10 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2007
Future, real... and imagined
T
HE fi repower
spurs in the rugged terrain of We’ve been on manoeuvres with mobile than this. It will go literally ● Royal Marines patrol Helmand province in Afghanistan... on foot,
and mobility of
Afghanistan. 13 Vikings and the Taleban have anywhere.” in WMIKs and in Vikings
been talking about about ‘up to Vikings deployed to Helmand
Picture: PO(Phot) Sean Clee, RN Photographer of the Year
the Navy’s elite
The Royals originally ordered
108 Vikings (strictly speaking 70 “tanks”’, which shows the 12 months ago – and remained
infantry will be the BVS10 All-Terrain Vehicle impression the vehicle can make.” in the province when the bulk of
“I see it remaining in Afghanistan has been the WMIK
bolstered with the arrival
(Protected)) which were delivered
Viking is not a tank. It’s an 3 Commando Brigade returned Afghanistan and I don’t see it Land Rover – basically a stripped-
of new armoured vehicles
to the Corps in 2003 by Swedish
armoured vehicle which offers its to Blighty at the end of their coming back until the end of the down jeep with a bloody big gun.
firm Hagglunds.
two-crew and passengers improved deployment in the spring. commitment.” The WMIK (Weapon Mounted
in 2008.
Afghanistan is the first theatre
protection over the BVs the Corps “Since the beginning of the Maj Hermer says some of his Installation Kit) has performed
The Royal Marines’ fleet of
of war the Vikings have seen (they
have been using for years. It’s also Afghan conflict, everyone has comrades were sceptical well in Helmand... but senior
Vikings will swell by 21, while
were tested extensively in the UK
even more agile than a BV... which woken up to the success of about the vehicle – armour commanders are keen to bolster
beefed-up Land Rovers which
and Norway before heading to
is pretty manoeuvrable in Viking – it’s now very important was for the Army. the troops’ mobility and firepower
the commandos use on patrols in
Helmand).
itself. to Operation Herrick,” Maj “It was a bit of a leap – and protection.
Afghanistan will be replaced with
There the vehicles have
“There is no Hermer. of faith, but now the guys The result is the MWMIK (the
faster, more mobile and better
impressed friend and foe alike.
vehicle in the who operate it could not go extra ‘m’ stands for ‘mobility’)
armoured Supacats – described as “We’ve listened in to what the
world in my on operations without it,” he and 130 have been ordered for
“like a Land Rover on steroids”. Taleban have been saying about
opinion which added. Britain’s armed forces in a £30m
Viking is one of the true success us,” said Maj Jez Hermer of the
is more “It’s opened up Helmand deal signed between the MOD
stories of the British Armed Royal Marines Armoured Support
province and proved and Plymouth-based DML.
Forces this past decade, earning Company based at Bovington.
indispensable.” The new vehicles, based on a
Whitehall design by Supacat Ltd, can carry
(and continuing to earn) its battle “They call Viking a ‘tank’.
is looking three troops and race around at
for another speeds of up to 80mph. Firepower
21 Vikings comes in the shape of a .50 calibre
specialist legal advice
to join the machine-gun or grenade launcher
existing force in and GPMG.
the second half of Troops who have tested the
to forces personnel
2008. prototype versions have described
Another regular the MWMIK as “like a Land
sight through Rover on steroids”, while some in
the the media have dubbed the vehicle
Suffered a Military Injury?
swirling the ‘Mad Max 4x4’.
We deal with all types of injury claim involving
dust of “These vehicles are well armed,
the military.
swift, and agile. They will boost
We can assist you with your claim under the our capability with some serious
new AFCS and advise you on whether to
fi repower. MOD and the Treasury
pursue your claim in the civil courts under our
have worked hard to get these
‘no win no fee’ specialist military legal
powerful vehicles to our troops in
quick time, and they will start going
advice scheme.
out to theatre early next year,” said
Lord Drayson, Minister for
Police Interview/
Defence Equipment
Courts Martial
and Support.
Nigel Burn and Gilbert
contact
The vehicles will be
Blades are well known for
Nigel Burn or Tean Butcher
assembled at DML’s
Bank Street, Lincoln LN2 1DR
their Courts Martial
Tel: 01522 512345
workshops in Devonport naval
between 9am - 5.15pm
expertise throughout the
base. Universal Engineering Ltd
or for Military Discipline Matters only contact
UK and Europe.
will manufacture the chassis,
Nigel Burn Mob: 07775 860608 after 6pm
Cummings the engine, and Allison
www.wilkinchapman.co.uk
the transmission.
We can also advise on:
The MWMIKs will be delivered
Employment Issues
to front-line troops next year.
Family Problems
House Purchases
● Troops demonstrate the agility
of a prototype MWMIK
Wills
Picture: LA(Phot) Emily Chambers,
FRPU West
A LEADING SPECIALIST IN MILITARY LAW
THIS is the warship Portsmouth
shipbuilder VT hopes will become
the backbone of the Fleet into the
middle of the 21st Century.
The firm used the DSEi defence
exhibition in London to unveil its
design for the next generation of
medium-sized warships.
Whitehall will be looking to
begin replacing its frigate and
minewarfare fleet in the coming
decade with a vessel known as
the ‘Future Surface Combatant’.
VT has put forward a fl eet of eight
‘super patrol vessel’ to carry out
general purpose duties, including
patrols, minehunting and survey
work.
The FSC proposed by VT
(pictured right) would displace
around 3,000 tons, carry a
helicopter up to Merlin size and
be armed with a 76mm or 30mm
main gun, with the possibility
of also carrying surface-to-air
missiles. VT says the ship would
require a crew of just 76 – less
than half that required by a Type
23 frigate.
As it has done with the current
River-class fleet of patrol ships,
VT is offering to lease these
proposed new vessels to the
Navy.
If the MOD likes the concept,
VT says the first FSC could be in
service as early as 2012.
010_NN_Oct.indd 1 18/9/07 16:39:04
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