A Fleet in Crisis: Army Rallies to Fix 6,000 Grounded Support Trucks Amid Safety Fears

Work is actively underway to address safety issues that have led to the grounding of 6,000 Army support vehicles. This situation was addressed in Parliament by Defence Minister Luke Pollard, who emphasized that the withdrawal of the British Army’s entire logistic support lorry fleet for repairs exemplifies the system functioning as intended.

Pollard reassured MPs that the Army maintains a degree of readiness, even amid concerns raised by Labour’s Derek Twigg regarding the implications of this withdrawal in emergencies. Known as the workhorse of the British Army, the MAN Logistic Support Vehicle plays a crucial role in delivering essentials like food and fuel to troops. The fleet was suspended after safety concerns arose from the recent Titan Storm exercise conducted on Salisbury Plain. During this exercise, faults in the propshafts—critical components that transfer power to the wheels—were identified.

The vehicles, some nearly 20 years old, are currently undergoing fittings for replacement parts after it was discovered that certain parts were improperly installed. Pollard mentioned that it’s common for the military to issue safety notices and conduct rectification work on their platforms due to the age and usage of their equipment.

Further complicating matters, MPs also probed Pollard regarding a separate incident involving the Ajax armoured fighting vehicles, also connected to the Titan Storm exercise. Around 30 soldiers, during their training, reported adverse reactions due to excessive noise and vibrations, with some even needing to exit the vehicles due to nausea. Although Pollard assured that no one required hospitalization and many soldiers returned to duty, he stressed that soldier safety is the Army’s top priority, hence operations have been paused.

Just weeks earlier, Pollard had claimed that the £6.3 billion Ajax program had resolved its previous issues and was ready for deployment. He indicated that he acted on assurances from military officials confirming the vehicles’ safety. However, following the Titan Storm exercise, an investigation into the Ajax vehicle incident is underway, with findings expected soon. Pollard is also conducting a review to reassess the safety assurances he received from officials regarding the operational readiness of the vehicles. He refrained from commenting on whether he had been misled until the preliminary investigation concludes.