Bovington Armour - May 2025

[Airwolfhound]

I've just got back from a week down in Dorset for a holiday. Spent most of our time around Bovington, and Portland, with a few trips to other places.

As usual, had quite a few hours at the test track in Bovington, always fun to see what might be around.

Here are a few pics, hope I got the various names right lol !

Boxer by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Challenger 3 Prototype Chassis DTT by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Terrier by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Warrior by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Ajax by Tim Felce, on Flickr

RWMIKS Land Rover by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Jackal by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Warrior by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Challenger 3 Prototype Chassis DTT by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Jackal by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Truck by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Warrior by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Truck by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Warrior by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Land Rover by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Jackal by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Jackal by Tim Felce, on Flickr

FV432 by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Challenger 2 DTT by Tim Felce, on Flickr

Cheers

[CJS]

Forgive my ignorance, but I know next to nothing about military vehicles which don't fly (and not much about them!). Are these current military vehicles being tested by current military personnel or retired ones which are kept by individuals and / or the tank museum and taken here 'for fun' so to speak? Or is it a mixture of the 2?

Oh, and they're cool photos too by the way, thanks

[NTG1610]

These are fully active vehicles,used by RAC (Royal Armoured Corps) for driver training,system testing (similar to Boscombe Down) and various other tasks (including training of Ukrainian troops)

A very good set of pictures and the names are all correct except for the Ajax,which should have a turret similar to Warrior,the head on angle makes it difficult to id ,Aeres would be a fair bet but even that is supposed to have mounted camera system

[FarnboroJohn]

The incredible one is the FV432 which was offering short rides to short people in short trousers at my first Aldershot Army Show when I was about 8 years old. I'm now 62 and the thing is still going: new transmission, probably new engine, new weapons but still the same old box of just about small-arms-proof armour if you're lucky: the replacement CVR(T) family and Warrior are all but gone....

[NTG1610]

FV432 are dwindling fast (still a few about but becoming rarer as each month goes by
CVR(T) AND Warrior were never its replacement, they replaced Saladin, Saracen and others
CVR(T) is being replaced by Ajax
Warrior is being replaced by some Ajax/Boxer
FV432 is being replaced by Boxer
or at least thats how I understand it all to play out

[NTG1610]

Another old one is the Land Rover, in service in various models since 1948
the newest models were bought in 2016 and apart from a few civilian models none bought since
This vehicle currently in the planning phase for replacement and rather than an off the shelf model (Toyota, Ford, VW, Nissan ) the MOD are looking for something that will replace Land Rover, Pingauer, Panther, Jackel, Ridgeback and others

[Airwolfhound]

Appreciate the comments and additional information, very interesting

Each time I go to the test track lay-by I see a couple of people who always seem to be there. One of them has a strong West country accent and used to work at the Museum itself and is very knowledgeable, he told me re the chevron marked DTT being the Challenger 3 prototype and not often seen out and about like this