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. Snigg, quick on his feet, tossed red smoke to signal casualties. It was teamwork under fire — a chaotic ballet where every move counted.
The fact that all six crew members made it out alive, despite two being seriously injured, comes down to Debbie’s V-shaped hull.
The V shape wasn’t always appreciated.
Early on, some soldiers dismissed the Bushmaster as a “big cage” that limited visibility and agility. But after seeing it walk away from multiple IED strikes, those same skeptics started treating the vehicle like a member of the team — nicknames and all.
The bomb that took out Debbie was hidden in a yellow palm oil container, packed with high-grade homemade explosives and triggered by an Italian-made anti-tank mine.
IEDs were typically aimed at the vehicle’s right side to target drivers like Clarkey. This wasn’t random — it was cruelly strategic. And yet, Debbie’s design proved that sometimes, even when you’re the bullseye, you can still walk away.
Within 40 minutes of the blast, a Black Hawk helicopter arrived to evacuate Clarkey and Bebbs to the Role II Medical Facility at Tarin Kot. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew stayed behind, guarding Debbie overnight until a recovery team could arrive.
The incident weighed heavily on Bebbs, who later learned the IED had likely been buried years earlier. It wasn’t bad decision-making; it was sheer, awful luck.
Today, Debbie rests at the Australian War Memorial. Her faded nickname, “Debbie Does Dallas,” is a nod to the dark humor that gets soldiers through days like July 10, 2012.
Clarkey, the driver who was medically evacuated just days after the incident, finally reunited with Debbie in 2014. As he climbed out of her battered frame, he quipped, “Well, I guess I finally finished that resupply mission.”
The Bushmaster is a mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle designed by Thales Australia. It’s a vehicle that can shrug off small-arms fire, resist the deadly force of IEDs, and keep troops safe while navigating the unpredictable terrain of war zones.
I’d love to own one of these beasts, but I’m pretty sure my HOA would frown on a war machine parked in my driveway.
Ukraine has received at least 120 Bushmasters as part of Australia’s ongoing military assistance. And trust me, they’re putting them to good use, cementing Australia’s commitment to helping Ukraine resist the Russian horde.
But, like the Aussies themselves, the Bushmaster isn’t just about brute strength — it’s about versatility. Whether ferrying troops to the frontlines, conducting medical evacuations or serving as a mobile command center, this vehicle has proven invaluable.
Its V-shaped hull deflects blast waves from mines and IEDs, which has undoubtedly saved countless Ukrainian lives.
Plus, it’s got air-conditioning.
The Dutch were some of the first to use the V shape on their protected vehicles in southern Africa from the 1960s to 1980s. Australian peacekeepers in places such as Namibia during the 1980s saw the protection provided by the Dutch vehicles. The peacekeepers’ advocacy of the hull would later inform the design of the Australian Bushmaster.
Here’s where things get inspiring. Ukrainian troops have taken to the Bushmaster like ducks to water — or maybe like kangaroos to the Outback.
In the brutal urban warfare of Bakhmut, these vehicles were credited with saving lives under relentless artillery bombardment. One Ukrainian commander called the Bushmaster a “warrior’s guardian angel,” which is a pretty glowing endorsement if you ask me.
These vehicles have also been spotted in high-stakes evacuation missions and getting wounded soldiers out of harm’s way under fire.
It’s not flashy work, but it’s vital.
Of course, no vehicle is invincible. In August 2024, during a Ukrainian raid into Russia’s Kursk region, at least one Bushmaster was destroyed. A drone captured haunting footage of the charred hull — likely the result of sustained artillery fire or an anti-tank missile. The exact circumstances remain murky, but this incident serves as a sobering reminder: even the toughest armor has its limits.
Russia has even paraded Bushmaster “trophies” in Moscow as part of Putin’s month-long propaganda exercise earlier this year that culminated with a May 9 military parade.
Despite the loss, the Bushmasters continue to play a role in Ukraine’s strategy. They allow soldiers to stay mobile, hit hard, and retreat when necessary. More importantly, these vehicles symbolize something greater — international solidarity.
Plus, the very fact that Ukraine chose the Bushmaster for its daring Kursk incursion shows how much they trust the vehicle to keep them safe.
Combat zones are vehicle graveyards. Even the best-maintained Bushmaster won’t last forever under such intense conditions. Ukraine needs a steady pipeline of replacements to maintain its operational edge.
So, what’s the future of the Bushmaster in Ukraine? Australia has hinted at continuing its support, potentially sending even more vehicles. Meanwhile, Ukraine is exploring how to integrate Bushmaster crews with other NATO-donated equipment to form a cohesive fighting force.
Ukrainian soldiers I spoke with told me they love the vehicle’s protection and speed.
The real question is whether the Bushmaster’s legacy will influence future military vehicle design. Will other nations adopt its rugged simplicity and mine-resistant features? The US has several MRAPs that help keep soldiers alive in Afghanistan — you guessed it, with a V-shaped hull.
The Bushmaster has proven to be a lifesaver for Ukraine, not just for its battlefield utility but for what it represents: the resilience of nations willing to stand up against aggression.
So, the next time you see footage of one of these vehicles, remember the stories they carry — not just of war, but of hope, courage, and global solidarity.
As it has become a common theme in my writings, Ukraine needs more. Let’s get them the tools to continue the fight.
Слава Україні!
Not the Dutch, Wes, the V-shaped hull was developed by the South African and (probably) Rhodesian Defence forces in the ‘70s. The Dutch were so long gone from South Africa by then, that the form of Dutch spoken there had diverged so much from the original that it had to be given its own name - Afrikaans. The Buffel (Buffalo) built on a Unimog chassis and the Hippo on a Bedford chassis are the first two vehicles I remember from the 70s. I was hit twice, both times in Buffels, on the South West Africa/Angola border. I had minor bruises, though others not so lucky.
Another excellent and vastly informative column that, once again, i'd like every American, especially politicians, to read. Well done!