Killdozer (bulldozer)
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Killdozer has been used as a nickname for the armored bulldozer constructed by Marvin Heemeyer and used to demolish a significant portion of Granby, Colorado in the United States of America on June 4, 2004. There is no evidence that Heemeyer ever planned to name his creation. The name originally came a from 1944 short story by Theodore Sturgeon that was later made into a film.
Heemeyer's Killdozer was a Komatsu D335A bulldozer (some sources say it was a Caterpillar D9, but local newspapers are specific on the model[citation needed]) fitted with makeshift armor plating covering the cabin, engine and parts of the tracks. This made the machine impervious to small arms fire and resistant to explosives; three external explosions and over 200 rounds of firearm ammunition fired at the Killdozer had no effect on it. [1]
In places, the vehicle's armor was over one foot thick,[citation needed] consisting of concrete sandwiched between sheets of steel to make ad-hoc composite armor.[1] For visibility, Killdozer was fitted with three video cameras linked to monitors mounted on the vehicle's dashboard.[1] Onboard fans were used to keep Heemeyer cool while driving and compressed air nozzles were fitted to blow dust away from the video cameras.[citation needed] Food, water and life support were present in the almost airtight cabin.[citation needed] Heemeyer had no intention of ever leaving the cabin once he entered; he had welded the hatch shut from the inside. [1]
Killdozer was stopped by the failure of a radiator[citation needed]. As soon as Killdozer came to a halt, Heemeyer committed suicide with a pistol he had brought into the cabin specifically for that purpose[citation needed]. His body was subsequently removed by police with a crane. Despite the great damage to property (13 buildings were destroyed,[2] most requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to be replaced), no one besides Heemeyer was injured; observers noted that Heemeyer appeared to go out of his way to avoid injury to bystanders.[1]
On April 19, 2005, it was announced that Killdozer was being taken apart for scrap metal.[2] Individual pieces of Killdozer would be dispersed to many separate scrap yards to prevent admirers of Heemeyer from taking souvenirs. [2]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e "Man who bulldozed through Colo. town is dead". MSNBC. Retrieved June 27.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Crews Begin Dismantling Granby Bulldozer". Retrieved June 27.
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