Australia pauses Supacat operations after fatal training roll-over

A Supacat Special Forces HMT in service with ADF special forces. (Supacat)

The Australian Army has paused operational use of its Supacat troop-carrying vehicles following a fatal single-vehicle roll-over during training at the Mount Bundey Training Area in the Northern Territory.

Corporal Brendan Hannam of the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, died in the incident on 5 October. Five other soldiers were injured. As of 7 October, two soldiers remained in Royal Darwin Hospital, while three were being monitored at the Robertson Barracks Health Centre.

Cpl Hannam had served in the Australian Army for nine years and had deployed on Operation ‘Highroad' in Afghanistan and Operation ‘Kudu' in the United Kingdom, where Australian personnel were involved in training Ukrainian troops, according to the Australian Department of Defence (DoD).

Janes understands that the vehicle involved was from Supacat's High Mobility Transporter (HMT) family.

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Susan Coyle confirmed the pause during a press conference on 7 October. “We've paused operational use of that vehicle,” she said, adding that the investigation would seek to establish what, if anything, might be affected.

Lt Gen Coyle described the measure as standard practice following a major accident, particularly one involving a fatality. She said the vehicle type was operated by the Australian Army's 1st Brigade and special forces units.

Lt Gen Coyle said Cpl Hannam had not been driving the vehicle when it rolled. She declined to provide further details while the accident was being investigated and said there had been no previous incidents involving the vehicle type.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF), the Northern Territory Coroner, Comcare, and the DoD's Land Capability Division would examine the accident.