By MIKE D’AMOUR– Sun Media
The RG-12 multi-purpose armoured vehicle can withstand hand-thrown missiles, rifle ammo, small-arms fire and under-belly hand grenades.
And now the Calgary Police Service will be the first in North America to use the heavy-duty vehicles at the upcoming G-8 summit.
“These were purchased specifically for the G8,” said police Insp. Al Redford.
As many as 10 people can fit inside the thickly armoured vehicles that will strictly be used as a defensive tool.
“It’s not an offensive vehicle — there are no guns — and will be simply a platform to remove someone — an injured citizen, protester or police officer — from a volatile situation,” Redford said.
USED IN SOUTH AFRICA
The RG-12 is manufactured by Vickers OMC of South Africa, and forms the backbone of the Public Order Forces of the South African Police Services, which has more than 700 of them.
Others are used by the police forces of Mozambique, Malawi, Congo, the Ivory Coast, Colombia and two Middle Eastern nations.
The two being used for the June G-8 summit in Kananaskis were purchased by Canada’s Treasury Department for $1.1 million and are simply on loan to the CPS, Redford said.
“We’d be remiss if we didn’t have the extraction capabilities these vehicles provide.”
The RG-12 is similar to one the CPS had on standby during the World Petroleum Congress Calgary in June 2000, but was never seen.
“We kept it low profile and out of sight, but made it available in case we needed it,” Redford.
SPECIALLY OUTFITTED
The new vehicles have been specially outfitted for Canadian use.
They’ve been fitted with a Mobile Adjustable Ramp System which was originally designed for use in aircraft hijack situations and makes simultaneous multi-story entry possible during elevated assaults.
Originally designed as a police public order vehicle for both urban and rural operations, the RG-12 has proved to be highly effective in many other applications, including as routine armoured patrol vehicles, military APCs, bullion carriers, bulk diamond carriers, and internal security vehicles on gold and platinum mines, the company literature said.