Two soldiers have been arrested following an incident in which a military armoured vehicle was allegedly taken without authorization and used to cause significant damage to parked cars at Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire. The event occurred in the early hours of July 24, with reports indicating the soldiers had been drinking off-base prior to the incident.

The vehicle involved was a Bulldog armoured personnel carrier (APC), a 15-ton vehicle powered by a 240hp Rolls-Royce engine, capable of reaching speeds up to 32 mph. The Bulldog requires a crew of at least two to operate and is designed to transport up to ten personnel, offering protection against small arms fire and artillery. It measures over nine feet wide and seventeen feet long.

Video footage captured from an upstairs window shows the driver struggling to maintain control of the vehicle as it moves along a narrow access road within the military facility. The APC is seen colliding with a parked Vauxhall panel van, which was pushed into a silver SUV situated in front of it. The SUV is reportedly a Chinese-made MG ZS electric vehicle valued at around £30,000. Neither the personnel involved nor bystanders were reported to have been injured during the incident. The Bulldog itself did not sustain damage and was later found parked among undamaged vehicles in a nearby section of the camp.

Tidworth Camp hosts several military units, including the 26 Engineer Regiment, 1 Medical Regiment, and the King’s Royal Hussars. The arrested soldiers are believed to be members of the 26 Engineer Regiment. The Royal Military Police detained the primary suspect in his accommodation at dawn, with a second serviceman also taken into custody. An Army spokesperson confirmed the arrests and stated that the military expects the highest standards of conduct from its personnel but declined to provide further details while the investigation is ongoing.

This incident follows broader concerns about conduct and safety within military ranks. In a related case from 2024, a soldier was convicted of drink-driving after a separate vehicle accident near army barracks.

The MG ZS vehicle struck during the event is reportedly subject to security restrictions advising personnel not to discuss sensitive matters inside due to concerns over potential surveillance. The circumstances surrounding the unauthorized removal of the armoured vehicle and the resulting damage are under active investigation by military authorities.