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A technical is an improvised fighting vehicle, typically by a local irregular military force and usually being a modified civilian vehicle or other similar machine. It is usually an open-backed civilian pickup truck on which is mounted a recoilless rifle, heavy machine gun, mortar, or another relatively small weapons system. A technical is usually unarmored.
While the term "technical" for such a vehicle appears to have originated in Mogadishu, Somalia, this type of vehicle is employed throughout the world by irregular and militia forces in urban warfare. The name is thought to have derived from use by the Red Cross there who were often forced to bribe local militias or be the victim of robbery and attacks. The money for these bribes was often written off as "technical expenses".
They are employed in two distinct modes; either while moving at high speed, indiscriminately spraying an area with fire (see spray and pray), or approaching a fixed target rapidly, suddenly stopping, and firing aimed shots. Terrain permitting, technicals have been used to dramatic effect in a variety of third world conflicts. In 1987, technicals from Chad drove the Libyan army from the Aozou Strip and drove into Libya itself, raiding military bases over 150 km north of the border.
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