MAXIM: Going to Afghanistan is a bit different to restoring old cars, how'd that happen then?
MIKE BREWER: It certainly is! It came about through a combination of things really. One being my entusiasm for machinery, whether it's a vehicle, like a classic car, or whether it's a tank or a heavy machine gun, I really wanted to explore the machinery and find out how it works. It also came about because this middle-aged, grumpy man had a desire to find out where his tax payer money goes, and I kept hearing these stories in certain newspapers about mums buying their children kit who were out on the front line. Thinking 'this can't be true...' I literally walked into the M.O.D. and asked them if it was, followed by, 'If not, you'll have to show me!'
MAXIM: What was it like when you were out there?
MB: Pretty incredible, it's a very hostile environment, nothing like we're used to. People might think it could be like going to the beach in Ibiza with the blue skies and sand everywhere, but it's nothing like that. It's altitude, the extremes of temperature like minus 10 (celsius) at night and plus 30 during the day, incredibly harsh, the sun's very bright and it's very filthy, dirty and dusty. A very difficult place to work and live, but we were there to do a job, make the documentary, and we quickly adapted to the lifestyle; sleeping in tents, showering with other people and having to go for a poo in a bag. That was a new experience for me, and one I'll never forget! Subconciously you weigh it as you go to get rid of it, so you always know how good your crap was. We used to compare each others in the morning to see how we all did!
MAXIM: Any hair-raising moments?
MB: There were lots of hair-raising moments when I was there, we were chased across the desert by the taliban that was during their combat logistics patrol, I slept through a rocket attack where 5 people died about 100 yards away from where I was sleeping, but the most terrifying was a flight in a chinook helicopter where we went to rescue some injured soldiers. When we landed the helicopter came under fire from the taliban, and the pilot was shot in the face. Not only that but he had to fly the chopper back to base with all its hydraulics and power lines shot out. It was one of those moments where your life flashes before your eyes and I just thought to myself 'Why did I ever do this?'. The whole thing was an incredible experience and I'm always going to be thankful to the pilot, Ian Fortune, for saving my life.
MAXIM: After that then, you must have a preference... where do you feel safest: land, sea or air?
MB: Ah, that's a good one! Well, we didn't explore the sea in this series, it was only land and air. But I do feel much safer on terra firma, with my feet planted safely on the ground. If I was to travel across any of the hostile landscape again it'd have to be in the back of what they call a Mastiff. A great piece of kit that we explore in the documentary.
MAXIM: What's the standard set up for a soldier these days then?
MB: The general kit is pretty good actually. All those stories about them not being given the right kit to go to the frontlines aren't true. They get given very good boots, body armour, the new mark seven helmet, personal equipment like their sidearms. They've got their pistol plus the SA80 rifle, which has been standard in the British Army since the 80's, so the kit and equipment they've got is fantastic, they're really well looked after.
MAXIM: And the more specialist stuff?
MB: We explore some of the specialist stuff they have on the front line, one of them being a rocket launcher a few of the guys use called a Javelin. That's very much like the taliban have, except they use RPG's, like bazookas. The British Army have got the modern version of that in the Javelin. It's a laser guided rocket that a soldier launches from his soldier, it'll just fly to the end of that laser point and destroy whatever's there.
MAXIM: Did you have to do any training before you set off?
MB: Yeah we did some before we set off. A weeks intensive training, during that time I was kidnapped, tortured, in a rocket attack, a car explosion, we got shot at a lot. We did some role playing as well by doing rescues of people trapped in explosions where they had limbs missing and guts hanging out... all that stuff. I became a full medic, which you have to get in order to go out to Afghanistan.
MAXIM: Having spent some time in their company, are you confident in our boys' and girls¹ ability to keep us safe?
MB: Certainly. After spending time in their company I think anyone and everyone would feel safe. Although very young, they very good at what they do and very entusiastic as well. Incredibly professional, because it is their job afterall, and it's drilled into them from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to bed. They are very practiced, they know exactly what they're doing and they're very proud of what they do and they're very proud of the kit that they've got.
MAXIM: Have you become tempted to learn to fly a plane/helicopter or anything like that?
MB: Very much so! I'm a bit of a petrol and a bit of a junkie for that kind of stuff anyway, but I have been very tempted to get back out there on the front line and keep exploring. I've become a total war junkie now, I really enjoyed the experience of being out there on the front line.
MAXIM: Favourite vehicle, army or otherwise?
MB: It'd have to be a chinook helicopter, that's the one that saved my life. Easy decision.
MAXIM: Coolest gadget you got to have a go on?
MB: The tornado jet, I got to seat in the back seat on a reconnaissance mission taking pictures of a back hand training village, and I just sat in the back of this 30 million pound jet getting to push buttons. Every boy's dream come true!
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Frontline Battle Machines with Mike Brewer, Discovery Channel HD every Monday from 25 October at 10.00pm. For more information on the show visit: www.yourdiscovery.com/web/frontline-battle-machines
Discovery Channel is available on:
Sky Channel 520
Virgin Channel 212
Tiscali Channel 105
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