Driven: Supacat HMT 600
PH plays with Bloodhound SSC's 'Quiver' and its military cousin
No doubt about it, we get to drive a lot of interesting machinery doing this job and while some of it is impressive to the point of open-mouthed stupefaction, it's rarely actually 'surprising'.
The Supacat Jackal - military spec
Roller-coasters have never been my bag, but that's exactly what this thing feels like on a twisty undulating forest track. Careering down one slope at break-neck speed I was almost compelled to squeal like a girl - although fortunately I didn't have to, as a couple of the real thing provided genuine roller-coaster-rider sound effects from the back seats.
Quiver - the Bloodhound SSC version
When I get to have a drive later on, it's easy to feel the back end wanting to kick out in 2wd mode, both under acceleration and when lifting-off mid-corner - a sensation which definitely takes a little getting used to when perched on the front of a 7.5 ton truck with no cab or even a windscreen. (Military types like to be able to jump on and off in a hurry, for obvious reasons.) My Supacat guide assures me that lurid power-slides and 'donuts' are all part of the equation too, at least when nobody's watching.
Those will soon be real rockets!
In standard guise the Jackal will wade in up to a metre of water, and the options list includes run-flat tyres, a self-recovery winch, weapon mounts, smoke grenade launchers and mine blast and ballistic protection kit. Top speed is 120km/h, and maximum range 800km, and it all adds up to a package that is getting rave reviews from its primary users in the British Army in Afghanistan where the Jackal was introduced in 2008/9. Or in the words of Lt-General Sir Graeme Lamb, KBE, CMG, DSO, Commander Field Army which are proudly quoted in the Supacat brochure: "I have soldiers and marines alive today because you got it right, you took the time, the trouble and the care to construct some of the world's finest combat vehicles. Thank you."
Quoted top speed is 120km/h (75mph)
The six-wheeled Supacat is just as impressive in action, but has double the Jackal's payload at 3000kgs, and the gross vehicle weight is a heftier 10.5tons. Otherwise the specs are pretty much the same. We had a little thrash around the woods in Quiver too, and the main difference is that the enclosed cab amplifies mechanical and other noises, so there's a little less of the 'magic carpet' sensation and more of the sense of crashing through the countryside inside a mechanical bull elephant.
6-wheeled military version - the Coyote
The winner of the LPPV programme will effectively replace the Land Rover Defender in a role in which the iconic British 4x4 served so well for so many years. Which is sort of where we came in...
The small one had a Ford 3l V6, the 6 wheeler had a 6.2l V8 Diesel from a Hummer and also had an option for Chrysler 4.2l V8 Petrol, The big truck ran out of steam at 90mph and the small one with the 4.2 V8 would top 105mph.
They were originally built in Scotland and called after the works where they first built them, the Stonefield Laundry in Paisley
Not true - these things can be used in pretty much any terrain, and will cover ground faster than almost anything offroad. They are also highly customisable for various specialist needs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11388724
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