173rd Paratroopers Airdrop SHARK Humvee From C-130 Hercules

By Tactical-Life

The following is a release from 1st Lt. Orlando Florea and the U.S. Army:

Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade airdropped a SHARK mobile communications Humvee from a C-130 Hercules aircraft onto Frida IV Drop Zone near Dandalo, Italy, Jan. 21.

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The Shark mobile communications vehicle is specially designed for airborne and forced-entry operations. It contains a minimum of six different communication platforms and can deploy worldwide on short-notice to support combat units.

The name originates from the 1980s, when similar communication platforms were mounted onto all-terrain vehicles. In order to accommodate the loading onto and dropping the vehicle from a CH-47 helicopter, the antenna had to be moved to the center of the vehicle, resulting in a side profile that resembled a shark fin and earned the vehicle its name.

“The ability to airdrop a rapidly-deployable SHARK vehicle facilitates mission command for the 173rd Airborne Brigade anywhere in the world,” said Capt. Marc Levitt, commander, Company C, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd. “The platforms on the vehicle provide commanders with reliable digital and voice communications and are critical to reach back to higher headquarters.”

Brigade signaleers conducted this mission to maintain readiness …Read the Rest

Source:: Tactical Life