商品簡介
The Long Range Desert Group was one of the most famous special units of World War II, specialists in operating heavily modified vehicles deep behind enemy lines to gather intelligence and support the raids of David Stirling's new Special Air Service.
When war broke out, a pre-war explorer and army officer, Ralph Bagnold, convinced Middle East Command of the need for a reconnaissance force to penetrate into Italian-held desert. Bagnold tested four types of vehicles over rocks and through soft sand to find the best one for his new unit. Bagnold selected the Chevrolet WB (30 CWT) as the signature vehicle of the Long Range Desert Group because it is "fast, simple and easy to handle". With left-hand steering, horizontal grill and round fenders on the rear wheels, these trucks proved themselves popular and effective. The durability of the Chevrolets was demonstrated in January 1941 with an audacious raid on the Italian fort/air strip at Murzuk, hundreds of miles behind enemy lines.
Light 15-cwt Ford V8 pilot cars were used by LRDG patrol commanders. The LRDG customised the pilot cars in various ways, including new rear fenders, water condenser and the removal of the doors. They were particularly efficient when the LRDG, in late 1941, began transporting small SAS raiding parties to Axis targets - the LRDG earning themselves the nickname 'The Long Range Taxi Service'.
In 1941 the LRDG replaced the 30-cwt Chevrolets with the Ford 30-cwt four-wheeled drive trucks. Seventy of these vehicles were given to the LRDG in February and it took nearly a month of modification before they were considered desert-worthy. Among the alterations was their colour. The Chevrolets had sported a camouflage pattern of very broad dark and light stripes, different for each truck, which in theory would help in areas of rock and scrub. But the Fords were predominantly painted pink, which is effective because it blends in with the haze of the sun at dawn and dusk.
This book explains the detail of all the vehicles of the LRDG, as well as their modifications, driving techniques, and special kit for surviving behind enemy lines in one of the most hostile environments on earth.
