Trojan (vehicle)
Encyclopedia
The Trojan armoured fighting vehicle
can breach minefields and be used for many other tasks. It is currently in use with the Royal Engineers
of the British Army
.
, it has a large hydraulic excavator
arm, which can be used to excavate areas, move obstacles, and deposit the fascine
that the Trojan carries at its rear. The Trojan is usually also fitted with a plough on the front, which enables it to clear mines, either detonating them on contact, or pushing them out of the way to clear a safe channel for following vehicles.
, a rocket-propelled hose similar to the Giant Viper
. This allows for a much quicker way of clearing a path for ground forces. The hose, packed with explosive, is launched across a minefield, and detonates after it hits the ground, clearing a 7-metre wide path for 230 metres.
. The contract was awarded in 2001 to Vickers Defence Systems, who were bought by BAE Systems in 2004. The project was known as the Future Engineer Tank. 33 have been built.
A number of Trojans are permanently based in Canada at British Army Training Unit Suffield
in order to allow the Royal Engineers
to support Armoured Battle Groups on major exercises.
Trojans were first deployed operationally by the British Army
to Afghanistan
in 2009 engaging in their first advance under contact in 2010. During Operation Moshtarak
28 Engineer Regiment operated the TROJAN attempting to use its traditional mine clearance equipment in the Counter-IED
role in support of a major British Army
advance.
Its companion vehicle, developed at the same time, is another variant of the Challenger 2, the Titan armoured bridge layer
, of which 33 have also been built.
Armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
can breach minefields and be used for many other tasks. It is currently in use with the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
of the British Army
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...
.
Design
It is based on a Challenger 2 tank chassis, but lacks the main armament. In place of the turretGun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
, it has a large hydraulic excavator
Excavator
Excavators are heavy construction equipment consisting of a boom, stick, bucket and cab on a rotating platform . The house sits atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. A cable-operated excavator uses winches and steel ropes to accomplish the movements. They are a natural progression from the...
arm, which can be used to excavate areas, move obstacles, and deposit the fascine
Fascine
A fascine is a rough bundle of brushwood used for strengthening an earthen structure, or making a path across uneven or wet terrain. Typical uses are protecting the banks of streams from erosion, covering marshy ground and so on.-Early military use:...
that the Trojan carries at its rear. The Trojan is usually also fitted with a plough on the front, which enables it to clear mines, either detonating them on contact, or pushing them out of the way to clear a safe channel for following vehicles.
Functions
For rapid mine-clearing purposes, the Trojan can also tow a trailer carrying the PythonPython Minefield Breaching System
The Python Minefield Breaching System is used by the British Army to clear minefields. It replaces the Giant Viper, and has the ability to clear a safe lane in minefields 180–200m long and 7.3 m wide through which vehicles can pass....
, a rocket-propelled hose similar to the Giant Viper
Giant Viper
The Giant Viper is a trailer-mounted, vehicle-pulled, mine clearance system, designed to be deployed in areas containing land mines. It was developed for the British Army in the 1950s...
. This allows for a much quicker way of clearing a path for ground forces. The hose, packed with explosive, is launched across a minefield, and detonates after it hits the ground, clearing a 7-metre wide path for 230 metres.
Armament
In a mainly self-defence role, the vehicle also carries a 7.62mm machine gun, to protect the crew from airborne and ground threats, although in the majority of military operations, this protection role would be carried out by members of the following convoy.History
The vehicles were built at BAE Systems Land Systems plant in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. The contract was awarded in 2001 to Vickers Defence Systems, who were bought by BAE Systems in 2004. The project was known as the Future Engineer Tank. 33 have been built.
Service
It was first used on exercise in May 2007 with the 1st Battalion (Mechanised) of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.A number of Trojans are permanently based in Canada at British Army Training Unit Suffield
British Army Training Unit Suffield
The British Army Training Unit Suffield is a British Army unit located at the vast training area of Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta, Canada...
in order to allow the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
to support Armoured Battle Groups on major exercises.
Trojans were first deployed operationally by the British Army
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...
to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in 2009 engaging in their first advance under contact in 2010. During Operation Moshtarak
Operation Moshtarak
Operation Moshtarak was an ISAF pacification offensive in the area that is described as the "poppy-growing belt" of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. The combat operations started on February 13, 2010, and focuses on the Nad Ali District and Lashkar Gah district...
28 Engineer Regiment operated the TROJAN attempting to use its traditional mine clearance equipment in the Counter-IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
role in support of a major British Army
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...
advance.
Its companion vehicle, developed at the same time, is another variant of the Challenger 2, the Titan armoured bridge layer
Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
An armoured vehicle-launched bridge is a combat support vehicle, sometimes regarded as a subtype of combat engineering vehicle, designed to assist militaries in rapidly deploying tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles across rivers. The AVLB is usually a tracked vehicle converted from a tank...
, of which 33 have also been built.