Craig Allen profiles the Supacat All Terrain Mobility Platform, affectionately referred to as the ‘Banana Split’ wagon by British troops in the Gulf War
Iwas recently reviewing my photos from the Iraq War of 2003 and came across some shots of the Supacat ATMP. I learned to drive one of these all-terrain load carriers early on in the campaign.
I needed transport between the temporary camps we had established in the Kuwaiti desert. With no Land Rovers free, I noticed the ATMPs parked up in the vehicle compound. A chat with the MT Sergeant gained me the use of one of these to carry out some photography tasks. However, I first needed a short course to familiarize myself with the vehicle. This involved half an hour spent out in the desert with an experienced driver who took me through the ATMP’s unique handling qualities.
With permanent all-wheel drive and the front four wheels steering via a motorbikestyle yolk, it was comparatively easy to drive. Skid steering was also available and the six low-pressure tyres meant it was very stable with impressive crosscountry performance. The vehicle’s 1.6 VW turbo diesel engine drove through a three-speed auto box and there was plenty of power on tap. You ha…
