technical, a word

Danger Room's Nathan Hodge, while talking about a Mexican drug cartel's improvised .50-caliber machine gun to be bolted to a pick-up, uses this new-to-me terminology: "technical"—an improvised fighting vehicle of the kind favored by Somali warlords and developing-world armies."

Previously ⌦ gadget, a word

[#1 posted by Anonymous, April 21, 2009 10:15 AM]

It seemed more common in western media in the late 80s and 90s. I haven't heard it for a while.

roveg

[#2 posted by max_supernova, April 21, 2009 10:32 AM]

The desert combat mod for Battlefield 1942 has had technicals as a vehicle type since the beginning. Loads of fun.

http://desertcombat.com/Vehicle%20Images/Pickups.jpg

[#3 posted by J. Lasser, April 21, 2009 10:40 AM]

Clearly, Joel, you need to go read Black Hawk Down.

Which is an awesome book anyway.

[#4 posted by stwaldo, April 21, 2009 11:15 AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_(fighting_vehicle)

The wikis to the rescue! AFAIK came into common usage in the early 90s during the Somalia conflict.

[#5 posted by dculberson, April 21, 2009 11:18 AM]

And as Top Gear proved, a Toyota Hilux diesel is the ideal platform. Tough as nails, though I guess being slow as molasses isn't a good thing when being shot at.

[#6 posted by stwaldo, April 21, 2009 11:18 AM]

/sigh

Woe be unto me for not looking at links in the OP. I hereby revoke my own commenting rights for a period of no less than 48 hours, followed by a probationary period of the life of the Rickroll meme.

[#7 posted by nixiebunny, April 21, 2009 3:45 PM]

I have an idea. Let's just put everyone in jail right now and get this stupid drug war over with already.

Of course the Mexican drug cartels will build fancy military-style trucks to implement their turf wars; it comes with having lots of money and few morals. And that comes from the fact that drugs are illegal yet in demand.

[#8 posted by Adam C, April 21, 2009 11:20 PM]

I believe the term 'Technical' started in the so-called "Toyota Wars" in Chad back in the late '80s.

[#9 posted by error404, April 22, 2009 5:47 AM]

Yeah a Technical is normally seen nowadays as a stripped down Toyota pick up with a deck mounted DShK or a pair of PKs in the back and about 30 Somalis all toting AKs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DShK_Machine_Gun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PK_machine_gun

[#10 posted by Anonymous, May 1, 2009 11:46 AM]

Technicals - as seen in Command & Conquer Generals! In other words - not knowing the word identifies you as not being a computer game player :-)