I recieved the chance to operate our Battalions Israeli modified D9R. It is currently stationed in Ramadi Iraq but has been in Fallujah ever since the war started. Like some have said it is not used for fine grading in the least, it is a tool for intense combat and demolitions. It also has an elevated gunner jumpseat next to the operators chair where a turret in the roof has been mounted and a medium machine gun can be placed. This particular dozer has also lead the way in Operation Phantom Fury for the battle of fallujah, the breach from kuwait into iraq, and has been in articles in magazines such as Soldier of Fortune. I believe there are only three of these in Iraq two owned by the US Army and one by us the Marines. The dozers name is Golda and was given to the marines as a present :usa while i was deployed to Iraq specifically both the blade and one of the tracks were hit by an IED improvised explosive device and niether caused much damage... definately not enough to stop a mission or immobalize the dozer. Also the blade was once hit by 80 kilos of explosiveand just "bounced" the bulldozer back as reported in Soldier of Fortune :beatsme, and has been hit by an RPG and hundreds of small arms rounds. no injuries or Machine problems have ever been linked to these attacks. The machine has also been used in some rescue missions such as freeing squads of trapped marines in heavy gunfire and tearing down multi-story buildings housing enemy snipers. Caterpillar definately produces the machine for the job, it is unstoppable unless the operator were to have gotten it stuck ... i will enclose some pictures for you all. :drinkup
