HMT 400 / MWMIK

It has been rumored for some time that the SAS were looking for a replacement for the venerable Land Rover Defender 110 series. It's now believed that the Regiment's mobility troop have chosen the Supacat HMT 400 for its main strike / patrol vehicle. The HMT 400 is made by British Manufacturer, Devonport. With a chassis and wheel-base looking closer to a truck, the Supacat HTM 400 has better armour, off-road mobility and load-carrying ability than the Land Rover 110. The ability to carry more stores enables SAS long range patrols to operate for longer with fewer, risky re supply ops. Despite its greater bulk, the Supacat is as agile as the Land Rover, and boasts an impressive top speed of 80 kph.

As with the Land Rover 110s, the SAS Supacat HMT 400s can carry combinations of M2 .50 cal machine guns, MK-19 or HK GMG 40mm grenade launchers, GPMGs and Javelin anti-tank missiles. Smoke grenade dispensers adorn the front and rear of the Supacat and can be fired to create a smoke screen.

For rapid deployment by air, Supacat HMT 400 can be transported in RAF Chinooks and C130 Hercules cargo planes.

It's reported that the Regiment is also looking to use HMT 600s, a 6-wheeled truck with many common parts to the HMT 400. The HMT 600 would fulfill the role of a 'mother' vehicle, a role previous performed by cut-down army trucks such as the unimog. The HMT 600 would be loaded with spare ammo, fuel and water and travel w ith a fighting column of SAS HMT 400s. Sharing common parts would simplify the logistics of such operations.

Supacat MWMIK in a configuration likely to be adopted by British troops in Afghanistan. SAS HMT 400s would look nearly identical but probably loaded with more stores when on long range patrol.

The Supacat MWMIK (Mobility Weapons Mounted Installation Kit) has now been earmarked for service with regular British forces. These are essentialy HMT 400s with the necessary rollbars and pintle-mounts for various machine guns and grenade launchers pre-installed right off the production line. There is a particular need for the MWMIK's improved armour and off-road capability in Afghanistan, where the lightly-armoured, thin-wheeled Land Rover WMIKs have struggled on the rough ground found in much of the country. It is also claimed that the Supacat will offer greater protection from IEDs. Whilst this may be true with regards to mines exploded underneath the vehicle, the Supacat MWMIK's occupants are still vulnerable to blast damage from roadside bombs.

Supacat HMT400 /MWMIK Specifications

« vehicles index