‘Debbie’, the affectionately named Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle, is set to take centre stage in the newly refurbished ANZAC Hall at the Australian War Memorial. This is part of a $550 million expansion to help tell more stories of our war heroes.
Debbie was donated to the Australian War Memorial a year after the vehicle had driven over an IED in Afghanistan, but little was known about the story behind the accident.
Now, more than a decade on, the group of Australian Defence Force Soldiers who were the occupants of the Bushmaster vehicle reunited with each other, and with ‘Debbie’, the Aussie-made war hero they say saved their lives.
In an incredible interview recently aired by ‘A Current Affair’, Infantry soldier Matthew Clarke and other IDF soldiers who were the occupants of Debbie at the time of the explosion reflect on the encounter.
Watch the video below to learn how the group of ADF soldiers drove over an IED in Afghanistan and survived.
BISALLOY® Armour Steel’s role in the Bushmaster
Designed for Australian armed forces, the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles have specified various grades of BISALLOY® Armour and Structural Steel for vital vehicle components such as the outer panels, doors, bonnet, and hull.
Over the years, the Bushmaster’s unique v-shaped hull design has been paramount in providing optimised blast protection for the vehicle’s occupants. This design disperses the explosive force outward, minimising the energy transmitted to those inside.
Bisalloy has worked closely with designers and engineers on the vehicle for over two decades, and this collaboration has seen significant, positive impacts for the Australian Defence Force and neighbouring countries in numerous peacekeeping operations.
“No Australian life has ever been lost in the Bushmaster. An Aussie-made icon which will forever be a part of our proud military history”.