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The Utility Belt

  • Thread starter Thread starter HT
  • Start date Start date
Plenty of ideas here
ute.jpg
:D
 
Nice. A bit like a modern take on the old LRDP
The history is all pretty interesting. It traces back to WW1 war in the deserts of Libya et al and the exploits of British and Australian Light Car Patrols. These provided force and specialised reconnaissance for the mounted infantry using Model T Fords heavily armed with Lewis guns. The LRDG was a revival of their methods (eg sun compass).

I was fascinated by all this stuff as a kid which led to several desert expeditions, including retracing TE Lawrence‘s campaign in the Hejaz.

2E1BBFC3-F970-4282-8A3D-134C695381F4.jpeg
 
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The history is all pretty interesting. It traces back to WW1 war in the deserts of Libya et al and the exploits of British and Australian Light Car Patrols which provided force and specialised reconnaissance for the mounted infantry using Model T Fords heavily armed with Lewis guns. The LRDG was a revival of their methods (eg sun compass).

I was fascinated by all this stuff as a kid which led to several desert expeditions, including retracing TE Lawrence‘s campaign in the Hejaz.

View attachment 7796893
in WWII they were initially manned by New Zealand farmers who were deaf in one ear
1669755657865.png
 
The history is all pretty interesting. It traces back to WW1 war in the deserts of Libya et al and the exploits of British and Australian Light Car Patrols.

Absolutely amazing stuff, thanks for posting. 👏

Off to read again...to see what I missed, love the details like "fitted with ‘oversized’ three-and-a-half-inch wide tyres".

It's a shame his original report can't be viewed online.

Screenshot_20221130_101159.jpg
 
I was always intrigued by the French/Russian efforts in the desert and elsewhere:


They always had a certain style:

View attachment 7796910
Not sure whether I’m more delighted by those Citroen half-tracks or the sartorial decision to explore the desert in a 3-piece tweed suit complete with tie and collar bar.
 
Absolutely amazing stuff, thanks for posting. 👏

Off to read again...to see what I missed, love the details like "fitted with ‘oversized’ three-and-a-half-inch wide tyres".

It's a shame his original report can't be viewed online.

View attachment 7796913
If you’re into that the other rabbit hole to dive into are the Rolls Royce armoured cars employed in the Hejaz campaign and mentioned in the above. Lot’s more available on these.

Again, with an epic WW1 origin story of an aristocratic senior airman on the Western Front who fitted a machine gun to his personal luxury cabrio for the purpose of rescuing pilots from his command, downed behind enemy lines.
 
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If you’re into that the other rabbit hole to dive into are the Rolls Royce armoured cars employed in the Hejaz campaign and mentioned in the above. Lot’s more available on these.

Again, with an epic WW1 origin story of an aristocratic senior airman on the Western Front who fitted a machine gun to his personal luxury cabrio for the purpose of rescuing pilots from his command, downed behind enemy lines.
Another little rabbit hole...
 

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