All Terrain Mobility Platform
Encyclopedia
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
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It is amphibious and exerts low ground pressure
Ground pressure
Ground pressure is the pressure exerted on the ground by the tires or tracks of a motorized vehicle, and is one measure of its potential mobility, especially over soft ground. Ground pressure is measured in pascals which corresponds to the EES unit of pounds per square inch...
enabling it to traverse rough terrain whilst carrying up to 8 troops (and 2 crew), a standard NATO pallet or other stores (ammunition etc.).
A GPMG may also be fitted to create an effective mobile fire support platform.
The Supacat has permanent six wheel drive (6x6) with the front four wheels (two axles) steered conventionally by using a rotating handlebar arrangement. These handlebars also operate the steering brakes which act independently on each side of the vehicle giving brake steering.
The Supacat is built around a steel rectangular hollow section chassis frame which forms the entire shape of the vehicle and to which all components and attachments are fitted. The 'body' of the Supacat forms a hull which enables the vehicle to float and protects the majority of mechanical components.
The vehicle can be configured for a number of roles:
- Basic ATMP
- FLPT (Fork Lift Pallet Trailer) to lift, handle and carry pallets up to 1.6 tonnes.
- SLLPT (Self Loading Lightweight Pallet Trailer)
- 'Fuel Cat' is able to carry and pump up to 1000 litres of aviation fuel. It also carries an engine start system for the aircraft. It is also able to tow an APFC (Air Portable Fuel Container).
- Mounted crane
- Aircraft crash recovery
- Radio rebroadcast stations
- Casualty evacuation.
The Supacats were initially taken into service by the United Kingdom in 1988 and have been heavily used in active service.
A modified Supacat 6X6 MK III was used in the movie Brazil
Brazil (film)
Brazil is a 1985 British science fiction fantasy/black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam. It was written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard and stars Jonathan Pryce. The film also features Robert De Niro, Kim Greist, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, and Ian Holm...
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