THE Army was familiarising itself with military equipment yesterday as more soldiers from the region prepared to return to Iraq.

A troop from 8 Transport Regiment's 3 Tank Transporter Squadron has been in the Gulf testing the latest equipment for carrying tracked vehicles since November.

The Oshkosh 1070F tractor units were wheeled out at Marne Barracks, Catterick, North Yorkshire, yesterday as the rest of the regiment prepared for deployment to Basra.

The transporters, powered by 18-litre turbo-charged Caterpillar engines, can pull a seven-axle trailer loaded with a 70-ton main battle tank. Winches on board are strong enough to pull immobilised tanks on to the trailer if necessary.

An Army spokesman said: "Trials in Iraq have gone very well, and the transporters have proved to be seriously impressive bits of kit.

"They are certainly a big improvement on the equipment that has been available to date.''

The deployment is 8 Transport Regiment's third tour of duty in the Gulf since last March.

The soldiers will join an 86-strong battery from 5 Regiment, Royal Artillery, also based at Marne Barracks, Catterick, and a squadron of 200 from the Queen's Royal Lancers, based at Catterick Garrison's Cambrai Barracks.