Long Range Desert Group (LRDG)/
Special Air Services (SAS) Willys MB Jeep
SAS Willys MB Jeep
Specifications
| Country of Origin/Used by: | Great Britain |
|---|---|
| First Produced/Service Dates: | 1942 |
| Manufactured by: | Willys-Overland Motors***** with unit modifications |
| Crew: | 2-3 |
| Armament: | Multiple armament packages were fitted to vehicles depending on the unit, mission and/or specific vehicle’s role/function. Weapons that were mounted included .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun (aircraft), single or double mounted .303 Vickers “K” MG’s (air) and in a few cases the .303 BREN MG (seen in N.W. Europe). |
| Engine: | 4 Cylinder |
| Miscellaneous Info: | Based upon the Willys MB 1/4 ton Jeep, these special operations vehicles were used by the British Special Air Service (SAS), Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) and Popski’s Private Army (PPA) during World War Two. |
Typical basic vehicle modifications (depending on unit) were the fitting of sand tires, condenser cooling systems, cut down radiator grating, addition of sand channels, the mounting of extra petrol and water cans and the famous Bagnold sun compass.
***** Although most references and photographs indicate that British Special Forces Jeeps were supplied solely by Willys, there’s at least one photograph identifying a French SAS Battalion operating in N.W. Europe (circa December 1944) while using a Ford GPW Jeep.|