In the American mechanized infantry and reconnaissance universe, infantry dismounts are often referred to by their crews as “crunchies” due to the sound that they make when crushed by armored vehicles. In this video, a Russian MTLB crew chooses to demonstrate this phenomenon by rolling over some Russian infantry with the expected result. The U.S. armor community typically goes to great lengths to prevent this from happening. In assembly areas or during conditions of limited visibility, U.S. units require ground guides, dismounted service members who guide the vehicle to its destination and ensure that it does not run over things that should not be run over (which is most things). I can imagine some readers arguing that there is no time for such actions in combat, but even when in contact, sometimes it is necessary to guide vehicles into position. On one particularly pitch-black night, while consolidating after an attack, I had to guide each one of my vehicles into hasty defensive positions, an activity rendered difficult because the visibility was so low that I had to employ an IR light in order to see with my NVGs.

That said, even with such precautions, mistakes can occur. During the 2003 push to Baghdad, a battalion executive officer with Regimental Combat Team 5 was sleeping in a slit trench beside his vehicle when the crew took the AAV to refuel. They employed ground guides, but all hands were tired, and conditions were dark, and the crew failed to notice the XO when they returned the vehicle to its position. The major was crushed and killed. As for the causes of the incident shown in this video, we can only assume. Perhaps the MTLB crew was evading ATGM fire, or perhaps they got rocked and disoriented by artillery, or perhaps they were poorly trained conscripts. Either way, choosing the life of a Russian infantryman doesn’t seem to result a particularly long life-span.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for the 2024 season of sailing on Galveston Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.