It didn鈥檛 take long for the members of the British Columbia Dragoons to blow a tire on their armoured patrol vehicle as they tested their driving skills around a muddy course in Lake Country.
The Canadian Armed Forces and the Interior Heavy Equipment Operator School partnered together to offer the army with a place to learn to drive their Textron TAPV Friday. It鈥檚 currently the only place personnel are able to do so on this type of course in the province.
Sgt. Graeme Barber managed to get the vehicle stuck when it was his turn to drive.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a new armoured vehicle, we鈥檙e still learning the ins and outs of it and yea, we had a sinkhole and it swallowed part of the tire and that was the end of that run,鈥� he said.
Site supervisor Darrell Letendre, with IHE, said this is the second time the exercise has been conducted at the Lake Country location.
RELATED: Okanagan Symphony Orchestra to hold performances for Remembrance Day
鈥淭his is a continuation for them. (We want to) support them in their training initiative and then from here they could potentially be back here next year,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot only are we able to design a course in cooperation with them, in the event they do get stuck we are able to help them with our heavy equipment.鈥�
And stuck they did get, as the TAPV got a flat tire. The crew was able to coordinate and replace the tire within an hour, from the cover of IHE鈥檚 mechanic鈥檚 shop.
IHE staff and students also got the opportunity to take a ride around in the vehicle.
鈥淚t feels like you鈥檙e in a capsule and you鈥檙e shaken up like a milkshake at the same time. There are different elevations, it鈥檚 almost like a rocket ship, not that I鈥檝e ever been in one. It鈥檚 a great feeling, it鈥檚 exhilarating,鈥� Letendre said.
Cpt. Joshua Trowsse-Freeman, with the Dragoons, said the course is all about running the drivers through the paces and ensuring they are up to their proper qualifications.
The armoured vehicle, which can withstand bullets, can be used both in domestic operations, like with wildfires and flooding seasons because of the offered capabilities as well as foreign situations and conflict zones.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had the vehicle for about a year, students are a senior rank, but for most of the students it鈥檚 the first time they鈥檙e driving the vehicle around,鈥� Trowsse-Freeman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of the game, it鈥檚 part of figuring out how different vehicles respond.鈥�
He said crews love driving it around the course.
The TAPA, with the suitable name Ol鈥� Grubby, was back on the road after crews quickly replaced the tire.
鈥淭he Government of Canada is procuring 500 (TAPV), with the option for 100 additional vehicles. In June 2012, Textron Systems Canada Inc. (Ottawa, Ontario) was awarded two contracts, one for the acquisition of 500 vehicles, valued at $603.4 million, and a second contract for their support at $105.4 million to conduct in-service support for the fleet for five years following the last vehicle delivery,鈥� according to the federal government鈥檚 website.
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
