Spirit of Mad Max

ELITE Australian SAS soldiers are floating driving the world's most expensive 4WDs around the rugged mountains of Afghanistan.

Elite Australian SAS soliders ride 'Mad Max' vehicles

Ian McPhedran

January 16, 2009 12:00am

The Diggers have taken delivery of the first eight of 30 new British built HMT 400 Supacat patrol vehicles known as "Narys", in honour of SAS Warrant Officer David Nary who died in a vehicle training accident in the Middle East.

With a price tag of over $1 million each, the highly specialised open vehicles can be raised or lowered by the air suspension depending on the terrain.

During a training mission with British troops in Afghanistan's troubled Helmand Province, the Herald Sun rode in one of the "Mad Max" style vehicles -- known by the Brits as "Jackals" -- at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan.

Armed with 50 calibre and 7.62mm machine guns and a GMG 40mm automatic grenade launcher, the trucks are a lethal combination of firepower and agility.

It's easy to drive with power steering and adjustable steering as well as twin shock absorbers on each wheel.

It also comes as an extended 6 X 6 supply truck or mother ship.

Debate has raged about special forces troops operating in open and exposed vehicles rather than armoured and enclosed machines such as the Australian built Bushmaster.

Link:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24918566-662,00.html