Discussion
Just strated reading a book about the British special forces operating in North Afrika during WW2.
Its called Ghost Patrol, and talks about the LRDG, SAS, SBS, Army Commando's operating under the command of SOE, and the little known SIG.
The intresting thing to me is the LRDG would typcally escort the other groups into the desert for their raids, as even according to the SAS founder, they were the masters of desert travel. And their chosen vehicles were 1941 Chevrolet pick ups, and Willys Jeeps all altered to suit desert travel. Stripped of excess weight to assist crossing the sand.
These guys were gone for weeks sometimes, travelling many thousands of miles in the heat, no roads just all desert, real extreme conditions.
Just shows how good these old trucks could be. Our grandads knew how to make and maintain and decent off roader !
Its called Ghost Patrol, and talks about the LRDG, SAS, SBS, Army Commando's operating under the command of SOE, and the little known SIG.
The intresting thing to me is the LRDG would typcally escort the other groups into the desert for their raids, as even according to the SAS founder, they were the masters of desert travel. And their chosen vehicles were 1941 Chevrolet pick ups, and Willys Jeeps all altered to suit desert travel. Stripped of excess weight to assist crossing the sand.
These guys were gone for weeks sometimes, travelling many thousands of miles in the heat, no roads just all desert, real extreme conditions.
Just shows how good these old trucks could be. Our grandads knew how to make and maintain and decent off roader !
The Long Range Desert Group by David Lloyd-Owen is worth reading, as is Quiet for a Tuesday by Tom Sheppard (solo dester travel).
The Chevrolet trucks were 2wd and used flotation type tyres. The 2wd gave better fuel economy and that, coupled with the tyre type meant that the front wheels didn't try and dig into soft ground.
The Chevrolet trucks were 2wd and used flotation type tyres. The 2wd gave better fuel economy and that, coupled with the tyre type meant that the front wheels didn't try and dig into soft ground.
I have owned a "Willys" Jeep now for just over 3 years adding over 6500 miles to it in that time, not once has it let me down. I do kind of over maintain it, but being so easy to work on nothing is a chore to do.
I have taken it off road many times, sometimes in places I did not ought to
They are Very tough machines and immensely capable, they certainly got it right back in 1941
I have taken it off road many times, sometimes in places I did not ought to
They are Very tough machines and immensely capable, they certainly got it right back in 1941
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