Armoured Beasts Warthogs

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First fleet of Warthogs to be unleashed in Afghanistan

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A “beast” of a new vehicle has arrived in the UK to prepare for its unleashing in Afghanistan’s Green Zone to support British troops. Warthog can wade through water and is powered by a 7.2 litre engine that produces 350 bhp - while carrying up to 12 troops and offering improved levels of protection.

The highly agile, all-terrain vehicle will be able to climb steep gradients, cling to severe slopes, tackle vertical obstacles and cross wide trenches.

The MOD has bought more than 100 Warthog amphibious vehicles from Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK). The first was unveiled today at Thales UK’s new vehicle integration facility in West Wales as the company will install UK-specific kit to the vehicles.

This will include additional armour, specialist electronic counter-measure equipment and communication tools before the vehicle is deployed to Afghanistan early next year.

Military Information

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said

"Warthog is an armoured beast of a vehicle that will carry troops to the heart of operations in the difficult terrain of Afghanistan’s Green Zone. It can work in terrain where other vehicles find it difficult to operate in."

“Warthog will provide improved protection to our troops on the frontline and this marks a significant step forward in preparing this vehicle for our troops. I am delighted that Thales UK is able to contribute to that process here in the UK."

"After the integration work the vehicles will undergo demanding trials to ensure Warthog is ready for the frontline."

First Minister for Wales, the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, formally opened the new vehicle integration facility in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, for Thales UK.

Brigadier Ian Simpson Head of Combat Wheels Group

At Defence Equipment and Support, added

“Warthog has proven itself to be a very capable vehicle in its preliminary tests and trials. I am impressed by the high standards of engineering applied to this vehicle and the quality of the support package offered by Singapore Technologies Kinetics, which will give our troops with higher levels of protection and mobility."

“This vehicle has been manufactured and shipped to the UK for radios and armaments to be fitted and integrated into the vehicle."

"The vehicle will then have to be fully tested and certified as safe to use before being issued to troops for pre-deployment training. Once these tests have been completed the vehicle will be given to our troops”.

Armoured Diggers

Digger armour saves two soldiers from roadside bombs

Two Royal Engineers who walked away unscathed when their armoured diggers hit roadside bombs in Afghanistan met the people who built the vehicles today. Army Sappers Craig Cook and Daniel Boden were both operating Caterpillar armoured diggers when they drove over improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in two separate incidents while performing construction roles on the frontline during 2009.

The MOD equipment operated by Sappers Cook and Boden was bought under a £8M Urgent Operational Requirements programme, which provides the Royal Engineers with diggers and tractors protected against the IED threat in Afghanistan.

Sapper Daniel Boden, serving with 28 Engineer Regiment, e-mailed Caterpillar from Helmand after the IED blast to thank them for saving his life while maintaining routes in Afghanistan in September.

Sapper Boden from Portsmouth said

"I was on a route maintenance patrol, filling in potholes left from previous IED blasts. I had just finished when I turned round to go back to base and I drove over an IED."

"From what I have been told it was quite a large blast. I was sat in the cab and felt the blast. There was a blinding flash and lots of dust everywhere – although I didn’t realise at first that it was my vehicle that had been hit."

"I got out of the vehicle and my legs were shaking and I didn’t know what to think at first. After I got back to the base I phoned my family and told them initially that I had been in an accident but when I admitted I had been blown up they were really shocked."

Sapper Craig Cook, of 38 Engineer Regiment

Whose family is from County Durham, was so moved by the experience he wrote to Caterpillar – the company which made the diggers - thanking them for saving his life and allowing him to go home safely to see the birth of his baby daughter.

Sapper Cook was undertaking a route clearance job in June 2009 when the blast happened. He said:

“Whilst on operations this summer I was tasked with a construction job, which involved driving 2km along a well known IED route. Unfortunately I drove over one and it went off. Luckily I walked away unharmed thanks to the improved protection of the plant equipment I was using.

“Knowing that this equipment is safe has given me future faith to go out on further patrols in the machines, I would like to thank the people at Caterpillar from the bottom of my heart, because of their hard work I can go home to see my wife and the birth of my first child. I really can’t thank you enough.”

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Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said

"It’s great to hear that these two brave soldiers escaped unscathed from well-protected equipment bought under an Urgent Operational Requirement specifically for the Afghanistan frontline."

"The Royal Engineers have a vital role to play in Afghanistan ensuring the mobility of our troops and constructing bases on the frontline, often under dangerous conditions, so it is essential that they can do their jobs safely."

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