New machine allows soldiers to hurdle buildings (in a single bound)

[DemsUnite]

LONDON (Reuters) - A device that allows people to scale tall buildings in if not a single, then at least two bounds, has been developed for the U.S. military.

The PowerQuick personal lifting device can raise or lower a load of up to 145 kg (320 lb) at the rate of one meter (yard) per second, enabling special forces, rescue services or even construction workers to quickly ascend or escape buildings.

New Scientist magazine said on Wednesday the operator would shoot a rope attached to a grappling hook to the top of the building and then attach the rope to a harness-like device which hauls them up.

It said one battery charge would be sufficient to climb 250 metres -- the equivalent of five times the height of the Statue of Liberty.

more

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050824/sc_nm/climb_dc;_ylt=AvnlSrymT8koCnrnGaos7ees0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MzV0MTdmBHNlYwM3NTM-

[seriousstan]

1. Check it out here.....

http://www.quointech.com/PowerQuick1.htm

[shadowknows69]

2. Batman gadgets

"where does he get those wonderful toys"

[dethl]

8. I love the lisp of the narrator... lol

:P

[bemildred]

3. Does it work with armor? nt

[iconoclastic cat]

4. Gimmie one of those, a taser, and a bunker-buster, please! Thanks.

[CarinKaryn]

5. How much money will we continue to waste on war toys for little boys

[xchrom]

6. ok -- that's not leaping!

i had another image in mind ALL TOGETHER.

[Betsy Ross]

7. Pogo stick? N/T

[KansDem]

9. Whenever I hear or read about soldiers scaling tall obstacles ...

I reminded of those documentary movies I grew up watching of D-Day that showed US soldiers scaling up the side of cliffs. I don't know which beach (landing) made it necessary to do this, but I was always impressed at how these guys could do it while getting shot at in what seemed like complete chaos.

[Burried News]

10. Army Rangers - took horrific casualties -70%

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/dday/pointeduhoc.aspx
Excerpt:
After several failed attempts (due to the weight of soaked ropes) and due to the assistance of naval artillery (especially the British destroyer the Talybont), the Rangers finally struggled to the top after incurring only 15 casualties. As men reached the top, they went off in small groups to accomplish their missions.

They reached the gun emplacements only to find that they had been removed and telephone poles had been temporarily installed. Lt. Col. Rudder then split his command into two. One group stayed behind to establish a command posts, while the other went in search of the missing guns. The second group headed south and found the guns in an apple orchard, where they had been removed in order to be saved from the bombardment. They were unguarded and were destroyed with thermite grenades. The primary mission of the Rangers had been accomplished.

Up to this point, the German defenders had not yet recovered from their initial confusion. They were slowly regrouping and assembling, and later that day the 916th and 726th counterattacked the Ranger positions. Throughout the day, the USS Satterlee, Barton, and Thompson gave fire support to the Rangers when possible. By nightfall, the Ranger were forced back into a 200 yard wide defensive position inside the battery. The Rangers had lost 1/3 of his men and ammunition was running low.

By June 7th, the next day, of his original 225 men, Rudder had fewer than 100 and almost no food. Despite attempts of the 5th Ranger Battalion that had landed at Omaha Beach four miles to the east, the Rangers remained under siege. By the 8th of June, the 5th Ranger Battalion finally relieved Rudder's position. They were almost 2 days behind schedule.

In the end, Rudder's Rangers had suffered 70 percent casualties and held off five German counterattacks. Rudder was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his service at Point du Hoc and went on to command the 109th Infantry Regiment later in the war. END