The Nazi Hunters
“In the deserts of North Africa the SAS had first learned the vital importance of mobility – both in terms of being able to strike the enemy hard and fast with sufficient firepower, and to make a clean getaway. This was crucial to the practice of land-based hit-and-run warfare.
The American jeep was the key. Designated the ‘Truck, Utility, 4×4, M38’, it was a general-purpose (GP) vehicle – hence the nickname: GP, or ‘jeep’. Solid, reliable, relatively fast and manoeuvrable, the M38 seemed pu...rpose-built for SAS operations. Stripped of all ‘non-essentials’ – including windscreen, radiator grille and front bumper – the jeep was able to carry sufficient fuel, water, weaponry and ammo for the kind of long-distance raids that would become the Regiment’s trademark.
With its all-round visibility, the open-topped vehicle also made for an excellent gun platform. Most were mounted with the Vickers ‘K’ machine gun. The rapid-firing Vickers – a .303-inch calibre light machine gun – could deliver devastating firepower, especially when loaded with a mixture of standard ball, armour-piercing and tracer rounds.MoreLess
The American jeep was the key. Designated the ‘Truck, Utility, 4×4, M38’, it was a general-purpose (GP) vehicle – hence the nickname: GP, or ‘jeep’. Solid, reliable, relatively fast and manoeuvrable, the M38 seemed pu...rpose-built for SAS operations. Stripped of all ‘non-essentials’ – including windscreen, radiator grille and front bumper – the jeep was able to carry sufficient fuel, water, weaponry and ammo for the kind of long-distance raids that would become the Regiment’s trademark.
With its all-round visibility, the open-topped vehicle also made for an excellent gun platform. Most were mounted with the Vickers ‘K’ machine gun. The rapid-firing Vickers – a .303-inch calibre light machine gun – could deliver devastating firepower, especially when loaded with a mixture of standard ball, armour-piercing and tracer rounds.MoreLess
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