ROYAL Marines equipped with specialised armoured vehicles are heading for a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Daily Echo spoke to some of the 30 members of the Armoured Support Company in Bovington who are trained to use the much-in-demand Vikings.

Marine Dave Hills, 25, from Exmouth, said: "The one thing training can't prepare you for is the fear factor, like when you see one of your oppos' ducking an RPG."

The Vikings have proved highly effective in combat and the demand for trained drivers has forced troops to take on two deployments in 18 months, compared to the normal two in two years.

The majority of Marines served a six-month tour last year. But they said they did not keep up with news from the war while at home.

Mark Starling, 23, from Birmingham said: "I can't be bothered." Dave Hills added: "My wife just turns it over. She doesn't want to know."

The Swedish-built Viking is armoured to repel rocket-propelled grenades and light enough to avoid setting off many landmines.

The Marines will serve in the multi-national task force, carrying out supply work, evacuating casualties, protecting convoys and supporting ground troops. Several are from Bournemouth and Poole.

The demand for returning troops to be given parades has been growing since the head of the Army raised the issue at the weekend.

Major Richard Hopkins, from the operational support group, said: "Everybody likes to be appreciated even if they don't show it.

"But parades would have to be complete formations. If it was just six soldiers they would feel too embarrassed."

Sgt Major Scott Ashley said the operations were "very intense" and soldiers could feel "frustrated" at the public not knowing what they had done.

"Afghanistan is a lot more raw than Iraq.

"You are literally in the middle of the sticks. You don't come across any large towns," he added.

"A year ago the people of one village thought we were the Russians, because that was the last time they had seen soldiers."

Before 1999 the Marines might have spent much of the year in Norway and once every two years spending six months in Northern Ireland.

For Rob Dye, 23, from Kent, this will be his fifth tour, after one in Northern Ireland, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

The Marines get 30 free minutes of phone calls home a week and the tour will run through Christmas.

Mark Starling said: "Christmas is just another day. They try and keep you in base and you get two beers."

He was more keen on another visit by pop star Myleene Klass.

"She was the essence," he said.