Overtaken some this morning driving sedately on the motorway made me think - are they extra heavy because of body armour ?
I was wondering because of the problems the Americans have been having in Iraq with their Humvees having cloth (!) for armour protection .... and now they're having to retro-fit it ....
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Being a landie fan and naturally suspicious of anything else that claims to be superior, ask yourself this. Why did US Special Forces, in Northen Iraq, use white painted double cabbed Land Rover pick ups when they had the pick of the US inventory ?
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The locals had probably stolen the Hi-Luxs.
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"Why did US Special Forces, in Northen Iraq, use white painted double cabbed Land Rover pick ups when they had the pick of the US inventory ?"
So they look like the British Army and hence less likely to get blown up.
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So they look like the British Army and hence less likely to get blown up.
Or more likely if there are any US forces in the vicinity?
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Didn't work for John Simpson's convoy. I recall they got bombed by the USAF. A rather bent Land Rover was seen hobbling away after. Brilliant documentary by the way....
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John Simpson documentary.
Horrible.
But typical.
I won't say any more.
rg
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MOD vehicles often have limiters fitted. They are easily removed in case of conflict, but for the rest of the time they stop abuse of the vehicles.
In classic HMG fashion, this is applied rigidly. I recall that it included the land rovers issued to RAF fire staff. So the "quick response" land rover that could set off immediately accross the airfield would usually be overtaken by the fire tender taking the long route along the taxiways!
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If they were in a convoy there are probably simpler explanations.
They could be part of large formation move and the convoy speeds are geared to the slowest vehicles in the formation.
Also the Army train to keep accurately to times on set points on a route. This is important as different Regiments merge together in a specified order. If a convoy gets ahead of schedule it takes a lot of dawdling to lose that time.
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The next one is being based on the new Discovery out this year ?
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The next one is being based on the new Discovery out this year ?
...they'll need a recruitment drive for mechanics in the Army :-)
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Try driving along the A40 near the camp at Sennybridge and see if you still think army Landrovers have speed limiters!
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My freind who is now serving in Iraq as a Major is based down in Salisbury but his family all live in Hertford. He used to drive an Army Landrover to come back and visit but gave up because they are fitted with proper off road tyres and make so much noise that you can't actually go over 50-60 as your ears start to bleed.
Could be the reason as I dont think they have limiters.
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The present Standard British forces landrover is known as the "Wolf" Varient in either Short or long wheel base and is described as "Truck Utility Light (TUL) or Truck Utility Medium (TUM)
From the ones i have driven (Royal Marines Waterproofed)the only limiter is the engine governer on the fuel pump.Powerplant 2.5TD (Discovery Engine)as opposed to a normally aspirated engine on 110 and 90's.They also come with PAS and this has caught out many a driver with the high C of G.
The armoured "Snatch" varient has a 3.5 V8 Rover engine extra weight of the Armour 1Ton +
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In days gone by all HMF vehicles seemed to be petrol - presumably to simplify logistics when operational. The 4WD Bedford trucks that that eventually made their way into site work with various civil engineering concerns were always petrol, rather than diesel powered. I drove one regularly as site transport, and very lively it was too.
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To simplify logistics virtually everything now, that can be diesel, uses that nasty smelly fuel.
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Wasn't there a diesel motorcycle acquired - a joint venture between a British Engineering firm and good ole Harley D. ?
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bikemade2 said "The present Standard British forces landrover is known as the "Wolf" Varient in either Short or long wheel base and is described as "Truck Utility Light (TUL) or Truck Utility Medium (TUM)"...
this classification method is very similar to railway carriage classification, e.g. TSO (which I think is Trailer Second Open)...ie the natural English word order is reversed, presumably to make it easier to file and find.
anyone know a connection?
pat
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"presumably to make it easier to file and find."
Correct!
All items of property in the Forces are catalogued in such a manner.
A Bed, canvas, portable, officer's, C/W leather strap 1963 pattern was used with Bag, sleeping, waterproof, olive green 1974 pattern.
That way you can quickly find out that the Quartermaster hasn't got them in stock and that the in-lieu items xxxxxxxx are also out of stock!
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In the late 70s, a friend rolled an army Land Rover on a public road. He found himself upside down, with relatively minor injuries but trapped by his legs.
There were three things about the Land Rover which made this situation rather unpleasant. First it was petrol. Second, the fuel tanks and the filler caps were under the seats (yes, you did read that correctly). And third, the filler cap leaked.
He spent some hours waiting for the fire brigade to extract him, contemplating the design details and soaked in petrol.
I like diesels.
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