Land Rover ‘lightweights’ and Series III vehicles used in Northern Ireland were frequently fitted with the vehicle protection kit (VPK). This consisted of a hardtop, applique composite GRP and Makrolon ballistic-protection panels for the doors, sills and bonnet. Also an armoured shield for the windscreen with wire-mesh screens over the windows and lights. Two doors were fitted at the rear and a two-man hatch was installed in the roof.
British troops in Iraq are equipped with more than 300 of the so-called ‘snatch’ vehicles, a Land Rover Defender XD with composite glass-fibre armour. Although the armour is supposed to be resistant to penetration by rifle fire, it has been noted that the insurgents have weapons which ‘go right through the composite’.
A new demountable armour system (DAS) is available for the Defender which has been designed by Labbe. The DAS, intended for use by aid agencies and others working in war zones, consists of a kit of armoured components which can be attached to a base vehicle as required. For the armour to be fitted, the vehicle requires a special heavy-duty bulkhead.
Top left: The Polish Huzar is based on the Perentie 6x6 conversion of the Defender 130 and first appeared in 2003. There will eventually be three variants available. (BM)
Bottom left: The
Makrolon composite armour vehicle protection kit (VPK) was widely used in Northern Ireland to provide some protection to crews from small arms fire. (SV
World History
