§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the tonnage of Land Rovers currently used by the Army; when they first came into operational use; and what major refurbishments have been carried out on them.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Army currently has three basic Land Rover variants: the half-ton truck utility light, TUL, the three-quarter-ton truck utility medium, TUM, and one ton which is being replaced by the truck utility heavy, TUH, and by the TUM, heavy duty; the replacement is expected to be completed by 1996, when the final buy of TUM, heavy duty, is completed.
In service, the Army currently has the following numbers in each category:
- TUL—4,584; this is made up of Land Rover Series III and Land Rover Defender 90 vehicles, all but three of which entered service after 1973.
- TUM—10,824; this is made up of Land Rover Series III and Land Rover Defender 110 vehicles, all but five of which entered service after 1973.
- 1 Tonne—573; all these vehicles are of the one type which initially entered service in 1972.
Apart from routine maintenance, none of these vehicles has been subject to a refurbishment programme. Engines and major assemblies from the vehicles are routinely overhauled and refurbished through the Army base repair organisation.
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