Pictures of vehicles in service

[hibbo]

Wire cutters were to protect against wires strung across roads from lampost to lampost and mainly for the guys standing in the rear of the lightweight.

Ps they were made locally by the reme so there was no pattern laid down so various different types.

[danster]

Another one

Is that a regular tow ball with a cover on it or is it a pintle hook? The res makes it hard to tell..

Capture5.JPG

I have a feeling that isn’t in service pic think it’s a still from a film/tv program.

[andrewjsimpson1977]

Sadly I don’t think I’ll ever see a photo of Monty in service, as he was stuck at Otterburn for his whole service life, and not out doing something dynamic and manly like driving through warzones or being helicoptered into jungles.

They can’t all be Rambo’s car eh.

[removeduser185]

That's an interesting picture. Had anyone noticed the modification to the SLR held by the chap standing facing the rear? Not very common, but seen occasionally with the SLR: an additional pistol grip attached to the foregrip. More common in NI than elsewhere. I think this photo would be from around 1975, probably at Ebrington Barracks, Londonderry when 1 KINGS were in residence with 8 Bde. Note that neither Land Rover has yet been fitted with Goodyear Xtra Milers and DBG is still the colour scheme, even for the added GRP armour. And, I think, pre NI boots.

[Bob Fell]

All thanks to Jono for reviving this very interesting thread.
A couple observations on the vehicles, the varying wing mirror mounts and mirrors, then the tyres and vent panel flap on the 2A in pic C15DA7AA-E2B7-4501-9D11-4462B3FA7908.jpeg. Nice spot Fred on the SLR.
Fascinating.

Regards
Bob

[removeduser185]

I have a feeling that isn’t in service pic think it’s a still from a film/tv program.

It's certainly interesting. I think it is genuine insofar as the VRM is correct - TV productions usually get that wrong and it has no tax disc. All the incidental detail seems right, the beret seems to be fitted correctly and the combat smock suitably worn-in, but the oddities are: the rear Lightweight seems to have rear mudflaps - not common and, of course, the front one has wing mirrors, but the SA80 suggests the photo is late, so rectangular ones should be in by then and certainly more common. The radiator muff is fine, though unusual and the number plate seems to have a silver edging - rare on military vehicles (though white edging was more common on replacement number plates in BAOR as they were the only ones easily obtainable locally - BFG plates, in essence). The toolbox in front of the grille and the front tow hitch suggests the vehicle might be REME and the location is in UK - they are leaving an area with CCTV, but I can't identify the sign to the right Mid-Yo(rkshire Training Areas/Camp?) - is that crossed SMLEs? - though I'd expect to see the rivets picked out on the bayonet grip. A vehicle used for running around on a training area is a possibility, particularly given the radio aerial (Pye-phone of some sort?) What do others think?

[removeduser185]

Regards, Jono.

The top one is definitely Belize. Note - not an operational theatre at the time as neither soldier is wearing dog tags. Probably during the early 80s.

I think that the bottom one is probably Op AGILA - the operation in Rhodesia in 1980, but taken in UK prior to deployment. I don't think it is simply an umpire's vehicle for an exercise as the white cross has been painted boldly on the roof and the one on the grille is rather more substantial than the usual crossed bits of white mine tape.

[Bob Fell]

Hi Fred,
The bottom pic is definitely an OP AGUILA vehicle as you rightly identify.
There are other pics of this vehicle, at I think Salisbury, about to unload?
Regards
Bob

[removeduser185]

Hi Fred,
The bottom pic is definitely an OP AGUILA vehicle as you rightly identify.
There are other pics of this vehicle, at I think Salisbury, about to unload?
Regards
Bob

Yes, if you Google Op AGILA there are a lot of photos, primarily of LWBs with mine-protection. Most of these were brand new and converted especially for the operation. A good article was written about it on the UKMAMS website. Another interesting item of dress is the green waterproof worn by the guy with the long sideboards to the left. These were quite odd. They seemed to be green copies of RN-issue foul-weather jackets. The early ones had a sort of black, padded facemask built into the hood, omitted on later issues. They were commonly issued to RE at a time when plastic waterproof jackets were not on general army issue. I had a couple, but, once DPM replacements came in they disappeared quite quickly. To be of much use in the wet they had to be worn with plastic trousers as well as their shortness and strong elastic on the bottom hem meant that all the water drained straight into your pants and pockets - so OK for light drizzle etc, but not for heavy rain.

[Sidders101]

I have a feeling that isn’t in service pic think it’s a still from a film/tv program.

It's certainly interesting. I think it is genuine insofar as the VRM is correct - TV productions usually get that wrong and it has no tax disc. All the incidental detail seems right, the beret seems to be fitted correctly and the combat smock suitably worn-in, but the oddities are: the rear Lightweight seems to have rear mudflaps - not common and, of course, the front one has wing mirrors, but the SA80 suggests the photo is late, so rectangular ones should be in by then and certainly more common. The radiator muff is fine, though unusual and the number plate seems to have a silver edging - rare on military vehicles (though white edging was more common on replacement number plates in BAOR as they were the only ones easily obtainable locally - BFG plates, in essence). The toolbox in front of the grille and the front tow hitch suggests the vehicle might be REME and the location is in UK - they are leaving an area with CCTV, but I can't identify the sign to the right Mid-Yo(rkshire Training Areas/Camp?) - is that crossed SMLEs? - though I'd expect to see the rivets picked out on the bayonet grip. A vehicle used for running around on a training area is a possibility, particularly given the radio aerial (Pye-phone of some sort?) What do others think?

Another observation...although trivial.is that both vehicles have mis matched drive shafts.