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Australian Bushmaster APCs Are Beloved by Ukrainian Troops
Debbie, an Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle, (technically called Echo 21 Alpha), earned her stripes in Afghanistan back in July 2012, when she hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) while leading a resupply convoy.
Imagine this: It’s July 10, 2012, in the dusty Deh Rawud district of Afghanistan. Debbie’s crew of six was packed in tight. There was Private Mathew Clarke (or Clarkey) behind the wheel, with Anak Windyana (Windy) riding shotgun. In the back, you had Sapper Rowan Jamieson (Jamo), Private Mitchell Smith (Mitch), Private Daniel Snigg (Snigg), and Crew Commander Kurt Bebbington (Bebbs).
A more Aussie lineup, you will not find.
They were returning from a supply run — sniper rifles, mortars, water, cigarettes (you know… the essentials) — when the day turned sideways.
At 2:00 PM, Debbie hit an IED buried under the dry riverbed near Eshaqzi. The blast was big — knock you out of your seat big. Dust filled the air, the back doors blew off, and chaos reigned.
Clarkey, the driver, bore the brunt of the blast, with 14 broken bones, including a mangled left foot and an uncontrollably twitching right one.
Behind him, Jamo was knocked unconscious. When he came to, he found Bebbs sprawled on the floor…
