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This Monster Military Vehicle Appeared As A Decepticon In 'Transformers'

The Buffalo is used for one main purpose: route clearance — which means "getting rid of bombs buried near the road"

This Monster Military Vehicle Appeared As A Decepticon In 'Transformers'

The massive six-wheeled truck weighs 76,000 pounds.

The massive six-wheeled truck weighs 76,000 pounds.

And it's not very inconspicuous: it's 13 feet tall and over 8 feet wide.

And it

The Buffalo is used mostly by combat engineers — troops with special training in clearing mines, bombs, and working with explosives.

The Buffalo is used mostly by combat engineers — troops with special training in clearing mines, bombs, and working with explosives.

The big feature that stands out on The Buffalo is "the claw," attached to a retractable steel arm.

The big feature that stands out on The Buffalo is "the claw," attached to a retractable steel arm.

The arm helps engineers "interrogate" roadside bombs. "This is not a capability we have had before, so we use that piece of equipment to our full advantage," said 2nd Lt. Brian Duncan, an engineer platoon leader.

The arm helps engineers "interrogate" roadside bombs. "This is not a capability we have had before, so we use that piece of equipment to our full advantage," said 2nd Lt. Brian Duncan, an engineer platoon leader.

Those bombs can be disguised as trash, an animal carcass, or a hunk of concrete. Regardless, Buffalos can stop and use the arm to take a look.

Those bombs can be disguised as trash, an animal carcass, or a hunk of concrete. Regardless, Buffalos can stop and use the arm to take a look.

With troops sitting safely inside an air-conditioned cabin, they can pick up a suspicious object — with upward of 16 feet of clearance.

With troops sitting safely inside an air-conditioned cabin, they can pick up a suspicious object — with upward of 16 feet of clearance.

Controls are pretty easy to figure out. "After working with the controls for just a few minutes, I easily got the hang of it," said Spc. Kenneth Edmonson.

Controls are pretty easy to figure out. "After working with the controls for just a few minutes, I easily got the hang of it," said Spc. Kenneth Edmonson.

In the past, many units would have to wait around for explosive ordnance disposal teams (EOD) to clear a possible bomb. With the Buffalo, they can make sure it's real before calling the over-worked EOD team.

In the past, many units would have to wait around for explosive ordnance disposal teams (EOD) to clear a possible bomb. With the Buffalo, they can make sure it

And it's extremely tough. Upon introductions, U.S. casualties from IEDs as a percent of combat casualties dropped precipitously.

And it

But it's not the only heavily-armored truck in the field. U.S. troops now have a variety of vehicles to protect against the roadside bomb threat.

But it

The vehicle is also a Hollywood movie star — playing 'Bonecrusher' in the 2007 film Transformers.

The vehicle is also a Hollywood movie star — playing

As one of the 'Decepticons', it morphs from a Buffalo MRAP into the beast you see here.

As one of the

And the troops have noticed, according to one military blogger: '[It] has taken on somewhat of a cult status in the Company if not the entire Route Clearance community.'

And the troops have noticed, according to one military blogger:

You've seen the vehicle that can clear bombs without a problem ...

You

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