Forest penetrator

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JASDF Forest Penetrator at Aibano Sub Base Novenber 28, 2015.jpg

The Forest Penetrator (roughly "forest intruder") is a rescue device for air rescue in order to be able to bring casualties from densely wooded areas on board the helicopter . It is suitable for breaking through tree tops and undergrowth . People to be rescued can hold onto it using folding seats and safety belts.

During the Vietnam War , US Combat Search and Rescue units had difficulties in getting to the victims from their helicopters in the heavily forested landscape. The rescue slings used at the time got tangled in the dense treetops and therefore did not even reach the ground. Kaman employees therefore developed the "Forest Penetrator". The first copies arrived in Vietnam in June 1966; the tests with the likewise new winches were delayed until September / October. The Forest Penetrator was successful and partially replaced the rescue slings.

There are different versions with two to three folding seats. Floatable variants enable a rescue from the water. Some variants have a hinged protective screen made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic , which is intended to protect the passengers from tree branches when they are pulled up. But even without the protective screen, there are seldom problems with pulling it up.

The Forest Penetrator is primarily designed for self-rescue . If necessary, a helper can also be lowered. A helper is always needed for civilian victims because it is assumed that the people are not familiar with handling the rescue equipment.

Web links

Commons : Forest Penetrator  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Flug Revue , Volume 21, 1969, p. 72 [1]
  2. ↑ George Galdorisi, Thomas Phillips: Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue , Verlag Voyageur Press, 2009, ISBN 9781616732257 p. 223 [2]
  3. ^ A b Peter Dorland, James Nanney: Dust Off: Army Aeromedical Evacuation in Vietnam , Verlag DIANE Publishing, 1982, ISBN 9780756710859 pp. 72–73 [3]
  4. ^ Robert L. LaPointe: PJs in Vietnam: The Story of Airrescue in Vietnam as Seen Through the Eyes of Pararescuemen , Northern PJ Press, 2001, ISBN 9780970867100 p. 71 [4]
  5. ^ C. Williams: Rescue Reminders in: Approach , Volume 14, Issue 1, Verlag Naval Safety Center , 1968, pp. 26-29 [5]
  6. ↑ Earl H. Tilford: Search and rescue in southeast asia , Center for Air Force History , 1980, ISBN 9781428992849 p. 60 [6]
  7. ↑ Helicopter Rescue Techniques , National Park Service October 2013, pp. 68–69 [7]