The BLOODHOUND team required an all terrain vehicle to support them during the high speed testing and record breaking runs. The vehicle had to be capable of operating in the harsh desert conditions of the Hakskeen Pan, carrying 1,500 litres of water, firefighting equipment, a crane, a spare 450kg rocket and two crew members in air-conditioned comfort.

Their search took them to Devon based Supacat - manufacturers of the world’s best High Mobility Vehicles. Supacat have kindly loaned two of their 6X6 wheel drive HMT 600s to the Project. The tough off road machines make the perfect support vehicles due to their versatile platform allowing the team to carry equipment to where it’s needed.

The 10 tonne, 183 bhp truck that reaches speeds of 80 mph fully loaded, will serve as a secondary response vehicle in the event of an accident or emergency. The 1,500 litres of water and firefighting equipment will be used to dilute the highly reactive High Test Peroxide (HTP) we are using as rocket oxidizer (see 'Rocket Propulsion' for more details) should there be a leak or a spillage.

The Supacat will also aid the team during the tricky one hour turnaround phase. The crane will be used to load and unload the 450kg 4 metre long hybrid rocket, moving equipment and lifting the BLOODHOUND SSC on and off the dolly which will tow it to and from the base camp.

Over 70 HMT 600 vehicles, dubbed `Coyote`, are in service as the Tactical Support Vehicle (Light) with British Forces in Afghanistan.  There are over 400 of the HMT 400 variant serving as a weapons-mounted light patrol vehicle with British Forces on operations in Afghanistan.   Known as the `Jackal`(pictured below) it has proved its supreme versatility in this role, combining speed and maneovrability with unparalleled cross-country performance over the region’s harsh terrain. 

For more information on Supacats High Mobility Vehicles visit: www.supacat.com