ANGOLA

MCC harvests AT mines in Xangongo [3]

14 November 2002:
On the second day the crew moved the system into a real minefield some 3kms away from the camp. This mine suspected area has been inspected by MgM Deminers before, as well as by Sean Burke and Charley Chichester, US DoD.
Although the ground was very hard, the system made good progress.
Most important point elaborate were the position of the Cougar. The MCC is driven remote controlled with the help of a sophisticated Video System (CCTV). The MCC Operator handles the control levers in front of some flatscreens built in a mineprotected vehicle (the mentioned Cougar) from a safe distance.

First step is the creation of a safe base line, behind of which the MCC can be turned and maintained without any danger.

As the machine layed minebelts are not following a straight line, but in slight curves break-out-of-lane procedures had to be fixed. Another important result of the first operational day was the definition of crew comms.

The procedure now is as follows.
In a new segment first a baseline three working lanes wide has to be made breaching the entire width of the mine belt (30m) plus safety overlap.
The machine then creates a 200m long lane that includes the curvage of the minefield plus safety. The dozer returns in his own tracks, the berms are checked by the EOD Team, the MCC crew rests. All following lanes are made parallel to the first one until a block covering the entire minefield has been created.

The work will be done in two shifts of four hours each not regarding maintenance, preparation and transport time.
Exact safety distances, overlaps, sentries etc will be defined within the first 10 days of operational trial.

Stay in tune. We will report continously.

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