Expert warned of its dangers 10 years ago

“Its go-fast nature and mobility encourages drivers to thrash it. These vehicles are insane.”

He added: “Under the CleggCameron administration, the MoD spent more than £45million on 140 Jackals.

“They were a massively expensive mistake that cost lives. An opentopped, high-mobility, powerful, cross-country vehicle is not what the Army wants or needs.

“So many deaths and injuries in Afghanistan were unnecessary and brought about by enhanced stupidity bolstered by bad tactics, misleading training, blind faith and duff equipment.”

Jock’s death triggered hundreds of tributes online, with many serving and retired soldiers changing their profile to a Royal Scots Dragoon Guards cap badge emblazoned with a black ribbon.

The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry said: “A giant of a man, he had previously served for a full career with our paired regular regiment, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and had been tested across the spectrum of conflict, from the Balkans to Iraq, and never been found wanting. He was well-known and respected as a dependable, honest, robust and highly capable operator and a mentor to our more junior people.”

Jock, who was based with A Squadron in Ayr, was at the wheel when the vehicle overturned.

A passenger suffered a broken arm and Jock was airlifted to hospital, where he later died. Police have launched a probe into the incident.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “We are investigating a serious single-vehicle collision at Catterick Garrison. The incident – reported to emergency services just before 1pm on January 29 – involved a vehicle which overturned. The driver, a 51-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital. Sadly, he died on February 4. Inquiries are continuing to establish how the collision occurred.”

The MoD didn’t respond to a request from the Record to comment.