19/05/2026
IMVG - Thunderbird 1
The IMVG's Thunderbird 1 is an ACMAT VLRA (Véhicule de Liaison, de Reconnaissance et d'Appui), a rugged, highly mobile 4x4 military utility truck originally developed in France.
Historical Service:
The vehicle was deployed in its gunship configuration by the Irish Defence Forces (specifically the 44th Infantry Battalion) during United Nations OSOM II operations in Somalia (1993–1994) to safeguard humanitarian food supply convoys on the highly dangerous "Mog Run" to Mogadishu.
Armament: It featured dual 7.62mm general-purpose machine guns (front and rear for anti-infantry combat) and a main .50 caliber heavy machine gun on the roof to engage light armor.
