The Caterpillar D9 is a large track-type tractor (commonly referred to as a bulldozer) with caterpillar tracks designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Tractor Company. Caterpillar D9 diagram with dimensions This work is copyrighted. ... An excavator Engineering vehicles are heavy-duty vehicles, specially designed for executing engineering tasks. ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... Caterpillar tracks are large (modular) tracks used on tanks, construction equipment and certain other off-road vehicles. ... Power kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... KG, Kg or kg may indicate: A Kampfgeschwader, a bomber squadron of the former German Luftwaffe An abbreviation for kilogram (always kg) Kongo language (ISO 639 alpha-2) Knight of the Garter, a British decoration An abbreviation for konig or king Kyrgyzstan (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code) KG... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units. ... Kilometre per hour (American spelling: kilometer per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... A modern farm tractor. ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... Caterpillar tracks are large (modular) tracks used on tanks, construction equipment and certain other off-road vehicles. ... Caterpillar Inc. ...

The D9, with 354 kW (474 hp) of gross power and an operating weight of 49 tons, is in the upper end, but not the heaviest, of Caterpillar's track-type tractors, which range in size from the D3 57 kW (77 hp), 8 tons, to the D11 698 kW (935 hp), 104 tons. Power kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... Caterpillar D-11R The Caterpillar D-11 series of tracked-type tractors are among the largest conventional bulldozers in the world, second to Komatsu D575. ... A tonne (also called metric ton) is a non-SI unit of mass, accepted for use with SI, defined as: 1 tonne = 103 kg (= 106 g). ...

The D9 is mostly used as bulldozer, and though it comes in many configurations, it is mostly common in its basic dozer configuration: equipped with a detachable large blade and a rear ripper. The size, durability, reliability, and low operating costs has made the D9 one of the most popular large track-type tractors in the world, with the Komatsu D275A as one of its most direct competitors. The D-9 gained high media attention in the new millennium due to its military applications by the Israeli Defence Forces. A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... Komatsu is a city in the Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. ... A military or miltary force (n. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ...

Engineering and technical description

The D9 is a series of heavy tracked-type tractors, propelled by Caterpillar tracks and usually used as bulldozers. The D9 has undergone several generations of engineering enhancements. Each new generation is denoted with an English letter added to "D9". Until the introducing of the D10 in the 1980's, the D9 was the largest conventional CAT dozer. The D9L was the first variation of the D9 to employ "high drive" design in which the driving wheel is located above the track wheels, and not in the same row. The current versions are the D9R and the D9T models, but older models such as the D9N and D9L are still common. The L, N, R and T models of the D9 are visually very similar, differing primarily in the design of their internal systems. The D9T main difference from the D9R is the installment of the new Cat C18 ACERT engine. Caterpillar tracks are large (modular) tracks used on tanks, construction equipment and certain other off-road vehicles. ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotives pistons (or turbine, in the case of a steam turbine locomotive). ... An engine is something that produces some effect from a given input. ...

The D9's primary working tools are the blade, affixed to the front and controlled by 6 hydraulic arms, and the optional ripper, which can be attached to the back. The blade is mainly intended for earthmoving and bulk material handling: pushing up sand, dirt and rubble. It also can be used to push other heavy equipment such as earthmoving scraper pans, and in military applications, main battle tanks. The dozer blade usually comes in 3 varieties: For other uses of the word blade, see Blade (disambiguation) A blade is the part of a sword that is used to cut (as opposed to the hilt). ... Hydraulics is a branch of science and engineering concerned with the use of liquids to perform mechanical tasks. ... Ripper is a proposed spin-off series from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starring Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... For other uses of the word blade, see Blade (disambiguation) A blade is the part of a sword that is used to cut (as opposed to the hilt). ...

1. A Straight Blade ("S-Blade") which is short and has no lateral curve, no side wings, and can be used for fine grading.
2. A Universal Blade ("U-Blade") which is tall and very curved, and has large side wings to carry more material.
3. A "S-U" combination blade which is shorter, has less curvature, and smaller side wings.

Like many other bulldozers, the D9 can be fitted with different blades (such as size-9 SU blade and Universal blade) or other devices such as mineplows or combine harvester. A landmine is a type of mine which is placed onto or into the ground and explodes when triggered by a vehicle or person. ... The combine harvester, or simply combine, is a machine that harvests, threshes, and cleans grain plants. ...

The rear ripper is intended for use in loosening rocky ground and ripping out larger stones. It can also break frozen ground and excavate small ditches.

The size, power and weight of the larger track-type tractors dictate that they are used primarily for major projects. The D9 is most commonly found in use in construction, forestry, mining, waste, and quarry operations.

Military applications

Caterpillar Inc. does not manufacture a military version of the D9 per se, but the attributes that make the D9 popular for major construction projects make it desirable for military applications as well, and in this role - with Israeli modifications and armor - it has been particularly effective for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and later for the United States armed forces (the Marine Corps and the US Army) in Iraq. A military or miltary force (n. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... France Marines is the name of a commune in the département of Val dOise, France. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ...

Israel

Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of Combat engineering battalions, and the IDF has gained some notoriety for their use of armored tractors for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. Although the Israeli Engineering Corps has used D9 bulldozers since the 1960s (including in the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War), the D9 first rose to public attention in April 2002 during Operation Defensive Shield, later when D9s were used to demolish structures and shrubbery, and through involvement in such incidents as the death of Rachel Corrie. In Israel, the D9 has gained highly favorable reviews — both from the public and from the armed forces — for keeping IDF casualties low and for saving the lives of soldiers. A US army combat engineer setting up a communications cable. ... MOUT/FIBUA simulated in US Army exercise Urban warfare is warfare conducted in populated urban areas such as towns and cities. ... The al-Aqsa Intifada is the wave of violence and political conflict that began in September 2000 between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis; it is also called the Second Intifada (see also First Intifada). ... The Israeli Engineering Corps are the combat engineering forces of צהל - the Israeli Defence Forces. ... Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s - 1960s - 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Years: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Events and trends The 1960s was a turbulent decade of change around the world. ... The 1967 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the Six-Day War or June War, was fought between Israel and its Arab neighbors Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. ... The Yom Kippur War (in Hebrew: Milchemet Yom HaKipurim, also known as the October War, the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, and the Ramadan War), was fought from October 6 (the day of Yom Kippur) to October 22 and 24, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Egypt and Syria. ... Operation Defensive Shield (In Hebrew, מבצע חומת מגן) was a large-scale military operation conducted by the Israeli Defence Forces in April 2002. ... Rachel Corrie Rachel Corrie (April 10, 1979–March 16, 2003) was a member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) who traveled as an activist to the Gaza Strip, during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ... The Israel Security Forces (ISF) are several organizations collectively responsible for Israels security. ...

IDF Caterpillar D9R bulldozer, nickmamed "דובי" (teddy bear) in Israel.
Its armor allows it to work under heavy fire.

The Israeli Armored D9 - nicknamed Dooby (lit. teddy bear) - is a Caterpillar D9 tractor that was modified by the IDF and Israeli Defense Industries to increase the survivability of the dozer in hostile environments and enable it to withstand heavy attacks. The main IDF modification is the installation of an Israeli-made armor kit which provides armor protection to the mechanical systems and to the operator cabin. The operator is protected inside an armored cabin, with bulletproof windows to protect against bombs, machinegun and sniper fire. The IDF also developed an armor add-on to deflect RPG rounds. The fitted armor package adds roughly 15 additional tons to the production-line weight of the D9. As for many customized packages, individually modified D9s may be found with disparate features, such as crew-operated machine guns, smoke projectors, or grenade launchers. The heavy armor carried by modified D9s allows them to work under heavy fire in dangerous battle-zones and resist mine blasts. The Israeli armor kit has proven to be effective, as no D9 operator was killed during the 4-year long al-Aqsa Intifada. IDF D9R bulldozer (Taken from the Hebrew wikipedia) File links The following pages link to this file: Al-Aqsa Intifada Caterpillar D9 Israeli Engineering Corps ... IDF D9R bulldozer (Taken from the Hebrew wikipedia) File links The following pages link to this file: Al-Aqsa Intifada Caterpillar D9 Israeli Engineering Corps ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... Caterpillar Inc. ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... Teddy bear Barrymans original cartoon A Teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear for children. ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... Alternative meanings: vehicle armour, Armor (novel) A hoplite wearing a helmet, a breastplate and greaves (and nothing else). ... A cabin or cab is an enclosed space, in a ship, see cabin (ship), in an aircraft or spacecraft as a log cabin as in a hansom cab see also Uncle Toms Cabin This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share... Bulletproof glass is usually transparent material, such as polycarbonate thermoplastic (i. ... A rocket propelled grenade (RPG) is a man-portable, shoulder-launched weapon capable of firing an explosive device longer distances than an otherwise unassisted soldier could throw. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires, or launches a grenade. ... The al-Aqsa Intifada is the wave of violence and political conflict that began in September 2000 between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis; it is also called the Second Intifada (see also First Intifada). ...

The Israeli Engineering Corps uses the D9 for a wide variety of engineering tasks, such as digging moats, clearing mines, mounting sand barriers, building fortifications, clearing terrain obstacles and opening routes to Armored fighting vehicles and infantry. On Yom Kippur War the D9s took part in the breaching of the Suez Canal, enabling Israeli forces to go through the canal and surround the Egyptian 3rd Army. In the northern front - an Israeli D9, who opened a route in the snow to elite infantry forces, was the first ever motorized vehicle to reach the highest peak of Mount Hermon. One of the D9's primary roles is to clear landmine fields and booby-trapped areas. It can do it either by the regular heavy blade or by specially-designed mineplows attached in the front. The moated manor house of Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire, England Moats were deep and wide trenches, usually filled with water, to provide a barrier against attack upon castle ramparts or other fortifications. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... The Yom Kippur War (in Hebrew: Milchemet Yom HaKipurim, also known as the October War, the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, and the Ramadan War), was fought from October 6 (the day of Yom Kippur) to October 22 and 24, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Egypt and Syria. ... 1881 drawing of the Suez Canal The Suez Canal ( Arabic, Qanā al-Suways), west of the Sinai Peninsula, forms a 163  km (118 miles) ship canal in Egypt between Port Said (Būr Saīd) on the Mediterranean Sea and Suez (al-Suways) on the Red Sea. ... Mount Hermon (top of photo) supplies the bulk of the Jordan River water Mount Hermon (Arabic: Jabalu sh-Shaykh) is a mountain in the Anti-Lebanon range, on the border between Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. ... A landmine is a type of mine which is placed onto or into the ground and explodes when triggered by a vehicle or person. ... This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ...

In urban warfare and counter-terror operations, the D9s has also been used in standoff situations with armed opponents barricaded in buildings, usually rigged with explosives and booby-traps, when no hostages are present. In order not to risk Israeli soldiers, the D9 shakes the house until the barricaded gunmen surrender. After the building is evacuated, the D9 razes the structure in order to detonate and bury any explosives that remain inside. Hamas chief bombmaker and the plotter of the Passover massacre, Case Aduwan, was killed in April 7, 2002, after he was tracked by the SHABAK and the YAMAM and a D9 destroyed the house he was hiding after heavy exchanges of fire. In Hebron, the IDF used the armored D9 to stop the local Hamas leader, Bassal Qawasameh, who shot at the D9 with machinegun, but was killed when the D9 demolished the house where he was hiding. One year after, Imad Qawasameh (who planned the Beer Sheva twin suicide bombing) surrendered to IDF forces, after a D9 started demolishing his house. MOUT/FIBUA simulated in US Army exercise Urban warfare is warfare conducted in populated urban areas such as towns and cities. ... Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ... Hamas, acronym of Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah (Arabic: Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas is also Arabic for zeal or courage) is a Palestinian Islamist paramilitary and political organization, regarded by some as a militant organization and by others as a terrorist group. ... The Netanya suicide attack (also known as the Netanya bombing and the Passover massacre) was a Palestinian suicide bombing in Park Hotel at Netanya on March 27, 2002. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Shabak emblem Defender who shall not be seen The Shin Bet (in Hebrew, שבכ SHABAK an acronym of Sherut Bitahon Klali שירות ביטחון כללי), is the Internal General Security Service of Israel. ... The YAMAM ( יממ ) is the elite civilian counter terrorism unit of Israel. ... (This article is about the place in the Middle East. ... Hamas, acronym of Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah (Arabic: Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas is also Arabic for zeal or courage) is a Palestinian Islamist paramilitary and political organization, regarded by some as a militant organization and by others as a terrorist group. ... Many Hamas and activists in Hebron came from the local Qawasameh tribe. ... Many Hamas and activists in Hebron came from the local Qawasameh tribe. ... Beersheba or Beer Sheva (Hebrew באר שבע; Arabic بئر السبع Biʾr as-Sabʿ) is a city in Israel. ... A suicide bombing is a bomb attack on people or property, committed by a person who knows the explosion will cause his or her own death (see suicide, suicide weapons). ...

This method was also employed vastly in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield after 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush, resulting in the surrender of dozens of gunmen without further Israeli casualties. D9s were used in Jenin also to clear booby traps and open rigged doors. Palestinian militants who fought in Jenin admitted  (http://www.time.com/time/2002/jenin/story.html) it was the D9 who won the battle as it was impervious to their attacks - including large bombs and Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). See more details at Battle of Jenin 2002. Jenin, or Janīn (Arabic: جنين) is a city in the West Bank, which - in accord with the Oslo Accords - is divided between Israeli and Palestinian control. ... Operation Defensive Shield (In Hebrew, מבצע חומת מגן) was a large-scale military operation conducted by the Israeli Defence Forces in April 2002. ... This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ... This article is about explosive devices. ... A rocket propelled grenade (RPG) is a man-portable, shoulder-launched weapon capable of firing an explosive device longer distances than an otherwise unassisted soldier could throw. ... Jenins refugee camp was the place of one of the most controversial battles of Operation Defensive Shield ( April 2002). ...

Armored D9 bulldozers are routinely employed in the Gaza strip as well. Their main tasks there are to detonate large explosive charges (such as improvised anti-tank landmines,booby traps and IEDs) and clear safe paths for IDF armored fighting vehicles and troops. The D9s also demolish houses and clear shrubbery that militants can use as shooting, shelling or bombing cover. The D9s are an essential tool in the IDF campaign against smuggling tunnels in Rafah, which are used by militants to smuggle weapons, persons and contraband. Armored D9 bulldozers have demolished many structures in Rafah during battles with militants and operations to uncover smuggling tunnels. Map of the Gaza Strip from The World Factbook. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... A landmine is a type of mine which is placed onto or into the ground and explodes when triggered by a vehicle or person. ... This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ... Explosive devices, as used by terrorists, guerrillas or commando forces, are formally known as Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... Smuggling tunnels are secret tunnels, usually hidden underground, used for smuggling of goods, illegal weapons and people. ... Rafah (Arabic: رفح Hebrew: רפיח) is a town in the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian border, and a nearby town on the Egyptian side of the border, on the Sinai Peninsula. ...

The destruction of hundreds of structures in Rafah is a highly controversial issue. The Israel Defense Forces claim that the destruction of buildings and tunnels is a security necessity and that most houses destroyed were used for terrorist activity. However, Palestinians claim that the destruction has left thousands of people homeless, and is done systematically in order to create a cleared "buffer zone" between Rafah and Philadelphi Route. Protests against this destruction have caused further controversy, through such as incidents as the death of Rachel Corrie. Rafah (Arabic: رفح Hebrew: רפיח) is a town in the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian border, and a nearby town on the Egyptian side of the border, on the Sinai Peninsula. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... Terrorism is a controversial term with multiple definitions. ... The Philadephi Route (corridor / buffer zone) is a strip of land between Egypt and the Gaza Strip ceded to Israel by the Oslo Accords. ... Rachel Corrie Rachel Corrie (April 10, 1979–March 16, 2003) was a member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) who traveled as an activist to the Gaza Strip, during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ...

IDF armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozers in Rafah during Operation Rainbow.

Human Rights Watch has published a report (http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/gaza) criticizing the mass demolition in Rafah, in which it argues against many of the IDF's justifications for the destructive activities carried out by D9s. HRW supports Palestinian claims that the existence of tunnels  (http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/rafah1004/6.htm#_Toc84676183) in Rafah is simply being used as a pretext to demolish homes in order to create a "buffer zone". HRW believes that instead of using available and effective technologies for neutralizing tunnels where they cross the border, the IDF is instead undertaking unnecessary and highly destructive incursions into the camp. HRW's report also contends that the extensive destruction of roads  (http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/rafah1004/14.htm#_Toc84676206), water, and sewage networks by D9 bulldozers is not plausible as an antimine technique, as most of the destruction is wrought using the rear blade of the bulldozer, which would do nothing to protect bulldozers from improvised explosive devices. Instead, HRW claims that the IDF destruction of roads, utilities and civilian structures is vindicative, punitive and illegal. HRW has called on Caterpillar Inc. to suspend sales of D9s and related parts and services to the IDF so long as illegal demolitions continue. The Israeli position regarding operation Rainbow (http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/mfaarchive/2000_2009/2004/5/behind%20the%20headlines%20-%20rafah%20gateway%20to%20terrorism) described Rafah as the "Gateway to terrorism". The IDF stressed that "... the IDF traditionally does its utmost to avoid harming the civilian population. It employs infantry forces whenever possible – as opposed to air or artillery strikes – to minimize the possibility of doing unintentional harm. At times, this humanitarian concern comes at the price of risking the lives of soldiers – two of whom were killed last week by Palestinian snipers while helping an elderly woman get food" and claimed that most demolition are carried out against houses which are used by terrorists to shot at IDF forces, and were approved by the Israeli Supreme Court of Justice: "Even though these demolitions were the direct result of terrorist activity – and were thus the responsibility of the terrorists themselves – 46 Palestinian families involved exercised their right to appeal the demolitions to Israel’s High Court of Justice this week. In ruling to allow the demolitions, the court noted that they were permissible due to the overriding need to protect the lives of Israelis." Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Reuters File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Reuters File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Rafah (Arabic: رفح Hebrew: רפיח) is a town in the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian border, and a nearby town on the Egyptian side of the border, on the Sinai Peninsula. ... Operation Rainbow מבצע קשת בענן is a controversial military operation which began on May 18, 2004 in the Gaza Strip. ... Human Rights Watch is an international NGO based in New York City, USA, that works with human rights issues. ... Explosive devices, as used by terrorists, guerrillas or commando forces, are formally known as Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs. ...

D9s also took part in demolition of houses of suicide bombers. According to the IDF, the policy of destroying the homes of Palestinian suicide bombers has been established in response to terror groups, backed by countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Saddam Hussain's Iraq, offering monetary rewards to Palestinian families who have family members die as suicide bombers. Destroying those homes removes monetary gain as a motive to kill. The house demolition role has been executed with much success by D9s, excavators, and the Israeli Engineering Corps demolition experts. A suicide bombing is a bomb attack on people or property, committed by a person who knows the explosion will cause his or her own death (see suicide, suicide weapons). ... Iran (Persian: ایران) is a Middle Eastern country located in southwestern Asia. ... The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. ... Saddam Hussein Saddām Hussein ʻAbd al-Majid al-Tikrītī (Often spelt Husayn or Hussain; Arabic صدام حسين عبدالمجيد التكريتي; born April 28, 1937 1) was President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ... A suicide bombing is a bomb attack on people or property, committed by a person who knows the explosion will cause his or her own death (see suicide, suicide weapons). ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... The Israeli Engineering Corps are the combat engineering forces of צהל - the Israeli Defence Forces. ...

Both military armored D9s and civilian non-armored D9s are being used by Israel's Ministry of Defense in the building of the Israeli West Bank barrier. The main D9 contributions to the project are earthmoving and soil-leveling, clearing a path for the security fence, and digging trenches in front of the security fence. A defence minister (Commonwealth English) or defense minister (American English) is a cabinet portfolio (position) which regulates the armed forces in a sovereign nation. ... The barrier near Jenin, northern West Bank, July 2003 The barrier at Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, June 2004 The Israeli West Bank barrier (also called the West Bank Security Fence or the West Bank wall) is a physical barrier consisting of a network of fences, walls, and trenches, which...

United States

USMC armored D9R bulldozers.

The United States Army has purchased several D9 armor kits from the IDF and used them to produce similarly fortified D9s. These have been used to clear destroyed vehicles from roads, dig moats, erect earthen-barriers, and construct field fortifications. D9s have also been used to raze houses which hosted snipers who shot at American forces (similar to the Israeli usage). There were some reports about the use of large bulldozers against Iraqi trenches during the first Gulf War. Military reports on the Conflict in Iraq say that the D9s were found very effective and "received highly favorable reviews from all that benefited from their use" (Field Report: Marine Corps Systems Command Liaison Team , Central Iraq , 20 April to 25 April 2003). United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... This article deals with the post-invasion period in Iraq and its occupation. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ...

The US army used D9 bulldozers to clear wood in Vietnam war but after the war it replaced them with smaller and cheaper Caterpillar D7 bulldozers. D7 dozers are still very common in US combat engineering battalions, but there is a resurgent high demand to replace the lighter D7s with the newer and more heavily armored D9s. A US army combat engineer setting up a communications cable. ...

See also

• Bulldozer
• Caterpillar D11
• Caterpillar D6
• Caterpillar Inc.
• Engineering vehicle

• Israeli Defence Forces
• Israeli Engineering Corps
• Battle of Jenin 2002
• Al-Aqsa Intifada

A bulldozer is a powerful crawler ( caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... Caterpillar D-11R The Caterpillar D-11 series of tracked-type tractors are among the largest conventional bulldozers in the world, second to Komatsu D575. ... The Caterpillar D6 track-type tractor is a medium bulldozer manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. ... Caterpillar Inc. ... An excavator Engineering vehicles are heavy-duty vehicles, specially designed for executing engineering tasks. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... The Israeli Engineering Corps are the combat engineering forces of צהל - the Israeli Defence Forces. ... Jenins refugee camp was the place of one of the most controversial battles of Operation Defensive Shield ( April 2002). ... The al-Aqsa Intifada is the wave of violence and political conflict that began in September 2000 between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis; it is also called the Second Intifada (see also First Intifada). ...

External links

Civilian D9 bulldozer

• Caterpillar Tractor Company - Official Website (http://www.cat.com)
• Caterpillar D9T (http://cmms.cat.com/cmms/servlet/cat.dcs.cmms.servlet.GetModelSummary?dsfFlag=0&&classid=406&langid=en&rgnid=NACD&view=cat&prdname=D9T&prdid=D9T+2&familyid=482&subfamilyid=322&subfamilyheader=Track-Type+Tractors), CAT website
• The new Caterpillar D9R specifications (http://www.butler-machinery.com/news_33.html) (from a Caterpillar distributor)
• Pictures of CAT D9N bulldozer (http://www.atst.ru/cat9b.jpg).
• Fansite to Marvin Heemeyer's "Killdozer" (http://www.killdozer.us/).
• Book "Caterpillar D9 - D9R" by Thomas Wilk & Urs Peyer (http://www.classictractors.co.uk/shop/static/caterpillar_d9-d9r_720.htm)
• Review on the D9G (http://www.vannattabros.com/dozer4.html)

Military D9 bulldozer

• Army's new D9 bulldozer digs into duty in Kuwait (http://cndyorks.gn.apc.org/caab/articles/kuwait-dig.htm) - The US army tests the armoured D9R for the Iraqi campaign
• Engineering News: Combat Engineering in Iraq (http://www.enr.com/features/bizlabor/archives/030922.asp) - including reviews on the D9 Dozer performance in Iraq and nice pictures of it and other CEVs
• IDF D9 bulldozer (http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/engineer_vehicles/bulldozers/D9_D10.html) (Israeli-Weapons website)
• "IAI/Ramta Begins Deliveries of Armor Protected Caterpillar D9R Dozers under Contract Option Exercised by IDF" (June 14, 2004) (http://www.iai.co.il/site/en/iai.asp?pi=23048&doc_id=31739) (The Israeli Aerial Industries)
• Pictures of "Duby", IDF armoured D9 (http://www.jedsite.info/engineer/charlie-caterpillar/d9r_series/israeli-armoured/israrm-intro.html) (Jed Army Recognition)
• AP: Israel to Raze With Robot Bulldozers (30 October 2003) (http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/7144048.htm) - "The giant Caterpillar bulldozer, used by the Israeli military to destroy Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, now comes with a controversial new feature: remote control."
• Human Rights Watch criticizes mass demolitions in Gaza, citing the Caterpillar D9 as the main tool (http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/rafah1004/index.htm)
• The Battle of Jenin, 2002:
  • "Time" account on the battle of Jenin and how the D9s won the battle (http://www.time.com/time/2002/jenin/) (Time Magazine article)
  • Interview with "Kurdi Bear", a D9 operator who fought in Jenin refugee camp in April 2002 (http://www.gush-shalom.org/archives/kurdi_eng.html)
  • Interview with the commander of the D9s unit and three D9 operators who fought in Jenin refugee camp in April 2002 (http://www.fresh.co.il/dcforum/Army/7506.html#9) (scanned, Hebrew)