Craig Allen delves into the history of the WMIK’s role in Iraq
The Weapons Mount Installation Kit or WMIK Land Rover was first produced by Ricardo back in 1999 based on the standard Wolf TUM 110.
Inspired by the US Army’s Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV), it featured a strengthened chassis and combined roll cage and weapons mount. Designed for reconnaissance and fire support, it could initially be equipped with a GPMG, HMG or a Milan Anti-Tank System with an additional GPMG provided for the commander.
A massive step up from the mainly workshop modified vehicles that came before, it even came with a tailor-made foul weather canopy. Of course, mounting weapons on Land Rovers was nothing new and goes right back to the original Series One.
The SAS also famously employed their heavily armed Pink Panthers, but these were essentially ‘bolt on’ affairs whereas the WMIK was engineered from the outset as a weapons carrier.
Issued to 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Royal Marines they were first seen on operations with the Pathfinder Platoon during the NATO mission to Macedonia in 1999. This was swiftly followed by their use on Operation Barras in Sierra Leone by the Parachute Regiment. Despite these early d…
