Harman Patil (Editor)

MOWAG Roland

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Place of origin
  
Switzerland

Produced
  
1964 - 1980

Manufacturer
  
MOWAG

No. built
  
> 500

MOWAG Roland

Used by
  
Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Greece, Iraq

Variants
  
Military version, Police Version

The MOWAG Roland is an armored personnel carrier of Swiss origin. The vehicle was developed in 1960 and the prototype was tested in 1963. The Roland production was from 1964 to 1980.

Contents

Design

The Roland was designed for a variety of tasks: ambulance, reconnaissance, armored troop carriers, riot /protests control and as rocket launcher.

There is a searchlight mounted on the front, directly behind it is a rotary roof section for a machine gun (MG) or a tower for a heavy machine gun MG, which is operated by the commander. The engine is in the rear, on the left side of the vehicle. On the right side, in the rear and on the left side of the vehicle are doors fitted for the vehicle occupants to enter or exit.

Some African operators have their MOWAG Roland equipped with multiple rocket launchers for 5 unguided rockets. MOWAG Roland vehicles for police units typically do not have a gun, but are equipped with a siren, blue light, searchlight, loud speakers and a V-shaped dozer blade.

Variants

  • Versions: armoured ambulance, standard Army APC, riot and crowd control vehicle, SANDF variant with rockets
  • Armament: Customer Specific assault rifle or machine gun like cal.50 HMG or a cal.30 Browning, or M60, GMPG light machine guns
  • Operators

    Over 500 Mowag Rolands were produced and shipped to countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Greece (army and police), Mexico, Peru and in various Police Departments in Switzerland.

    On display

    The Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full has a display of a Roland MOWAG from the Bern Cantonal Police. This model is exhibited with a plow attached and was in use until 1997.

    References

    MOWAG Roland Wikipedia