The Supacat is principally known in the British Forces as the `ATMP' All Terrain Mobile Platform, NATO No. 2320-99-893-7364. Other variants are also NATO codified - the Supacat 6x6 Mk2 No.2320-99-893-7360, Supacat Mk2 Hard Top No.2320-99-893-7512, Range Special Supacat 6x6 NATO No. 2320-99-893-6666. A specialised Supacat box trailer has NATO No. 2330-99-893-6688.
Supacat was taken into service during 1988 following a full competitive trial lasting from September 1986 to February 1987. This involved two vehicles, one trialled by `The User' and one by RARDE now DRA.
The Supacat ATMPs were issued to an Airborne Brigade and an Air Mobile Brigade were frequent users of the vehicles on loan from 5 Airborne and currently have a quantity issued to them from the original number. The Supacat ATMP's have also been used by the Royal Artillery and the Royal Marines for specific operations, noteably Operation Granby and Operation Safe Haven. Supacats are also used by the Army and RAF on a number of ranges throughout the UK for range service and other duties.
Supacats were initially taken into service for this Brigade. This was instigated by mobility problems identified during the war in the Falklands. Trials were held in Scotland and Germany and the operational requirement was established.
During an operation the Brigade would be parachuted into the operational area and the Supacats would be in the first element of the heavy drop. The Supacats would probably be the principal vehicles although there may be a Land Rover command vehicle as well. Supacats are at present parachuted on MSPs (Medium Stressed Platforms). These can take two Supacats and some stores or a combination load of possibly one Supacat plus trailers or gun. A second drop scheme has been developed known as `oversill' where Supacats are parachuted on a basic platform. This offers a simpler rig and faster deployment and can include 81mm mortar or Milan and ammunition. Once on the ground the Supacats are used to recover the air dropped pallets and equipment from the DZ (Drop Zone) and to distribute them to their respective units. This can be achieved by using the Supacat's own ramps and winch - winching the loads up onto the Supacat. Also to assist in the front line material handling is the Supacat `FLPT' (Fork Lift Pallet Trailer). This system is currently used by the Brigade on a trial basis but it is hoped will be adopted. The trailer is used in conjunction with the Supacat (or other vehicle) and is designed to do the job of a fork lift and trailer. The FLPT is undergoing air drop evaluation and would be delivered as part of the MSP scheme and would be probably be dropped in conjunction with a loaded pallet. The air drop schemes are either approved by or under development with JATE (Joint Air Transport Establishment) and are for C130 Hercules.
Once the DZ is cleared the Supacats are tasked to distribute the pallets and equipment to the various units. This may involve towing Light Guns into their positions, carrying troops and their weapons - especially deploying Javelin for air defence, 81mm mortars and Milan. An important role is the resupply of these assets once they are in action, transporting ammunition from the DZ. Supacats are also used to provide general transport, for laying communications land line and for positioning radio rebro stations as well as casualty evacuation, a task that can also be performed with the FLPT. In fact the Supacat is the principal if not the only form of transport available following the initial air drop and would remain so until an air head is established or ground forces reach the area.
This Brigade has `adopted' the Supacat and the vehicle now plays an essential part in it's operations. ATMPs are always used on Brigade exercises and a number were deployed to Bosnia.
The role of the Supacat is mainly to deploy and support Milan anti tank systems and 81mm mortar sections. However the Brigade has found many other uses for the vehicle which includes vehicle recovery and resupply with the CSS Battalion, radio rebro and air mobile field ambulance. The Brigade would normally be inserted by helicopter and the Supacats are flown forward by Chinook and Puma. Chinook is able to undersling up to four Supacats or carry two as an internal load. Puma can carry one Supacat underslung. These operations can be carried out with minimum preparation so that deployment and if required redeployment is fast and simple. JATE schemes have been approved for these operations. Supacats and FLPTs have been flown underslung in various configurations both loaded and unladen. If laden this must be as a netted load.
One or two Milan teams are transported by each Supacat and the vehicle is able to carry all of their equipment and some ammunition. FLPT can be used to offer an even greater supply of ammunition if available. Primarily the Supacat would take Milan teams out from the LZ (Landing Zone) and deploy to their positions to dig in. The Supacat would then be released for other duties. Lately the Supacat has been fitted with a mounted Milan for recce teams and live firing trials have been successfully carried out. In this type of operation two Supacats work together with Milan mounted incase of a contact while mobile. The cross country ability of the Supacat enables the team to make full use of the natural features such as hills, riverbeds and woodland which could present a problem to more conventional vehicles. The Milan is still able to quickly revert to normal tripod ground operation if preferred. A additional supply of ammunition can be transported on an FLPT. GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) is sometimes fitted to the louch pole mounting for ground support or anti aircraft (AAA). Supacats are used to deploy 81mm mortar and to support them with ammunition. The Supacat and FLPT have proved to be highly effective in this role enabling positions to be chosen for tactical reasons not for ease of access. Resupply can be effected quickly and without effort to individual mortars from an LZ or DROPS flattrack, be it metres or kilometres away. Moving positions with ammunition does not present a problem.
The Supacat also fulfils a general purpose rôle being used to transport material for dug in positions, deliver stores, equipment and personnel from the LZ to the operational units and to provide general transport as well as casualty evacuation. During one exercise a stretcher fit was made up to carry four casualties. The ATMP is currently being considered for a number of other rôles within the Brigade. This includes the use of the Supacat as a `fly forward' gun tow for the Light Gun using the FLPT as a limber. This offers a high degree of air mobility for the gunners being lighter than the normal gun tow vehicles and with very good cross country ability in the vicinity of the gun position. The Supacat / FLPT would be used to transport ammunition to and around the gun position. Trials have been carried out with the FLPT resupplying the guns from a DROPS flattrack. The Supacat has been trialled as a radio rebro vehicle and is being considered for front line vehicle recovery.
During the early days of the Gulf crisis the Supacat was trialled in sand, towing and carrying all that was required for a towed Rapier air defence system. This proved to be very successful and as a result, all of the British army Supacats were converted to this rôle. It required three Supacats for each system. Each vehicle was the same and was able to tow the launcher, radar or missile trailer as well as carry a tracker or generator, four missiles and all of the supplementary equipment. Water and fuel were accommodated in specially produced carriers and a `louch pole' mounting was fitted so that a GPMG could be used for AAA and ground defence. The vehicles were given a specially designed heat resistant canopy that could be opened out to form a `tent' to protect the crews and equipment from the hot sun. The canopy could also be used to `wrap up' the complete vehicle to protect it from sand storms. The Supacats in this role were towing close to 2 tonnes and carrying about 1.4 tonnes. A special kit (CES) was supplied for each vehicle providing tools and recovery equipment.
The first converted Supacats were flown out to the Gulf two days after hostilities began. They were driven out into the desert to join an Air Defence Regt. where training on the Supacat and the system was given to the new crews. During the next weeks the Supacats were to follow the progress of the coalition forces travelling many hundreds of kilometres and were later used for various tasks including working at Kuwait airport.
Following the Gulf conflict the plight of the Kurdish refugees was well documented by the media. The Royal Marines were sent as part of the British forces contingent and they took 20 Supacats with them. The mounted crane development was rapidly completed so that it too could go. The vehicles were quickly converted back to ATMP spec from the recent Gulf conversion but still having some of the Gulf extras. Once more the Supacats were flown out - this time making use of their ability to be `stacked' two to a pallet in C130 Hercules. The pallets were handled by large fork lift trucks at the air head. Once in Turkey they were trucked down on `local' transport to the Iraqi border where they met up with the Commandos. Here their new `owners' were trained in their use and maintenance before the vehicles were deployed into the mountains of Northern Iraq. The Supacats were made full use of by the Marines and were given to a number of different units. The uses that the Supacats were put to were very varied and included forward recce and supply, high in the Iraqi mountains, helicopter support and operations with the Light Gun detachment who also made use of the FLPT. The gunners used the Supacat to tow and support the Light Guns, handling pallets up to and around the gun positions. As a logistic vehicle the Supacats were used in rear and forward supply positions. Supacats were used to deploy and support Milan and 81mm mortar which enabled them to be positioned in areas that would not have been accessible with the units standard transport. The Supacats were considered to be `critical equipment' during Operation Haven and were deemed to be reliable and `user friendly'. A Supacat was reported to have been driven into a mine field to recover two US soldiers who had been injured by mines.
The Supacats are normally kept busy being extensively used on brigade exercises both in the UK and in Europe. It is normally found when the vehicles are out on operations that they are in constant use. When a company is in position it is often quite difficult for vehicles to move about as this is normally in a wooded or similar environment. The agility of the Supacat makes it the best way to move material and supplies around the area, particularly if the ground conditions are difficult. Supacats often come into their own to recover other vehicles that have become stuck. Both the brigades have been trialling Supacats for a variety of roles. These have recently included radio `rebro' stations, refuelers (aircraft and vehicle) and casualty evacuation.
The RAF aircraft crash recovery team ( AR & TF ) make extensive use of Supacats - hired for the purpose - to recover both military and civilian aircraft from difficult locations. Supacats are now on 24 hour, year round call.
The Supacat was originally taken into service principally as a logistic carrier. Its use has been extended and broadened and it is now being used as a weapons carrier and tow vehicle. The air portability of the Supacat is well developed with all the schemes that are necessary now approved and supplementary schemes under development. Supacat has often been flown under the Black Hawk which can carry two, and the Supacat will fit into the new EH101.
When the Supacat was accepted into service it had already undergone a great deal of development work and was an established vehicle. Development has been ongoing and the Supacat has been upgraded to accommodate the increase in use and application. Fittings have been evolved, the latest being weapon mounts, and an 81mm mortar platform to allow the weapon to be fired off of the vehicle is being investigated. Trial firings have been carried out. More power and larger chains have been introduced alongside many other upgrades.
The Supacat offers dependable, air portable, versatile mobility to the modern day soldier who is expected to carry and achieve more and more. Forces are being reduced in numbers but still have to achieve the same goals. This requires mobility and efficiency.
The Supacat and its spare parts are NATO codified and official documentation is established.
The Supacat is the only vehicle of its type that has the experience and pedigree to go forward into the future offering NATO and other forces a complete air mobile mobility package in a single vehicle.
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