
On the urban battlefield there are usually no shortage of locations to seek cover but behind a car is not necessarily the best option, writes Carl Schulze.
You see it in movies, during exercises and even in combat in Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere: Troops are engaged by small arms fire, they return fire and then take cover behind a car, a van, a mini-bus or any other type of soft-skinned vehicle. What works in a Hollywood blockbuster will most certainly have fatal consequences in reality, as soft skinned vehicles do not offer suitable protection against the fire of small arms such as pistols, sub-machine guns and assault rifles. This article aims to make you aware of the reality.

This shot shows even the more substantial base of the A-pillar is easily perforated by 5.56mm bullets [© Carl Schulze]

After initial strike bullets began to tumble causing much larger exit holes on the other side as a result [© Carl Schulze]

Ordinary 5.56mm bullets went clean through bodywork panels as if they were made of thin tinfoil [© Carl Schulze]

In the vicinity of the engine block the mass of metal has prevented bullets from punching through [© Carl Schulze]

Bullets went right through the vehicle perforating the nearside door then out through the opposite one [© Carl Schulze]
And do not be a fool and say: “Sure, but that was an automatic rifle, fire from a pistol would be stopped…” The 9x19mm round is a widely used for pistols and sub-machine guns. Regular 9mm ball ammunition fired by these weapons can easily punch through a 3mm thick sheet of steel… and there are much more powerful calibre pistols out there.

Inside of the cab is strewn with chips of glass that would serious cause damage to your eyesight [© Carl Schulze]
- Do not crouch behind the vehicle, place yourself flat on the ground behind it.
- Try to take cover in the area where the engine and/or axles are situated.
- Rather than lying alongside the vehicle, try to be the smallest target possible and place yourself facing towards the direction the hostile fire comes from.
- Be aware that bullets can pass underneath the vehicle and that an enemy firing from a prone position might well be able to see you.
- If you are armed yourself you can use different prone positions to return fire from underneath the vehicle.

The wheels took a pasting too but several bullets were stopped or deflected by the steel rim and hub [© Carl Schulze]
Finally, train in the manner you plan to fight so that seeking proper cover becomes second nature.
The bulk of this article was first published in COMBAT & SURVIVAL Magazine in 2017.
{ images © Carl Schulze unless noted }

Note how bullets have punched straight through even the more substantial material of this door pillar [© Carl Schulze]