UNSUITABLE FOR USE IN A WARZONE

THE day of the Jackal was coming to an end when I was deployed to Afghanistan as a soldier.

Before going to the warzone in March 2013, our unit trained on Jackal vehicles in south Wales.

As we wheeled around in the mud and rain at BY STEPHEN STEWART (who served in British Army) Castlemartin Training Area, I remember thinking: “I don’t fancy my chances in this if we go over an IED.”

The vehicle was meant to be an improvement on the old “bullet magnet” Snatch Land Rover but the armour and the opentopped nature of the vehicle didn’t inspire confidence.

Luckily, the Jackal was used less and less on my tour. About a month in, its dangers were brought home in a personal way when a good friend was killed by a massive IED.

The device, which also killed two other soldiers, almost flipped the Mastiff heavy armoured vehicle they were travelling in.

I was left in no doubt that Afghanistan was no place for the Jackal.