgt Richard Laurey, who runs the yard, said that Kalmars can pick up TEU and FEU weighing up to 50,000 pounds and stack them up to three units high. Due to the poor condition of the containers however, loads are rarely allowed to exceed 35,000 pounds.

Soldiers assigned with operating the Kalmars have taken a particular liking to the vehicle, with some, such as Spc Christopher A Ward, comparing it to playing a video game.

Despite the sturdiness of the RT-240, several operators have noted that, due to the intense heat, the vehicles were somewhat susceptible to oil leaks and cracked hoses. As a precautionary measure, Spc Ward says he usually performs preventive while using the vehicle.

The yard handles anywhere from two to 100 containers daily, with many turned around in as little as two to three days.

Source: www.schednet.com