Support Equipment

Multi-shank ripper

Also known as
  • Cat multi-shank ripper
  • Ripper - Multi-Shank, Adjustable Parallelogram
  • D9 multi-shank ripper

The multi-shank ripper is Caterpillar's rear dozer attachment for breaking rock, frozen ground, and heavily compacted soil. Caterpillar's D9 product page lists it as a specialty attachment for the D9 family and publishes penetration and pry-out figures for the multi-shank configuration.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Dozer ripper attachment
Service note
Current D9-family attachment
Unit cost
Not publicly documented
combat engineeringengineeringroute clearance

Specifications

Attachment class
Rear-mounted dozer ripper
Configuration
Multi-shank, adjustable parallelogram
Compatible machine
Caterpillar D9 large dozer
Pockets
3
Maximum penetration force
34,621 lbf (154 kN)
Maximum penetration
31.4 in (798 mm)
Pry-out force
81,156 lbf (361 kN)
Attachment weight
12,136 lb (5,550 kg)
Compatible Dozers

Caterpillar presents the multi-shank ripper as a rear-mounted dozer attachment for hard-material breakup.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer, Armored bulldozer, Armored VehiclesCaterpillar D9 armored bulldozerLarge dozer

Caterpillar's D9 product page lists the multi-shank ripper as a specialty rear attachment option for the D9 family.

Sources: Cat D9 Dozer

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Rear-mounted dozer attachment used to fracture dense material before dozing or excavation.
Media
Related Weapon Systems
Weaponized civilian bulldozer or front loader, Combat engineering bulldozer/front loader, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesWeaponized civilian bulldozer or front loaderCombat engineering bulldozer/front loaderWeaponized civilian bulldozers and front loaders are heavy construction machines adapted for combat engineering, with the Israeli Caterpillar D9 family as the best-documented current example. In the Israel-Hamas War, armored D9-series bulldozers have been used to open routes, disturb suspected explosive hazards, build berms, remove obstacles, and demolish structures or tunnel infrastructure, while newer remote-controlled and autonomous conversions reduce crew exposure in the most dangerous tasks.

Sources