Jungle Cutter

The Jungle Cutter, also known as jungle destroyer, was a Soviet vehicle designed for clearing a path through dense vegetation. With two giant spinning circular saws on its front for cutting down trees, and wood chippers to reduced cleared debris into bits, it could hack a roadway through the jungle so that a convoy of vehicles could follow.

History

Use during the trek to Akator

In 1957, Spetsnaz forces under the command of Irina Spalko and Antonin Dovchenko brought a Jungle Cutter, nicknamed the mulcher, to their base in Brazil for use in their expedition to find Akator, After a captive Indiana Jones helped decipher the addled words of Harold Oxley of where the Crystal Skull of Akator was to be returned, the Soviets began a trek through the rain forest with the Jungle Cutter in the lead, careless of the wreckage they left in their wake. Without the jungle-cutter, passage would have been impossible for the convoy.

The Jungle Cutter being destroyed.

After Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams, and Marion Ravenwood freed themselves in their truck, Indiana Jones used an RPG-2 to stop the Jungle Cutter, breaking it into thousands of pieces. His attack caused one of the two sawblades to come loose, and it bounded backwards through the convoy, wrecking vehicles, and even damaging the truck that Marion was driving.

Unfortunately for Indy, the jungle was thin enough for the remaining Russian vehicles to drive through and continue on their mission, making Indy and his companions crew race for Akator against Spalko and her troops.

Legacy

After the ordeal with the Cutter Indiana Jones included a photo and a brief description of the vehicle in his journal.

Despite the goal of the Cutter to create a passage for the Soviet convoy, any trace of the convoy’s passage created by the Cutter would be erased within the space of a couple of seasons.

Behind the scenes

The Jungle Cutter used in the film was actually a real tree-cutting vehicle built for the movie, based on the chassis of an American M113 APC (easily recognizable by its wheels and the front mounted track sprocket) . However some of the effects of the Jungle Cutter were computer-generated.

In James Luceno's junior novelization the demise of the Cutter is extended compared to the film. After Indy shoots the bazooka towards the Cutter its sends parts into the river and trees. Losing one of its treads, the vehicle spun toward the riverbank, exploding a second time as fire from the first strike spread to the fuel tank. Engulfed in flames and oily smoke, it ground to a sudden halt, only to be rearended by a truck and explode a third time. The final detonation was powerful enough to flip it upside down.

Merchandise

The Hasbro version of the Jungle Cutter.

Hasbro released a 1:18 scale vehicle of the Jungle Cutter from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull line. The playset includes a background diorama and an empty crate. The vehicle has two spinning saws that can be used when moving the vehicle and it actually spins, the Soviet tree-cutter tank can fire its projectile, a bulldozer bumper. 4 figures can fit on the Jungle Cutter; a Soviet Soldier can be used as the driver. The Jungle Cutter's details is accurate to the one used in the movie. But the twin cutting saws has to be angled at the ground for it to spin when the vehicle is rolled on the ground.

Hasbro also released a small scale display piece of the Russian Jungle Cutter for the Titanium series. It is die-cast metal, another great addition to the Indiana Jones collection. The piece is actually very accurate to the Jungle Cutter used in the movie.

The LEGO Company has released a set containing the Jungle Cutter, Indiana Jones with an RPG, two Russian soldiers, Dovchenko, and some trees to cut down.

Appearances

• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull novel
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull junior novel
• "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" - Indiana Jones: The Official Magazine
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull comic
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull audio pack
• LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Non-canonical appearance)
• LEGO Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick (Non-canonical appearance)

Sources

• The Lost Journal of Indiana Jones
• Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide
• Indiana Jones Action Figures (Pack: Jungle Cutter)
• Grail Diary (prop replica)