Libya / Jeep blown up by Mine Got the information about this jeep from a colleague who was working in the country may years back - before GPS was known. However; he sent me a small sketch he made out of his memory and we were fortunate enough to just find the wreckage. The vehicle was obviously blown up by a mine. Most probably one laid by the Italian desert patrols to blockt the known traces of the LRDG (the LRDG becames sometimes a little bit lazy and one patrol just drove wthin the traces of the previous one). We could not find a real proof that this particular vehicle was used by the LRDG / SAS / PPA. But it was already there before the first oil exploration was done and there is at least an extract from the book "Popski's Private Army" mentioning that they had some problems with mines in that area...
Cheers Kuno...Great pictures. It remind me of Iraq...Anthing left for 5 minutes unattended , gets striped which is probably whats happened to some of the Jeep by the look of it Andy
The pic of my colleague showed the Jeep in the same state already in the mid-1980s when he found it. Only it was upside down then; before he turned it into the upright position with his Landrover (BEFORE recognizing that it was a car blown up by a mine ;-))
Kuno, You appear to get to some truly historical locations and thankyou for finding the time to photograph and post them to us all. It is very much appreciated. The article states that 46 mines were laid in the proximity, no wonder they hit one! Regards Tom
This is always the question.... Up to today I have never seen a mine which was still in working condition. But they were all exposed to the climate on the surface. Don't know, if something has "survived". I remember one occassion when we found a metal box which after careful excavation was still closed. After we had opened it I was sure that if it would have been booby trapped that would have been my last moment - inside it was as new. There were used shells of a German 3.7cm A/A gun; the grease of the gun was still fresh and one could smell the powder. Anyhow - more dangerous (in my eyes) is the UXPO which is by most people taken up very carelessly; there are still accidents...
I know it's not related to the actual desert war. But if you like I would post some more pics of the environment near the Jeep (although "environment" is not meant just a vew metres around the wreck ;-))
Post away. It might make us feel warmer ! Absolutely, after 4" of snow overnight and -4oC this morning I need some warming up pictures! Regards Tom
...and just behind that natural rock-arch you find the first oil-well of Libya. It is still in operation today since the 1950s!