Britain's latest military vehicle, the M-WMIK (Mobility Weapons Mount Installation Kit), is a 4x4 all terrain patrol vehicle. Referred to as the 'Jackal' the wheeled vehicle has been described as an "all terrain pit-bull", and it offers significantly increased mobility, protection and agility over the Land Rover WMIKS it is replacing.
The Jackal is currently being used in Afghanistan with 16 Air Assault Brigade, but the Defence School of Transport based in Leconfield, East Yorkshire, has now begun training the drivers of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, who will be deploying to Helmand in October 2008.
Colour Sergeant Bill Billany, Team Leader of the driving school's Jackal section, said:
"It's being used as we speak and by all accounts it's doing well. It is still undergoing some design tweaks from the feedback we are getting but compared with the Land Rover WMIK it far exceeds their capabilities due to its cross country capability, firepower and the way it drives out there. It's a good vehicle and it's got the best cross country capability of any wheeled vehicle in the MOD."
There are currently 10 instructors on the Jackal at DST with 12 of the vehicles at their disposal to be used for some 24 courses per year. All potential Jackal operators from 3 Commando Brigade, approximately 120, will train on the vehicle initially at DST.
12 drivers have just successfully undertaken the first ever operators' course at the school while four people undertook the first instructors' course. The newly qualified instructors will cascade their expertise down during continuation training and during the Brigade's Afghanistan pre-deployment training.
"The courses ran fine," continued CSgt Billany, "The guys enjoy it because of its cross country capability and they can do things in it they can't in other wheeled vehicles. Its capabilities have been a real eye opener for them. It will go over most obstacles you put in front of it."
The Jackal has a 5.9 litre engine, capable of speeds of 80 mph on roads and 40 mph across the desert. The vehicles have a crew of three and are armed with a .50 calibre machine gun, automatic grenade launcher or 7.62 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with a second 7.62 GPMG for the Commander.
"It's armoured, the crews have armoured protection all around them, so it should be a lot more robust than its predecessors," said CSgt Billany.
"It doesn't like water though," he added, "even though the fording depth is a metre, but that's one of the things that are being rectified."
The instructors' course for the Jackal at DST lasts 10 days, with one day of classroom lectures and the rest of the first week consisting of practical cross country driving training. The second week sees the trainees assessed on their lesson teach back skills.
"It's quite a complex vehicle with lots of systems and a there's a lot for the guys to take in. It's a steep learning curve on where things are and what they do," explained CSgt Billany.
The operators' course lasts eight days. The first day is also spent in the classroom with students learning the theory and components of the vehicle, as well as the kit that comes with it, and the remainder of the course is practical with the drivers getting out on to the cross country training areas at the school.
A new cross country training area is being designed at Leconfield though especially for the Jackal as according to CSgt Billany the normal cross country routes are too easy for it:
"Driving the Jackal is very simple. You just point it and put your foot on the accelerator. The only thing is holding the guys back and erring them on the side of caution. It will go over anything and if you're not careful will literally fly!"