Killdozer (bulldozer)
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, and no one was killed or injured in Heemeyer's rampage.
Heemeyer's Killdozer was a Komatsu D335A bulldozer (some sources say it was a Caterpillar D9, but local newspapers are specific on the model) fitted with makeshift armor plating covering the cabin, engine and parts of the tracks, thus making 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, consisting of concrete sandwiched between sheets of steel. For visibility, Killdozer was fitted with three video cameras linked to monitors mounted on the vehicle's dashboard. Onboard fans were used to keep Heemeyer cool while driving and to blow dust away from the video cameras. Weapons, including a 0.50" caliber rifle, were mounted to gun ports cut into the armor. Food, water and life support were present in the almost airtight cabin. Heemeyer had no intention of ever leaving the cabin once he entered; the hatch was permanently sealed.
Killdozer was stopped only by a failed radiator. As soon as Killdozer ground to a halt, Heemeyer took his own life with a pistol he placed into the cabin specifically for that purpose. His body was subsequently removed by police with a crane. Despite the great damage to property (13 buildings were destroyed, most requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to be replaced), no one besides Heemeyer was injured, and he has become something of a folk hero.
On April 19, 2005, it was announced that the Killdozer was being taken apart for scrap metal. Individual pieces of Killdozer will be dispersed to many separate scrap yards to prevent admirers of Heemeyer from taking souvenirs. [2] [3]