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Vehicle 'boosting troop survival' Vehicle 'boosting troop survival'
(about 8 hours later)
UK troops in Iraq and Afghanistan say their survival rate has been improved dramatically by the introduction of the Mastiff armoured vehicle.UK troops in Iraq and Afghanistan say their survival rate has been improved dramatically by the introduction of the Mastiff armoured vehicle.
Soldiers have told the BBC they have survived numerous booby traps and mines since they began using the 27-tonne vehicle around six months ago.Soldiers have told the BBC they have survived numerous booby traps and mines since they began using the 27-tonne vehicle around six months ago.
Taleban armaments have been bouncing off the sides of the Mastiff, they say.Taleban armaments have been bouncing off the sides of the Mastiff, they say.
But they expressed concern there were too few of the vehicles as well as a critical shortage of helicopters.But they expressed concern there were too few of the vehicles as well as a critical shortage of helicopters.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the Mastiff was an "ugly-looking vehicle" with its heavy armour platting and mesh grills, but for the British troops riding inside on patrols in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was "something of a godsend". BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the Mastiff was an "ugly-looking vehicle" with its heavy armour plating and mesh grills, but for the British troops riding inside on patrols in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was "something of a godsend".
One officer serving in the Helmand Province, in Afghanistan, said: "At last, the soldiers are going to battle in a safe vehicle that's not going to take their legs off if it runs over a mine."One officer serving in the Helmand Province, in Afghanistan, said: "At last, the soldiers are going to battle in a safe vehicle that's not going to take their legs off if it runs over a mine."
The officer described a battle in the Geresk valley last month where he said all the Taleban's armaments fired at short range bounced off a Mastiff without so much as a dent.The officer described a battle in the Geresk valley last month where he said all the Taleban's armaments fired at short range bounced off a Mastiff without so much as a dent.
He added that in almost any other vehicle, the armaments would have taken the commander's head off.He added that in almost any other vehicle, the armaments would have taken the commander's head off.
In another instance, Taleban insurgents planted a huge anti-tank mine which exploded beneath the Mastiff without injuring anyone inside.In another instance, Taleban insurgents planted a huge anti-tank mine which exploded beneath the Mastiff without injuring anyone inside.
The US-made Mastiffs cost more than £250,000 each and the Army has only around 100 of them.The US-made Mastiffs cost more than £250,000 each and the Army has only around 100 of them.
Our correspondent said that with over 7,000 British troops in Afghanistan and 5,500 in Iraq there are not nearly enough to protect everybody on patrol.Our correspondent said that with over 7,000 British troops in Afghanistan and 5,500 in Iraq there are not nearly enough to protect everybody on patrol.
This combined with a continued shortage of helicopters is making moving around the two countries both difficult and dangerous, he added.This combined with a continued shortage of helicopters is making moving around the two countries both difficult and dangerous, he added.
The MoD said it was taking steps to alleviate pressure on its fleet of helicopters.The MoD said it was taking steps to alleviate pressure on its fleet of helicopters.