Bushmaster baptism
IMVs on their way to the Al Muthanna Task Group

On their way: A new Bushmaster shown alongside an ASLAV before being loaded on to HMAS Tobruk. Up to 10 of the IMVs will be deployed to southern Iraq to transport troops safely. Photo by Cpl Robert Nyffenegger

Bushmaster at a glance

Can maintain speed in excess of 90km/h on Australian roads. Has a range of more than 500km. Can carry nine fully-equipped infantry soldiers.

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

A FLEET of the Army’s new Infantry Mobility Vehicles is on board HMAS Tobruk en route to join the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) in Iraq.

A number of new production vehicles were delivered by the manufacturer ADI to 2 Cav Regt in Darwin, and the AMTG’s transport staff have all recently completed their driver and supervisor courses.

Up to 10 Bushmasters will be deployed to southern Iraq to join the 40 ASLAVs in the AMTG.

2 Cav Regt Technical Adj Capt Ben Passmore said the Bushmaster would support the AMTG’s logistics operations by moving troops with the option to tow trailers across the AO on convoy tasks.

“It is a tough vehicle that will increase the force protection levels and the survivability of personnel,” he said.

Cpl David Owen, of AMTG Tpt Tp, recently completed the Bushmaster supervisor’s course and praises the new vehicle.

“It’s very good over rough terrain,” he said.

“It provides a lot of protection for the drivers, and it’s very quiet. You hardly notice that you are picking up speed in it, and you have a fantastic view to the front and the sides.”

While the Bushmaster is well known for its passenger protection features, a lesser known but equally important design element is the drive train, which features a 300 hp Caterpillar engine. This means the vehicle can cruise along formed roads at high speeds even if towing an eight-tonne trailer, allowing it to keep pace with any ASLAVs protecting a convoy.

Each vehicle is fitted with a weapon station capable of mounting minimis.

Technical Spares Assessor WO2 Richard Gladdish, of the Project Bushranger office at DMO, said the Bushmaster was an extremely reliable vehicle.

“We did production reliability acceptance tests late last year and it proved itself well,” he said.

“To date we have had minimal breakdowns and I expect the vehicle to prove itself extremely reliable from a maintenance point of view.

“It’s also an easy vehicle to work on. Everything is modulised, with international colour standards used to identify cables and hoses.”

WO2 Gladdish said the vehicle would deploy with a good supply of spare parts.

The number of IED attacks in the more populated areas of Iraq have led to an increased focus on protected B vehicles, and the Bushmaster has recently received foreign interest, which could lead to export orders.

“There are a lot of other countries looking to see how the vehicle will perform,” WO2 Gladdish said.

“I think the Bushmaster will set the standard for IMVs.”