Ah, the good old days, when you were allowed to have a machine gun on the back of your automobile without a permit! Actually, you weren't, but it wasn't long after the invention of the car before people decided to turn it into a weapon because, well, that's what people do.
This obviously posed shot is from the Easter Uprising of 1916, when Irish nationalists launched a failed bid to overthrow English rule while the British Empire was distracted by events in Europe.
It's significant because it is perhaps the earliest photo of what we now call a "technical", a normal civilian vehicle on which is mounted a large weapon such as a machine gun, recoilless rifle, or even a missile launcher. Technicals provide a good combination of speed and maneuverability for rebel groups and cash-strapped governments of the developing world.
They've also been used by commando missions such as in World War Two, and can now be found all over the developing world. Once when I was traveling in Somaliland, our car got stopped by a technical mounted with a huge recoilless rifle (basically a cannon). The troops inside informed us that the road were were going on was now off limits, even though it hadn't been the day before. We didn't argue, and no, I didn't take a photo. There's a difference between being an adventure traveler and being an idiot!
This technical used by the Libyan rebels carries a Grad missile launcher. Photo courtesy Al Jazeera English. Fortunately for the driver, there isn't much kick from this weapon. The Sahara is perfectly made for technical use, and some of the pioneers in tactics involving them include the Saharawi in their fight against the Moroccans, and the Chadians in their fight against the Libyans. The people of Chad used so many technicals to repulse Colonel Gaddafi's invasion in the 1980s that it has been dubbed "The Toyota War".
A technical in Mogadishu, Somalia, taken by a braver (or stupider) photographer than I am. I think the guy sitting in the back with the white shirt just noticed his picture is being taken. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
4 comments:
There was an interesting bit on John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" on how the Toyota Hilux is the single most-used ISIS automobile, with countless specimens turned into Technicals. This to the point where certain government bodies have had very blunt conversations with Toyota over how so many *brand new* pickup trucks are finding their way into these war zones. I highly doubt Toyota would do something so stupid as to actually provide material support to ISIS, but it was intriguing nonetheless.
Wow! No, I don't think Toyota would be that stupid, because the potential blowback could bring down the company, but one of their less reputable regional distributors might do it for the quick cash.
Yeah, that's kind of my thought. Someone out there a bit beyond the company's immediate purview is making some stacks of cash. Or, perhaps ISIS has arranged for some shipments to be hijacked, and it's been kept quiet. The Hilux isn't distributed here in the States, as far as I am aware, it is only for foreign sales. All sorts of interesting connections between African shipping pirates and terror groups could be made - at least it would serve as an interesting plot!
Weapons on vehicles - shouts third world, or military intention or maybe zombies. . .Amazing how confidant and brave many appear when they are on the holding end of a gun. And in nearly all present day movies and tv shows, it's the required accessory.
Post a Comment