TOMA
A 'Smart Panzer' TOMA built by Moğol Makina on a Mercedes-Benz truck chassis
TypeWater cannon
Place of origin Turkey
Production history
ManufacturerOtokar, BMC Otomotiv, Katmerciler, Moğol Makina, Nurol Makina
Specifications
Mass5 t (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons)
Length7.45 m (24 ft 5 in)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Main
armament
Water cannon
Secondary
armament
Side and rear gas sprays

The TOMA (Turkish: Toplumsal Olaylara Müdahale Aracı, English: Intervention Vehicle Against Social Incidents) is an armored water cannon designed for riot control by Turkish companies Otokar,[1] BMC,[2] Katmerciler,[3] Moğol Makina[4] and Nurol Makina.[5][6]

TOMAs are primarily operated by the Turkish National Police and the Turkish Gendarmerie. Following the Gezi Park protests, the Turkish government ordered a total of 73 TOMAs between 2013 and 2014, deploying them to Istanbul, Ankara and southeast Turkey.[7] Following their use by Turkish police in crackdowns on protests in Gezi Park, the TOMA received new export orders to countries such as Brazil, Chile,[8] Kuwait,[9] Libya[10] and Senegal.[11]

Technical specifications

TOMAs can be built onto a range of Mercedes-Benz and Iveco truck chassis configurations, and can reach a top speed of 100 km/h. The heavy armor protects the cab, engine and weapons systems of the TOMA from rioters and gunfire, while also allowing it to achieve a 30% gradient climbing capability. Fire extinguishers are provided to put out fires in both the road and the vehicle, and the crew are protected against tear gas and other irritants breaching the cab.

The TOMA is primarily equipped with a computer-controlled water cannon system, firing pressurised water from two nozzles, with a water tank capacity of up to 10,000 litres (2,600 US gal) that can be filled with water from wells and lakes. The TOMA is also equipped with two 60 litres (16 US gal) tanks for tear gas and dye, as well as an 80 litres (21 US gal) foam tank. The foam, tear gas and dye reserves can be fired individually from the nozzles, or can be used in combination with water.[5]

While TOMAs are primarily specified for riot control, they have also been used to water tree saplings planted as a memorial to fallen police officers,[12] clean CBRN equipment, and fight large fires.[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ISV 4x4 Armored". Otokar. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  2. ↑ "Riot Control Vehicle". BMC. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  3. ↑ "Riot Control Vehicle (RCV)". Katmerciler. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  4. ↑ "Riot Control Vehicle". Moğol Makina. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  5. 1 2 "TOMA Riot Control Vehicle". Nurol Makina. Archived from the original on 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  6. ↑ "Nurol Makina - Ejder Toma". Nurol Makina. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  7. ↑ "Protests in Turkey are a boon to companies that make anti-riot gear". The Mercury News. San Jose. 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  8. ↑ Yıldırım, Göksel (2020-03-20). "Ejder TOMA'dan yeni ihracat başarısı" [New export success for Ejder TOMA]. Anadolu Agency (in Turkish). Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  9. ↑ Yıldırım, Göksel (2019-12-12). "TOMA bu kez ihracatın yolunu açıyor" [TOMA paves the way for export]. Anadolu Agency (in Turkish). Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  10. ↑ "Turkish police to buy 50 new vehicles with water cannons". Hürriyet Daily News. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  11. ↑ Abdelmenan Awel, Muniıra (2018-05-04). "Turkish armored vehicles showcased in Senegal". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  12. ↑ "TOMA'lar bu kez ağaç suladı" [TOMAs water trees]. www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 26 March 2016. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  13. ↑ "Diyarbakır'da evde çıkan yangın, TOMA ve zırhlı araçla söndürüldü" [House fire in Diyarbakir extinguished with TOMA and an armored vehicle]. Haberler.com (in Turkish). 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  14. ↑ "AVM'de yangın... TOMA'larla söndürüldü!" [Fire in shopping mall... extinguished with TOMAs!]. Tele1 (in Turkish). 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2021-01-25.


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