Jackal will have its day in Helmand
17 Sep 08
The men and women of 3 Commando Brigade have been out on Salisbury Plain trying out some of the kit they'll be packing as they head to southern Afghanistan later this year; including the highly acclaimed off-road "beast" that is Jackal. Report by Steve Moore.
Soldiers of 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles practice break contact drills using Jackal during a mission rehearsal exercise on Salisbury Plain
[Picture: PO Husbands, RN]
Jackal will help lead the way when 3 Commando Brigade heads off for a six-month tour to Afghanistan. The highly mobile weapons platform was introduced to Operation Herrick earlier this year. It is one of a set of vehicles new to theatre, described as 'a complete revelation' by Royal Marines Brigadier Buster Howes, the Brigade's commanding officer.
And it has been tried and tested by Marines and other units of the brigade during a mission rehearsal exercise held on Salisbury Plain to test the soldiers, sailors and airmen and help them combine into one effective 5,800-strong military force:
"Jackal is a beast, an awesome piece of kit," said Royal Marines Captain Orlando Rogers on the eve of his first deployment to Helmand province. More than 70 are on order to take the total number available to the forces to around 200. It features a unique air-bag suspension allowing rapid movement off road.
"Its suspension is particularly impressive," said Capt Rogers. "Each suspension arm is independent so when you are cross country and you hit a bump, because the shock is only over one wheel the ride continues to be completely stable and safe.
"It can do more than 50 miles an hour over most terrain – it's like driving a dune buggy! Jackal is modern technology at its best and the lads love it."
A CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache lift off after landing a team of Royal Marines complete with interpreters on Salisbury Plain
[Picture: LA(Phot) Pete Smith]
Jackal, or M-WMIK (Mobility Weapons Mounted Installation Kit) when it was procured by DE&S last year, has a top speed of around 80 miles an hour on roads, although it is over tough terrain where it excels. It carries a general purpose machine gun and either a heavy machine gun or grenade machine gun, giving it heavy fire power over a 360 degree arc.
Other units, including Gurkhas, have been familiarising themselves with new kit during the five-month preparation:
"We have had an intense training period and we feel ready in all aspects," said Capt Rogers. "There's a lot of quality to the kit and we can have a personal choice. It's spot on. A few years ago kit was good. Now we have the best."
His equipment views were echoed by Lance Corporal Scott Townson of 1 Rifles during exercises to simulate operational conditions in Afghanistan. He had recently been issued with Meindl boots and new Osprey body armour.
"The boots are comfortable and feel much more like trainers than boots but with plenty of support," he said.
"They are an excellent bit of kit. I know they are £120-plus in the shops and we get them for free. I thought it was Christmas when I was issued with mine!
"Compared to the body armour I used to wear the Osprey is a 100 per cent improvement. It does keep me warm, and I feel a lot safer with solid plates on the back and front."
Commando Logistic Regiment rehearse a three-day Combat Logistic Patrol (CLP) with the Gurkha's, Force protection and air support from AH-64 Apache helicopters
[Picture: LA(Phot) Pete Smith]
New protective helmets also came in for praise, particularly among those who found a perfect fit difficult to achieve. Captain Rachel Ransome of the Royal Military Police said:
"The new Mark 6A helmets have webbing inside which, for me, makes it a lot easier to get a correct and comfortable fit."
Brigadier Howes believes his brigade, which includes 42 and 45 Commando, Royal Marines, have all they need to do a good job.
"There's a great debate on the appropriateness of our equipment," he said. "I can testify to the fact that the equipment we have is immensely sophisticated. And some of the vehicles coming on stream are a complete revelation."
Brigadier Howes added that the five-month training period had been the most comprehensive and sophisticated of its kind:
"We have learned well from other operational cycles which have been conducted," he said. "I have talked to the troops and they have unanimously declared readiness. And we are well equipped for this."
This article by Steve Moore first appeared in Desider - the magazine for Defence Equipment and Support.