Drunk British Soldiers Joyride 15-Ton Armored Vehicle, Smashing Through Cars

Royal Military Police have detained two British army engineers accused of commandeering a 15-ton armored personnel carrier while intoxicated and plowing through civilian vehicles in Wiltshire.

The unauthorized early Friday morning excursion left a trail of crushed cars in its wake, causing an estimated £100,000 in property damage.

Midnight Wreckage

The troops allegedly seized the Bulldog armored vehicle from Tidworth Garrison at roughly 1 a.m. after consuming alcohol off-base.

Video captured from a nearby residence showed the massive machine, measuring 17 feet long and over nine feet wide, wedged tightly on a residential street.

Footage documented the carrier struggling to navigate the narrow roadway, scraping past a mangled commercial van and a crushed SUV.

Despite the extensive destruction to civilian property, authorities reported no civilian casualties.

Following the incident, the heavy carrier was abandoned in a parking space near Swinton Barracks without a scratch.

Military Arrests

Fellow service members discovered the devastation, leading military law enforcement to arrest the primary suspect in his quarters at dawn.

A second engineer was subsequently taken into custody.

A military spokesperson confirmed the detentions following the July 24 incident at Perham Down.

“We expect the highest standards from our personnel," the spokesman stated. "We will not comment further while an investigation is ongoing.”

Base Disciplinary Record

The Bulldog carrier requires a two-person crew and runs on a 240-horsepower Rolls-Royce engine capable of 32 mph.

The battlefield transport can accommodate 10 troops and mount a 7.62mm machine gun.

Tidworth houses several units, including the 26 Engineer Regiment, 1 Medical Regiment, and the King’s Royal Hussars.

This incident follows previous disciplinary lapses at the garrison.

In 2024, an intoxicated 25-year-old soldier stationed at nearby Aliwal Barracks crashed his car into a telegraph pole while wearing a Batman costume, resulting in a 12-month driving ban and a £600 fine.