THE GENESIS
In the beginning were small patrol cars. Between 1915 and 1917, during the conflict against the Senussi, l’Angleterre, to defend Egypt (Dominion Britannique) against 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 were laid the first foundations of a vehicular combat in desert.
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. Comprised of civilian and military, stationed in Cairo, they occur on weekends when family rides private (20 pounds per participant) that lead ultimately to real exploration missions. Itineraries, increasingly long, sometimes exceed 8,000 miles, give rise to a detailed mapping work, made by some specialists of the team (with Pat CLAYTON, among other, topographique du service d'egypte). They use T Ford, appreciated for their lightness, robustness, and upright among the largest for its time (8cm !).
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 recorded accurately.
And 1935, the famous "Royal Geographic Society is very interested in the work of the team Bagnols, and to improvements in the sun compass, capabilities and autonomy of crossing vehicles, cooling ...
CREATION OF LRDG
And 1940, colonial expansion of Fascist Italy is a real danger for England, who has so little strength to oppose him. General Wavell, Commander, Major Bagnold mandate to create, in 6 weeks, the LRPU (Long Range Patrol Unit), later renamed LRDG (Long Range Desert Group). This unit, directly inspired by motor patrols light of the great war, consists of the core of explorers noticed by the Royal Geographic Society. For the rest of the troop, Preference is given to the New Zealand, known for the robustness, débrouillardise et indépendance. Thereafter, Ecossais, English Rhodesians 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, Арме from Egyptian,, sont des Ford Pick Up V8 15 cwt (Pricipals for officers, car driver), des Chevrolet WB 30 cwt (4×2) for the main body, et des Marmon-Herrington 6T. (that provide logistics).All are prepared and modified as follows:
Lightened: Remove doors, booths, and rollover hoops. (Not only for weight gain, but by concerns of discretion - Reverb, arrogance de la silhouette ...))
Teams: Installing a large expansion tank, Carpet and sand plates, of bidons supplémentaires, Special low-pressure tires, 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 37 mm Bofors guns mounted on chevy, and some 2-inch mortars.
Top 1941, 6patrols (bearing the names of "T" Patrol, In, R, G, With, Y et de composées chacunes 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) which are established during the 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 Askari, and local (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 in enemy territory summers, or instruction in the navigation and driving in the desert for allied armies so little inured to such combat conditions (The FFL-Column Leclerc, the SAS, l'Armée de 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, cons strategic points Italians. and the raid on Mourzuk (early 1941), carefully prepared by Major Bagnold and Lieutenant Colonel Colonna d'Ornano free French (find it sadly killed during the attack on Fort).For his part, Leclerc and his column simultaneously attack the Fortress of Kufra, where he delivered his famous victory after the oath.
More revenons to the scorpions. If the raids and fierce and inescapable clashes with the enemy are an integral part of their action,intelligence mission remains predominant, and thus requires an absolute discretion and avoidance in most of the fighting (wherever possible) who denounce their presence on the ground. This offensive role is played by SAS (Special Air Service), independent body but how much further fighting. The SAS, paratrooper commando composed of English and French Free, will carry out sabotage, destruction, Elimination of all that can weaken the enemy (armory, the Munitions, food, d’eau, communications, convoys, aéroports…). Their fate will be linked to LRDG, their inception in 41 I-42 jusqu'à; Scorpions of the desert will bring about their goals and return 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 even more destructive raids. From this moment, commandos will be more independent, and recede somewhat from LRDG, while remaining in close collaboration.
Later, the LRDG also receive a small amount of Jeeps, it will equip 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, we owe them a lot of our equipment and basic principle in the preparation of our vehicles, from their experience and their experience. With true love and true knowledge of the desert, unshakable faith, D a foolproof, such as navigation show us what a true Sahara. Aujourd’hui, Whenever I prepare or raided, I can not help thinking, with deep humility, these pioneers of the genre that we have learned so much. Hats off guys! For the most critical, I would say that we must recognize that the marginality of certain British to give excellent results, epics which still haunt the minds: Lawrence d’Arabie, Orde Charles Wingates who created the Chindits, Bagnols the LRDG, David Stirling les SAS…
Some details, for the more interested:
NAVIGATION:
In the ranks of LRDG if trouvaient d'excellents navigateurs, vitaux éléments en Milieu hostile.
As individual, all saw a compass, real small compass survey.
Night, they are navigating by the stars, et a utilisaient théodolite.
Day, using the sun ( "The ear of the camel") and a sun compass Type Bagnold, de tables de logarithmes, all with a precision that would pale our GPS current (Respect…).
FRANCHISSEMENT:
The vehicles were almost all in 4 × 2 (Ford PU. V8 like Chevrolet WA and WB), albeit with very torquey engines, but still ...
Only some heavy supply (Heavy Section) eventually result in 4 × 4. 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 of their bases, include:
Jalo Oasis
Siwa Oasis
Oasis Koufra (taken by Leclerc and left to LRDG)
Cairo
…
ORGANIZATION:
Each patrol consisted of 15 men(30 initially), including 4 specialists:
1Radio (Army post on Wereless No. 11)
1 Navigateur
1Mechanic
1Nurse
The rest of the drivers and gunners.
Each specialist must be able not only to work in the worst conditions, but in addition you must also maintain and repair its equipment at all costs.
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 the vehicle; all new recruits received a comprehensive education in mechanical, 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 with the group of good radios, a Cador en navigation , a good mechanic and a (pretty) infirmère.
THE VEHICULES:
It is the Chevrolet WB Chevy 30 cwt-followed by the Chevrolet WA 30 cwt-were the vehicles most used, others were employed in 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 4 × 4. Le Ford Pick Up V8 15 cwt, and exceptionally Ford F8 (Chevrolet C8) were used as a car driver.
Do not forget the brave "Heavy Section", heavy sections of LRDG which catered bases and refueling points, 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 miracle !Especially since the first models were not used in 4 × 4: Bedford OY “3 tonnes”, Marmon-Herrington 6 tons ... 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 et Chevrolet C60,Mack will NR4 and NR9, and even the White 10 t !
Cependant, always keep in mind the next opportunistic LRDG. That is why in some pictures, can be observed exceptionally other vehicles, Italians up trucks making (Lancia 3Ro 6T).
CAMOUFLAGE:
It appears that the Chevrolet had been delivered in shades "standard" whose English name is "Peter Clare 61". Cependant, camouflage house could be made locally, according to the theaters of operation with input from brown, Rose,gray, blue. Often paintings from recoveries of aircraft or ships, they could also have a local origin, not listed in the Military Services, This makes it difficult to complete authentication colors for reconstitution.
In Cairo, repainting it in the studio gear we received Khaki, as the number of American vehicles and armored English, arriving OD. or équivallent. Despite what some say, English most of the trucks arrived in Africa already colored sand, such as Bedford, Chevrolets Canada, Morris Commerciaux…(Moreover, we find shades factory in Bedford, England, др. In similarly Chevrolet и др. 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, her pet was certainly the most emblematic the 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, the honest road capabilities, good size (1500CU kg) pour transport radio, supplies and equipment, ce Pick Up, after amendment, ideally matched to their needs. Certainly, he was in 4 × 4, it would have been perfect, but the jeep was not born yet ... As far as possible, leaders sought to achieve maximum uniformity in the car park for obvious reasons of convenience and ease of repair and maintenance.
Let us not forget that they were moving very far from the European front, and that in those days supplies were more qu'aléatoires.
THE CHEVROLET WA 30 cwt
Engine:6 Cyl. the 80 HP
BV 4 Speed OF + 1Ar
Wheels: 10.5 x 16
Transmission: 4x2
CU 1500 kg (correspondent to 30 cwt)
Weight:2960 kg
Carburant: Essence (120 gallons = 545 liters board )
HERITAGE:
We owe them many things, more or less known, which it is fair to give them thanks:
- Countless cards, relevés, traces ...
- 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 especially for his troops, deemed extremely accurate).
- The design of low-pressure tires, Wide tread and strong bearing surface, drawing adapted to sand.
- The sand ladders: Original, Bagnold, crossing the small irrigation canals in the oases, inspired bridges arranged by the natives for this purpose. Il in construisit in Tolè perforée, gutter-shaped and reinforced some flat irons. He realized then 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 achieve their plate PSP includes in particular landing strip for aircraft combat.Toujours sheet, less ribbed than Bagnold, These plates are known to all American and equip many more than 4 × 4 current raids! Note that the iron that was was replaced by aluminum - good idea - for a significant weight gain. In all cases, Bagnold was thanked for his plates. 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, Preparations divers et aménagements. When one looks closely one of the vehicles LRDG, we realize that our 4 × 4 today are equipped the same way; plates on the sides, shovels available, navigation tools near the driver, 2spare wheels, Accessibility vital, spare parts, reserves of water and extra gasoline, media, Policy Brief ..., rien well différent, though, Small details, 70 years separate us, and that 1940, Egyptian-Libyan Sahara was not even represented on maps!
