Special Air Service - Mobility
Troop
Whilst the Special Air Service
have many different insertion methods they still rely heavily on ground
based vehicles. The Special Air Service' main three vehicles are the
'Pinkie' Land Rover, Honda motorbike and LSV (Light Strike Vehicle.)
Land Rover - 'Pink Panther'
or 'Pinkie'
The Special Air Service use converted Land Rovers; their durability
and ruggedness make it ideal for the Special Air Service. Whilst the
premise hasn't changed much since the Willis Jeeps or WWII the actual
vehicles have.
The Special Air Service now use a Long Wheel Based Land Rover, usually
with a crew of three. They carry rations, water, fuel, ammunition,
radios and navigational equipment and have an operational range of
about 650km. The make up of the vehicle depends on the mission but
the choice of weaponry is vast and includes the 7.62mm GPMG, the 7.62mm
M60 machine gun, the 7.62mm chain gun, or 20 and 30mm cannon. There
is a GPMG mounting at the front of the vehicle next to the driver
and twin GPMGs or a heavy calibre gun can be mounted at the rear,
in addition there is a belly plate for protection against mines and
camouflaged netting fixed to the front so it can quickly be covered
up.
The name 'Pinkie' comes from desert operations when the Land Rover
is painted pink for camouflage in the desert and the land rover can
be carried in a C130 Hercules or slung under a helicopter.
The Special Air Service use the Land Rover in their 'hit and run'
operations where they'll just drive straight up to the enemy and unleash
an awesome amount of fire power and retreat back into the night before
the enemy can counter the assault.
Light Strike Vehicle
The LSV has some advantages over the Land Rover for Special Forces
operations, whilst it has less fire power and a shorter range it is
easier to camouflage, is smaller, faster and more manoeuvrable than
the Land Rover, its lighter frame means if it gets stuck it can be
manhandled out by its crew and its open frame design gives it a smaller
radar cross section.
In short it's an excellent reconnaissance vehicle that was first used
in the 1991 Gulf War. It is built by the British company Longline
and can accommodate many different armourments; all calibres up to
20mm cannon, and is rumoured to have optional mounts for a MILAN or
TOW wire guided missile system.
Honda Motorbikes
Like the LSV the Special Air Service use motorbikes because of there
flexibility, manoeuvrability and speed, I know the used the Honda
motorbikes and I assume they use the Honda XR 600 off road bikes.
They'll use these for short range reconnaissance probably along side
the LSV which will provide some fire support if they get into trouble.
I'm told they also use Yamaha motorbikes.