Mastiff is a heavily armoured, 6 x six-wheel-drive patrol vehicle which carries eight people, plus two crew. It is currently on its third incarnation.
It is suitable for road patrols and convoys and is the newest in a range of protected patrol vehicles being used for operations.
With a maximum speed of 90 kph Mastiff is armed with the latest weapon systems, including a 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun, 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
These wheeled patrol vehicles have a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles and give commanders on the ground in Afghanistan more options to deal with the threats they are facing.
By Russell Bruce
EXCLUSIVE
Leaving Edinburgh this evening we happened to see a number of Mastiff 2 Protected Patrol Armored patrol vehicles leaving the bypass and heading for Redford Barracks. These were used in Afghanistan and it is understood they have since been taken out of service and no longer currently required by the British Army. Unlike the photograph above (OGL Open Government License) the ones we saw coming off the Edinburgh bypass had no identification or number plates. Perhaps they were simply being moved but it is not unreasonable to suppose these might well be intended for Ukraine.
The British Army eventually had 300 Mastiff 2 heavily armored 6 by 6 wheel-drive vehicles. It is suitable for road patrols and convoys. It is one of the most heavily armored vehicles the British Army had. The Mastiff 2 has two variants, as a troop carrier or an ambulance with capacity for 6 plus a crew of 2.
