LR015
IDF Special Forces Land Rover: ‘Wooden Leg’ With BMG-71 TOW Missile System

IDF Special Forces Land Rover: ‘Wooden Leg’ With BMG-71 TOW Missile System

‘Wooden Leg’, Regel E’tz in Hebrew is the codename given to Land Rover vehicles in the IDF. This particular variant was used by Sayeret Maglan with a dismountable BMG-71 TOW for ‘Scud’ hunting in an area that became known as ‘Scud Boulevard’ during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

The Model is extensively detailed with full suspension and springs, highly detailed surfaces and equipment and a full load of TOW ammunition tubes in a custom rack. The kit also includes communication equipment, Carbon Whip aerial, decal sheet, fine photo etched brass with ‘pull tight’ webbing straps and a fully detail TOW launcher with day and night sight.

A TOW tripod is included along with the parts required to ‘remote’ the TOW launcher on foot as was done during the operation.

While it was never admitted at the time, several IDF elite SF teams took an active, yet covert part in the Desert Storm campaign, 1991.

On January 16th, 1991, the day after the UN ultimatum to Iraq expired, the US lead coalition began a massive aerial assault against Iraqi targets. Less than 24 hours later Iraq fired 8 Scud missiles into the heavily populated area of Tel-Aviv. Fearing for the fragility of the coalition due to the Arab contingent within it, the Western powers demanded that Israel take no retaliatory action. However in exchange for intelligence gained in the preceding months, the IDF were granted the ability to insert SF teams in the American sector of the Scud hunt, North of the Baghdad-Amman highway.

The IDF teams from Sayeret Shaldag, Sayeret Maglan were inserted by CH53 helicopters devoid of any marking identifying them as IDF. Sayeret Matkal had been gathering intelligence and remained in the area in that role.

All of the teams were issued with non Israeli equipment, Land Rover Defenders, Dune Buggies and Dirt Bikes. Many of the Land Rovers were modified to carry the US BMG71 TOW Missile System, others to carry a squad of SF soldiers and others carrying stores and equipment.

The master model was researched and produced by Rob Tearle with research and assistance from Michael Mass and assistance from Tim Perry and Brian Murdoch.

Display model build and paint by Brian Murdoch.