Land Rover WMIK

The Land Rover has been in service with the UK Military for decades, usually used for transport and of men and supplies, either onboard or towed behind.

The SAS pioneered the use of the Land Rover as a mobile weapons platform. The SAS had used jeeps to shoot up German aircraft parked on remote desert airstrips during World War 2. Post War, they eventually graduated to the new Land Rovers. Mobility Troop perfected the art of adapting the utility vehicles into long range patrol and attack vehicles. The concept was proved in 1991 when the SAS drove several heavily-armed Land Rover columns behind Iraq lines during operation desert storm.

A few years later, Land Rover produced the first WMIK variant of its popular military Land Rover 110 series, for use throughout the UK military. The WMIK (Weapons Mount Installation Kit) is a stripped-down 110 that comes with a series of roll bars and weapons mounts pre-installed. The WMIK is designed as a reconnaissance and fire support vehicle. Pintle mounts for various weapons systems allow the WMIK to be armed in a range of configurations.

• the rear roll bar cage features a well in which a gunner can stand and swing his weapon in a 360 degree arc of fire around on a rail. The rear station can be fitted with an .50 cal HMG, a 40mm GMG grenade launcher or a 7.62mm GPMG. A Milan missile launcher can also be attached to the rear roll bars.
• the passenger side (usually the vehicle commander's station) has a pintle-mount where a GPMG is usually fitted.

British Army WMIK Land Rovers on patrol in Afghanistan. Note the kevlar strips along the sides of the rear roll cages and front seat positions.

An RAF Regiment gunner mans the rear GPMG of a WMIK on patrol outside Basra, Iraq.

Land Rover WMIKs have been used by UK forces in a range of operations.

• The Pathfinder Platoon were seen driving WMIK during NATO peacekeeping duties in Macedonia, 1999.
• WMIKs operated by the Royal Irish Rangers were captured by rebels in Sierra Leone, along with 11 Rangers. Both the men and WMIKs were later rescued by the SAS, SBS and Paras in Operation Barras.
• The Royal Marines used WMIKs during assaults on Iraqi-held cities and towns of Southern Iraq during Operation Telic, 2003.
• Paras from the Pathfinder Platoon carried out recon and offensive operations across the Iraqi border during Operation Telic.
• Both the Royal Marines Brigade Patrol Troop and the Para's Pathfinder Platoon have used the WMIKs as for recon and assault operations in Afghanistan.

The Land Rover WMIK is lightly armoured and several have been shot up and disabled by small arms fire in operations in Afghanistan. They also provide little to no protection against IEDs. This is not so much of a concern for elite units such as the RM or Paras who use the WMIKs off-road for recon and quick hit and run operations. Indeed, the lightweight and ability to fire out the vehicle in all directions is a plus in such situations. The protection on some WMIKs have been augmented with the use of Kevlar flaps across the more vulnerable points.

Another problem with the WMIK is that it's narrow wheels can cause it struggle to transverse some of the off-road ground found in Afghanistan.

An upgraded WMIK, the E-WMIK has been fielded that features improved floor armour and better radio gear. It is planned to replace some of the WMIK/E-WMIK Land Rovers in the UK's inventory with the new MWMIK vehicle.

Land Rover WMIK Specifications

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