Route clearance (IEDs)

Moreover, the loss of the Buffalo or the Husky vehicles would greatly reduce the counter-IED potential of the RCP as it would no longer possess the capability to locate or remove IEDs with high effectively resorting to secondary options such as using remote controlled vehicles, using standard MRAPs equipped with digging tools in place of the Buffalo, and dismounted foot patrols to locate the trigger points in known danger areas.

Although there was fierce fighting such as the Battle of Tora Bora and Operation Anaconda, the IED threat remained generally low until later in the war.

Afghanistan is a rural country with rough terrain, most of the roads are unimproved and due to the abundance of rivers many culverts are present.

Typically tactics include placing high yield IEDs weighing several hundred pounds deep underground causing massive damage.

Another tactic is placing small IEDs at choke points, the vehicle becomes disabled and the passing troops are ambushed.

Remote-control "Panama" Land Rover with ground-penetrating radar to detect IEDs followed by Mastiff with Choker mine rollers
1431st Company, deployed as part of the 168th Engineer Brigade, conducts a Route Clearance patrol through the Khost-Gardez Pass in eastern Afghanistan, note the Husky mine detector vehicles leading the convoy, which are typically unique to sapper units