Bon (con)voyage: since the first post-Cold War operations, escorting convoys has become a routine for the military. However, because units are now spread over much wider areas compared to conventional operations, along with the lack of well-defined battle lines, means that all logistics convoys move in unsafe surroundings. This would be bad enough if one did not have to include refugee and humanitarian convoys.

Summary

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Vehicles: armoured

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Bon (con)voyage: since the first post-Cold War operations, escorting convoys has become a routine for the military. However, because units are now spread over much wider areas compared to conventional operations, along with the lack of well-defined battle lines, means that all logistics convoys move in unsafe surroundings. This would be bad enough if one did not have to include refugee and humanitarian convoys.

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The need to minimise damage to local road systems and keep up with convoys composed of wheeled vehicles--mostly trucks--means that escort detachments themselves need to be 'on wheels'. Initially, all armies deployed legacy vehicles, mostly wheeled armoured personnel carriers, but they quickly proved unsuited for the new role. Numerous vehicles have been developed since, with their protection increasing in tune with the threat (well, almost), which has grown to include so-called Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) that are triggered in various ways.

Good situational awareness is thus needed if one is to properly react to sudden threats, but so are vehicles with adequate mobility, as more often than not road systems available in many theatres set limitations to vehicle dimensions and weight. These considerations brought about the development of numerous light to medium wheeled vehicles that are heavily armoured and usually equipped with remotely controlled...

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