Operations in Afghanistan: Patrol and fighting vehicles

Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle

The first deployment of Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles in Afghanistan took place in September 2007.

The vehicle has brought firepower, mobility and protection for its crew and enables them to provide fire support in places where it is needed, particularly for dismounted troops going into dangerous situations.

It allows troops to get out into communities safely, maintain areas and provide reassurance to the local population.

The Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle has the speed and performance to keep up with Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks over the most difficult terrain, and the firepower and armour to support infantry in the assault.

Warrior infantry command and section vehicles carry a turret mounted 30mm Rarden cannon that will defeat light armoured vehicles out to 1,500m.

An image-intensifying night sight is fitted, and eight 94 mm Light Anti-Armour Weapon HEAT rockets can be stowed in the vehicle.

Mastiff 2

Mastiff 2 is a heavily-armoured, 6x6 wheel-drive protected patrol vehicle which carries eight people, plus two crew.

It entered service in Afghanistan in June 2009, succeeding the Mastiff armoured patrol vehicle, and is being used to transport troops and protect large convoys as well as directly engaging the Taliban with its advanced weapons systems.

Although heavily armoured, these wheeled patrol vehicles have a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles and give commanders on the ground in Afghanistan more options to deal with the threats they are facing.

With a maximum speed of 90 kph Mastiff 2 is armed with the latest weapon systems, including a 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun, 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

The original Mastiff began operating in Afghanistan in 2007 where the protection its heavy armour affords troops, notably against mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), soon made it a highly valued piece of kit among troops, many of who have claimed the vehicle has saved lives.

Part of its improved safety against mines comes from the fact its hull is V-shaped, as opposed to flat, which pushes the force of any explosion outwards.

The indirect vision system is another safety measure of the Mastiff which means it can be driven at night time without using any lights. Cameras at the front, back and sides of the vehicle use infra-red to see in the dark and the driver uses a small TV screen to see where he is going.

Offering all the features of its first incarnation, the Mastiff 2 vehicles have improved axles and suspension to cope with the harsh terrain; better thermal imaging for the drivers; explosive-attenuating seats - providing better protection to the soldier on impact; improved armour; and greater crew capacity.

Ridgback

The Ridgback entered service in Afghanistan in June 2009.

More agile than the 6x6 Mastiff Armoured Fighting Vehicle, the 4x4 Ridgback, though very similar, is nearly two metres shorter and, crucially, a metre slimmer, allowing troops greater access and mobility within built-up environments.

The vehicle can carry 12 troops and performs similar functions to its bigger brother the Mastiff.

While manoeuvrability is its special feature, it is passenger-protection that remains paramount. Ridgback is mine and IED strike-proofed to the same level as a Mastiff 2 and just as heavily armoured.

Some Ridgback vehicles are fitted with a remote weapons system allowing the crew to operate the vehicle’s weapons via a camera and joystick from inside the vehicle.

Other attributes include run-flat tyres, modified seats offering superior protection from bomb blasts, and easy gear selection and driveability.

With a maximum speed of 40mph, Ridgback is armed with the latest weapon systems, including a 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

Panther

The first batch of Panther Command and Liaison Vehicles was delivered to Afghanistan, complete with the latest battle-ready upgrades, in the spring of 2009.

The vehicles first use in Afghanistan has been by the RAF Regiment and the Army's Close Support Logistics Regiment.

As more Panthers arrive in Afghanistan they will be used by various Commanders and Liaison Officers for Armoured, Armoured Recce and Armoured Infantry Units.

Panther will also be used as the Commander's vehicle for Engineer Troops, Anti-Tank, Mortar and supporting fire platoons.

It is intended that the Panther will replace vehicles including Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (Tracked), Fighting Vehicle 430, Saxon, and Land Rover Truck Utility Medium.

Weighing over seven tonnes, the Panther protected vehicle is fitted with the latest high-tech developments, including a remote-controlled weapon system that allows the user to operate a machine gun with a camera and joystick from inside its turret.

It can operate in all weather conditions, day and night, using thermal imaging equipment that 'sees' in the dark, and the vehicles are protected against a range of threats including small arms and blast and anti-personnel mines.

Jackal

The M-WMIK (Mobility Weapons Mount Installation Kit), is a 4x4 all-terrain patrol vehicle.

Referred to as the 'Jackal' the wheeled vehicle has been described as an "all-terrain pitbull", and it offers significantly increased mobility, protection and agility over the Land Rover WMIKS it has replaced.

Used for reconnaissance, rapid assault, fire support and convoy protection, the Jackal has the capacity to support itself and its crew over 800km.

Jackal's 5.9 litre engine is capable of maintaining off-road speeds of up to 80km/h and can reach a top speed of 130km/h. The vehicle's extended range and ability to operate across a variety of terrain in extreme environments give it a huge advantage over its WMIK predecessor.

First used in Afghanistan in early 2008 the Jackal was originally designed as a purpose-built weapons platform, and that is where it comes into its own.

It is capable of carrying combinations of .50 calibre (12.7mm) machine guns, Heckler & Koch 40mm automatic grenade launchers and General Purpose Machine Guns.

A unique airbag suspension system allows a smooth ride over the roughest terrain and also provides a more stable firing platform while the vehicle is in motion.

The revolutionary system can raise the seven-tonne beast by more than a metre, allowing the vehicle to clear large obstacles or its occupants to gain a better view of the field of operations.

Although incorporating a fully-integrated protection system and reinforced armour plating, Jackal's main defences are its mobility and agility.

This makes Jackal perfectly suited to the operational terrain of southern Afghanistan, where speed and manoeuvrability are essential.

Viking

The Viking All Terrain Protected Vehicles were originally deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 with the Royal Marines and have since been used by both Marine and Army units to patrol the deserts, villages, towns and jungle-like areas of Helmand.

The amphibious Vikings are armoured, all terrain vehicles capable of operating anywhere in the world in temperatures from -46°C to +49°C, and have the ability to be deployed in jungle, desert or arctic conditions.

In Helmand, the Vikings are often called into a situation to take up a position of overwatch. They have been used as taxis for getting troops into an area other vehicles would not be able to access, and can also be used as ambulances; getting casualties out of a situation.

Their mobility also allows them to veer off main roads and known routes - which tend to be where most mines are laid.

The Vikings consist of two tracked vehicle units linked by a steering mechanism. They can be lifted by Chinook helicopters, driven into a C130 Hercules aircraft or carried on a landing craft. They can also be split into two sections in just 20 minutes to be carried by the Merlin helicopter.

The Viking maintains excellent mobility on soft terrain, such as snow, mud or sand, because the ground pressure is minimised by the even load distribution over the four tracks, all of which are driven. The vehicle retains mobility even if a track is damaged by a mine.

The body of the Viking is of armoured steel construction. The rounded edges and smooth contours of the profile assist in minimising the radar cross-section which gives the platform a 'stealthy' profile.

The vehicle design allows for upgrades and for the installation of modular subsystems to suit specific operational requirements, including add-on armour, a range of weapon mounts, load changers, and standard platforms.

Snatch Land Rover

The Snatch Land Rover is a Light Protected Patrol Vehicle and is small, mobile and agile, and ideal for allowing engagement with the local population, often in areas which would be inaccessible to heavier vehicles.

In Afghanistan, the nature of the operating environment means that heavier vehicles, which are often constrained largely to main roads, are unable to access the places that troops need to be in order to deliver their objectives.

Snatch is lightly armoured with ballistic protection derived from composite materials, rather than steel, limiting splintering when penetrated.

The Snatch Land Rover has undergone a number of technical enhancements since its first deployment to Iraq in 2003.

Most recently, the current variant, the Snatch 2A, has been modified to enhance significantly its power, mobility and protection which has effectively generated a new variant, known as the Snatch Vixen, especially configured for operations in Afghanistan.

PICTURE: A mounted patrol travelling in a Land Rover Snatch-Vixen vehicle stops to carry out a vehicle check in Lashkar Gah [Picture: Corporal Chris Hargreaves, Crown Copyright/MOD 2007]

Scimitar Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle

Until the introduction of Jackal (M-WMIK) in 2008, Scimitar had been the mainstay of the armoured reconnaissance role in Afghanistan; initially deploying there with the 3 PARA Battle Group in 2006.

Working on the principles of mobility, firepower and protection, the Scimitar is a fast and agile armoured vehicle with a primary role to gather information.

Its exceptionally low ground pressure and small size make it useful where the terrain is hostile and movement difficult and it carries a 30mm Rarden cannon for self-defence.

It is used by reconnaissance regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps and 'recce' elements of the armoured infantry.

PICTURE: Scimitar armoured vehicle pictured during Operation PANCHAI PALANG in Helmand province, in July 2009 [Picture: Sergeant Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]