The GENESIS
In the beginning were patrolling car light. Between 1915 and 1917, during the conflict against the Senussi, l’Angleterre, to defend Egypt (Dominion Britannique) cons rebels, sends riders and motorized troops. These patrol cars are equipped with small T Ford, Armed with machine guns and equipped with water containers, d’essence, and a sun compass summary. Thus are laid the first foundations of a vehicular combat in the desert environment.
The Senussi are expelled from Egypt in 1917.
MAJOR RALPH BAGNOLD
And 1925, le Major Ralph BAGNOLD gathers around him a group of enthusiasts in the desert circuit of about thirty people. Made up of civilian and military, stationed in Cairo, they meet at the weekend with family during walks in a private (20 pounds per participant) which ultimately lead to real exploration missions. Itineraries, increasingly long, sometimes over 8000 miles, give rise to a detailed mapping work, conducted by specialists of the team (with Pat CLAYTON, among other, Topographic Service in Egypt). They use Ford T, valued for their lightness, robustness, and upright among the largest for its time (8 cm !).
And 1929, Having opened many routes in the Sinai and Libya, this group of enthusiasts opens the way to the northern end of Sea of Sand. During the raid, Many water points, only known nomads, are identified accurately.
And 1935, the famous "Royal Geographic Society is very interested in the work of the team Bagnols, as well as improvements in solar compass, crossing capacity and autonomy of the vehicle, cooling ...
CREATION OF LRDG
And 1940, colonial expansion of Fascist Italy is a real danger for England, which has so much strength to oppose. General Wavell, Commander, Major Bagnold mandate to create, And 6 weeks, The LRPU (Long Range Patrol Unit), later renamed LRDG (Long Range Desert Group). This unit, directly inspired patrol cars and light of the great war, kernel consists of explorers noticed by the Royal Geographic Society. For the rest of the troop, Preference is given to New Zealanders, known for the robustness, resourcefulness and independence. Thereafter, Ecossais, Rhodesians English and enrich their ranks.
The beginning is epic: Théodolites, solar compass, tables of logarithms and binoculars are provided or "borrowed" to various organizations or local governments. Vehicles, from the Egyptian army, sont des Ford Pick Up V8 15 cwt (washing and toilet facilities for officers, car driver), Chevrolets WB 30 cwt (4x2) for the main body, et des Marmon-Herrington 6T. (that provide logistics). All are prepared and modified as follows:
Lightened: Remove doors, cabines, and rollover hoops. (Not only for weight gain, but for the sake of discretion - Reverb, height of the figure ...))
Equipped: Installing a large expansion tank, Carpet and sand plates, of bidons supplémentaires, Special low tire pressure, radio ...
Camouflés: painted in various shades of yellow sand, from pale to pink, often streaked with large brown spots. Later, camouflage depend theaters of operation where it will evolve.
Armed: Attaching lookout for automatic weapons (F.M. Lewis, Fusil anti tank Boys, Vickers machine gun) , some Bofors 37 mm mounted on chevrolet, and some mortars 2 inches.
Top 1941, 6 patrols (bearing the names of "T" Patrol, In, R, G, With, Y et composées chacunes the 30 men initially, 15 Thereafter) roam the desert. They will become the eyes and ears of the British Army in North Africa, behind enemy lines.
MISSION
The first releases of LRDG aim reconnaissance (Uweinat, Ain Dua) in which are set meeting points and storage of water and gasoline to increase the outreach patrols.
The purpose of LRDG is intelligence, opening tracks, la Reconnaissance du Terrain, create supply caches,observation of enemy movements and concentrations, sometimes interrogating German prisoners, Italians Askaris, and the local population (to do, Each patrol has in its ranks excellent performers, that guarantee by interrogation flawless quality translations).
Other roles will be assigned their, as the recovery of pilots and crews whose planes were shot down summers in enemy territory, or instruction in the navigation and driving in the desert environment for allied armies so little inured to such combat conditions (The FFL-Column Leclerc, the SAS, l'armée the Popski).
Once "run", scorpions of the desert as they are called (they would later inspire Hugo PRATT) will begin a series of action combined with FFL, contre des points stratégiques Italiens. and the raid on Mourzuk (Top 1941), carefully prepared by Major Bagnold and Lt. Colonel Colonna d'Ornano the Free French (find it sadly killed during the attack on Fort). From his side, Leclerc and his column simultaneously attack the Fortress of Kufra, which he delivered after his famous victory oath.
But back to our scorpions. If the raids and fierce and inevitable clashes with the enemy are an integral part of their action,mission of intelligence remains dominant, and thus requires absolute secrecy and avoidance maximum combat (as far as possible) who denounce their presence on the ground. This offensive role is played by SAS (Special Air Service), combatant independent body but how complementary. the SAS, Allied forces composed of British and Free French, will carry out sabotage, destruction, Elimination of all that can weaken the enemy (armory, the Munitions, food, d’eau, communications, convois, aéroports…). Their fate will be linked to LRDG, their inception in 41 until mid-42; The scorpions of the desert will bring about their goals and return to the search, their mission accomplished. (the SAS nicknamed the LRDG: "Service de Taxis du Désert Libya" !). After June 42, the SAS will receive their first American Jeeps , they will change and over-arm at leisure, making more destructive raids further. As of this moment, These commandos are more independent, and recede somewhat from LRDG, while remaining in close collaboration.
Later, The LRDG also receive a small amount of Jeeps, equip it a little differently, needs are not exactly the same (less autonomy and weapons on board, including).
CONCLUSION
The LRDG holds the spirit of stiffness saharien.Organisé from a band of enthusiasts, they must many of our facilities and basic principle in the preparation of our vehicles, from their experience and their experience. With true love and a real knowledge of the desert, unshakable faith, D a foolproof, such as navigation show us what a real Sahara. Aujourd’hui, Whenever I prepare or carry out a raid, I can not help thinking, with deep humility, these pioneers of the kind that we have learned so much. Hats off guys! For the most critical, I answer that we must recognize that the marginality of certain UK has given excellent results, epics which still haunt the minds: Lawrence d’Arabie, Orde Wingate who created the Chindits, Bagnols the LRDG, David Stirling les SAS…
Some details, for the more interested:
NAVIGATION:
In the ranks of LRDG se d'trouvaient Excellents navigateurs, vitaux éléments en Milieu hostile.
Individually, all received a compass, real small compass survey.
Night, they are navigation using the stars, and used a theodolite.
Day, using the sun ( "The ear of the camel") and a sun compass Type Bagnold, tables of logarithms, all with a precision that would pale our GPS current (Respect…).
CROSSING:
The vehicles were nearly all in 4x2 (Ford PU. V8 as Chevrolet WA and WB), albeit with very torquey engines, but still ...
Only some heavy supply (Heavy Section) were thereafter 4x4. Having used their gear type, including heavy weight, I can tell you it had to be inflated and damn talented (y'avait not the best time, is true) to go with here in the sand ... (Re-respect !)
SOME POINTS STRATEGIC…
To carry out their work, the Long Range Desert Group was in need of refueling point, rest, hideouts and departures Mission. Among the best known bases, include:
Jalo Oasis
Siwa Oasis
Oasis of Kufra (taken by Leclerc and left to LRDG)
Cairo
…
ORGANIZATION:
Each patrol consisted of 15 men(30 the beginning), which 4 spécialistes:
1 Radio ((Army post on Wereless No. 11)
1 Navigateur
1 Mécanicien
1 Nurse
The rest of the drivers and gunners.
Each specialist must be able not only to work in bad conditions, but in addition you must also maintain and repair its equipment at any cost.
The entire patrol must have a solid foundation in each area, so as to be interchangeable at any time if besoin.Leur survival was largely dependent on vehicle; any new recruit received a serious training mechanics, maintenance and repair, with the means at hand, ie not much ...
It was the same for three other positions vital.
It is interesting to note that even today, It is very reassuring to go on a raid in the group with good radios, Cador a sailing , a good mechanic and a (pretty) infirmère.
the VEHICLES:
It Chevrolet WB Chevy 30 cwt-followed by the Chevrolet WA 30 cwt-were the vehicles most used, others were employed to a lesser extent as the Ford F30 (and its counterpart C30) which equipped some patrols (S1 and S2). These trucks had the advantage of being 4x4. Le Ford Pick Up V8 15 cwt, and exceptionally the Ford F8 (Chevrolet C8) were used as car driver.
Do not forget the valiant "Heavy Section", sections of heavy LRDG who provided the foundation and point of refueling, Water and food. These convoys were no less deserving, move as many trucks loaded, in wartime and in the back of enemy lines, in desert conditions is a miracle !Especially since the first models were not used in 4x4: Bedford OY “3 tonnes”, Marmon-Herrington 6 t ... With the emergence of new models (and especially the possibility of obtaining!), particularly from 1942, the Heavy Section "made use of trucks AWD,as Ford F60 and Chevrolet C60,The Mack NR4 and NR9, and even the White 10 t !
Cependant, we must always bear in mind the next opportunistic LRDG. That is why in some pictures, can be observed exceptionally other vehicles, up trucks Italians making (Lancia 3Ro 6T).
CAMOUFLAGE:
It seems that the Chevrolet had been delivered in shades of "standard" whose English name is "Pierre Claire 61". Cependant, camouflage house could be made on site, according to the theaters of operation with input from brown, Rose,gray, blue. Often recovery from paint aircraft or vessels, they could also have a local origin, not listed in the military services, This makes it difficult to authenticate perfect color for reconstitution.
In Cairo, we repainted shop gear they received Khaki, as the number of U.S. vehicles and armored English, arriving OD. or équivallent. Despite what some say, Most British lorries arrived in Africa already colored sand, such as Bedford, Chevrolet Canada, Morris Commerciaux…(Moreover, we find shades factory in Bedford, England, and similarly for Chevrolet and Morris). Each plant had its own color, meet the specifications UK, and if we take into account in addition to the deterioration due to sun, This gives the final a wide swatch.
The CHEVROLET WB Chevy 30 cwt
Even if the LRDG used during his campaign AFN (1940/43) various vehicles, his war-horse was the most emblematic certainly Chevrolet WB, later replaced by the WA 30 cwt (From March 1942). Originally civil service and then in the Egyptian army, it was the most appropriate. Robust and reliable, torquey engine, capacity to honest crossing, good size (1500 CU kg) to transport radio, supplies and equipment, ce Pick Up, after amendment, ideally matched to their needs. Certainly, it would have been 4x4, it would have been perfect, but the jeep was not born yet ... As far as possible, leaders sought to level up the fleet for obvious reasons of simplicity and ease of repair and maintenance.
Let us not forget that they evolved very far from the European front, and in those days supplies were more qu'aléatoires.
The CHEVROLET WA 30 cwt
Engine:6 Cyl. the 80 HP
BV. 4 Speed OF + 1 Air
Wheels: 10.5 x 16
Transmission: 4x2
CU 1500 kg (match 30 cwt)
Weight:2960 kg
Carburant: Essence (120 gallons = 545 liters board )
HERITAGE:
We owe them many things, more or less known, he is just to thank them:
- Countless cards, statements, plots ...
- Passages opened by them, mainly in Egypt and Libya. The northern end of the Great Sand Sea, let the Qattara Depression ...
- Very significant improvements in the expansion tank, solar compass (Bagnold will create one specially for his troops, considered highly accurate).
- The design of low tire pressure, Wide tread and large bearing surface, drawing adapted to sand.
- The sand plates: Original, Bagnold, to cross the small canal irrigation in the oasis, inspired bridges arranged by the natives for this purpose. Il en en construisit tôle perforée, gutter-shaped and reinforced some flat irons. He subsequently saw the great interest of these plates to get out of soft sand. After some modifications, He arrived at a final model with the Americans in turn were inspired to reach their plate PSP includes in particular landing strip for airplanes combat.Toujours sheet, less asymmetrical than Bagnold, These plates are U.S. known to all and equip even many current 4x4 raids! Note that the iron that was to be replaced by aluminum - good idea - for weight gain substantial. In all cases, Bagnold is thanked for his plates. It was little better since.
render to Caesar what belongs to him, and do not forget the valuable lessons passed on values such as weight gain, principles of power and navigation in desert environment, various preparations and arrangements. When one looks closely one of the vehicles LRDG, we realize that our 4x4 today are equipped the same way; plates on the sides, shovels available, navigation tools near the driver, 2 spare wheels, accessibility of vital, spare parts, reserves of water and extra gasoline, media, Policy Brief ..., little different, though, Small details, 70 years separate us, and that 1940, the Egyptian-Libyan Sahara was not even shown on maps!
