There’s been a few videos circulating around the internet containing individuals, often with their families with them, attacked by armed personnel while in their vehicles. Such as the following video.

I’m not sure as to why this has become a “trend” among criminals, but I could only think that they decide to attack the innocent at this time due to the fact it’s the least expected place one could think of being attacked. Possibly, it’s due to the adversary thinking they have an advantage due to being able to maneuver while the targeted individual is confined to such a small space. Nonetheless, I thought I would write an article that will hopefully spark a few minds in case you find yourself defending from a vehicle. There is no such thing as, “I will never have to” ….when it comes to a gunfight.

Luckily, I’ve never been in this scenario in a real life or death situation! Before deploying to Iraq as a private military contractor, one of our blocks of instruction did include teaching us to fight and defend from a vehicle. The primary response to an attack while in a vehicle should be to drive through the contact. Nothing sucks more than being pinned down in a confined space with limited maneuverability. If the primary cannot be accomplished, the secondary response would be to simply fight.

I’m sure we’ve all seen the movies where an individual who is pinned down by gunfire while in a vehicle, takes cover behind the vehicle or door with their body pressed against it. I would advise against hugging against the vehicle. For anyone who has taken a CQB course or has been in a gunfight in a building or room, it’s advised not to hug the walls as rounds tend to travel with the wall – the same goes for vehicles. There is also the risk of not only catching the immediate shrapnel, but the risk of catching a ricochet. Below are a few steps you can take to increase your survivability if you ever find yourself needing to fight from a vehicle.

• Try to push through the contact — BREAK CONTACT!
• If all else fails and you must return fire, as in any firefight, gain fire superiority. This may start from within the vehicle. Shooting through the windshield or side window may end the fight without you exiting.  NOTE: Shooting through the windshield from within the vehicle, expect the first round to go high. This is what I call, “the sacrificial round”. Once a hole is punched through the windshield, continue to shoot through the hole and put rounds on target.
• If you must exit, BE AWARE OF YOUR SEAT-BELT!  Don’t get your arm wrapped in the seat belt and have it yank you back in.
• Once you have exited, do not hunker down behind the vehicle. It not only limits your situation awareness, but it may lead to you catching a ricochet.
• DO NOT EVER DO THIS:

*Featured image courtesy of gunfighteru.com

This article was originally published on the Loadout Room and written by Nick Irving