Delivering vital combat supplies to troops on the ground, quad bikes and trailers are providing sterling service on frontline operations.

Thanks to a £5m contract with UK-based Yamaha and Logic, 200 upgraded ATVs (all terrain vehicles) will ensure they continue to provide logistics support and assistance in casualty evacuation.

This latest batch of Afghanistan-bound ATVs and trailers will deliver food, water and ammunition to the front line, in difficult to access areas or where larger vehicles are not suitable, effectively running alongside those who are on dismounted operations.

The quad bikes and trailers come with a number of upgrades, including:

• left-hand throttle, which provides a dual throttle fit giving greater manoeuvrability in theatre;
• dual stretcher fit on trailer - to evacuate two casualties at a time, thereby speeding up emergency aid.

The ATVs alone can reach speeds of up to 75kph, reduced to a recommended speed of 50kph with the trailer (limiting factors in both scenarios is the terrain in which they will be operating). Both can operate through water up to half their wheel height.

Operators using the ATVs will be protected by wearing Osprey body armour and Mk6 helmets.

Major Matt Cansdale of 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, who used the bikes during his recent operational tour, added: "The quad bikes proved to be reliable and able to go places that no other vehicle could.

"The equipment the quad bikes were able to carry enabled us to launch patrols that covered more distance and were longer in duration than would otherwise have been the case, so we were able to push into areas that the enemy did not expect us.

"The ability to evacuate casualties effectively and quickly also meant that we could move away from established routes while limiting the risk to our forces."

The new bikes and trailers are replacing the Honda 450 ATVs and LOGIC SMT120b Trailers.