SAS improved jeep for Europe

I read in passing about the SAS having an improved version of the trusty jeep for use in Europe, wondered if anyone had a source for full details on it, plus any more photos other than the one I've found here.



A few of the upgrades can be clearly seen, a bigger fuel tank at the rear, armour in front of driver and passenger, large light on the bonnet which apparently pointed where the gun was pointed, and those large semi-circular windows of 2inch bullet proof glass, which I understand weren't too popular as the SAS felt the massive reflection would be too much of a give away.

Any ideas of any more?

cheers,

 

WNC....Classic Military Vehicle have done a couple of articles on these over the last couple of years. Sadly I don't keep my back numbers in any order, or even in one location!

IIRC I've seen one restored with a U.S. .50 Cal for the passenger, for real hitting power!

Popski's Private Army also experimented IIRC with the flamethrower installation from a 1944 a Bren Gun Carrier fitted in a jeep!

 

The French SAS site has the best page on 'tinternet

SOUVENIR S.A.S- FRENCH WW2 S.A.S SOUVENIR

the jeeps page is linked at the bottom, it is a bit strange in translation though.

 

Thanks Gents!

 

I would imagine that the .50 calibre was very popular, much more of a punch than the vickers.

Regards
Tom

 

Quite esp.with the variety of ammo available. Apparently the SAS also liked the 20mm Breda too.

I find it quite incredible what they and others managed with the humble jeep, esp compared to what they were facing.

 

Quite esp.with the variety of ammo available. Apparently the SAS also liked the 20mm Breda too.

I find it quite incredible what they and others managed with the humble jeep, esp compared to what they were facing.

Quite. They were maximizing the nimble-fast-hardhitting line and it would seem that it worked.

 

I've seen that picture before in a book on the SAS. I think the caption commented that the jeep had seen service in the desert as the radiator grill was cut to take a condenser

 

Quite. They were maximizing the nimble-fast-hardhitting line and it would seem that it worked.

In the book "The New Mercenaries" there's mention of similar in the Congo, gunned up jeeps tearing along, often engaging very briefly, doing a lot of damage and being down the road before any response by fire.

I've seen that picture before in a book on the SAS. I think the caption commented that the jeep had seen service in the desert as the radiator grill was cut to take a condenser

Like this one?



Although I have seen jeeps with intact grills and condensers fitted. I have a sneaking suspicion the SAS just liked breaking bits off their jeeps...

 

F*** Me! Look at the gun on that thing! Do I take it That's a .50 cal ?

I seem to have grown up with the impression that that was a General Purpose Machine Gun (Gimpy).

Funny how .50 cal seems to have caught the imagination with the desert wars. As if they'd only just invented it. Or is that a new breed of Rifle?

 

Yes that's a Browning .50 cal, the driver has a single Vickers K, on the rear twin Vickers K on an anti-air mount.

The Browning .50 was much sought after, it was by it's nature armour piercing to a degree, but also had additional ammo types including AP Incenduary Tracer. It replaced the Boys anti-tank rifle almost overnight.

The Vickers K was originally mounted on aircraft but as .30 cal Brownings became more available they were removed and passed onto the army, Stirling scrounged up a whole pile of Vickers Ks for the original SAS where it was quite common for four to be mounted in pairs on a single jeep.

 

.30 cal Brownings became more available for the original SAS where it was quite common for six to be mounted in pairs on a single jeep.


That sort of puts " Road Rage " into context, doesn't it?

 

Actually, it appears to me that's a .30 Browning. Notice the body and the Barrel.



Cheers...

 

It's too long for a .30. Defo a .50 with a different jacket around the barrel. It looks like a variant used in aircraft.

 

Nope, definatly a .30... Did more research around it and it's a .30 taken from airplane models. I knew I'd seen that photo somewhere before and it was in a book about small arms (quite the bargain 5€ and all the info they have so far seems correct) I own. It's an A4 model of the M1919 .30 adapted from an airplane.



Cheers...

 

Nope, definatly a .30... Did more research around it and it's a .30 taken from airplane models. I knew I'd seen that photo somewhere before and it was in a book about small arms (quite the bargain 5€ and all the info they have so far seems correct) I own. It's an A4 model of the M1919 .30 adapted from an airplane.



Cheers...


Then again, after examining with closer attention the photo at hand, those rounds in the belt look little with .30... hum does anyone here wants to do the math? Compare the size of the Jeep and the weapon? The main trouble here is that I don't own any pics from adapted .30 and .50s Brownings...


Cheers...

 

Well I've seen a .50 up close and personal from both ends and it looks the same to me apart from the barrel cooling jacket.

Cheers

 

I've seen .50s up and close. And .30s. To be honest, the first time I saw this pic I tought it was a .50 because of the trigger however, as I read that it was an adaptation from an aircraft version I thought nothing more of it. Until today.
As I said, the munitions seem too large to be .30s but it could be from the picture...
I'm confused...



Cheers...

 

Looks alot like the .50's used in B17's, B24's, etc. etc.