Long Range Desert Group
Long Range Desert Group | |
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Second World War
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The Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War.
Originally called the Long Range Patrol (LRP), the unit was founded in
The LRDG was formed specifically to carry out deep penetration, covert reconnaissance patrols and intelligence missions from behind Italian lines, although they sometimes engaged in combat operations. Because the LRDG were experts in desert navigation, they were sometimes assigned to guide other units, including the
With the surrender of the Axis forces in
Formation
Before the war, Major
The unit, initially known as the No.1 Long Range Patrol Unit (LRP), was founded on 3 July 1940.[5] Bagnold wanted men who were energetic, innovative, self-reliant, physically and mentally tough, and able to live and fight in seclusion in the Libyan desert.[7] Bagnold felt that New Zealand farmers would possess these attributes and was given permission to approach the 2nd New Zealand Division for volunteers; over half the division volunteered.[7] Two officers and 85 other ranks including 18 administrative and technical personnel were eventually selected, coming mostly from the Divisional Cavalry Regiment and the 27th Machine-Gun Battalion.[8] Once the men had been recruited, they started training in desert survival techniques and desert driving and navigation, with additional training in radio communications and demolitions.[5]
The LRP could initially form only three units, known as patrols,[nb 1] but a doubling of strength allowed the addition of a new Heavy Section.[10] In November 1940, the name of the LRP was changed to the "Long Range Desert Group" (LRDG),[11] and the New Zealanders were joined by volunteers from British and Southern Rhodesian regiments.[12] The British volunteers, who came mostly from the Brigade of Guards and Yeomanry regiments, were incorporated into their own patrols.[7] The original patrol unit consisted of two officers and 28 other ranks, equipped with a Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) Ford 15 Imperial hundredweight (cwt) truck and ten Chevrolet 30 cwt trucks. In March 1941 new types of trucks were issued and the patrol units were split into half-patrols of one officer and 15–18 men in five or six vehicles.[10] Each patrol incorporated a medical orderly, a navigator, a radio operator and a vehicle mechanic, each of whom manned a truck equipped for their role.[13]
Patrols
The Long Range Patrol comprised a 15-man headquarters with Bagnold in command. There were three sub-units: 'R' Patrol commanded by Captain Donald Gavin Steele, 'T' Patrol commanded by Captain
In November 1940, the LRP was reorganised and re-designated as the Long Range Desert Group. It was expanded to six Patrols: 'T', 'W' and 'R' Patrols were joined by 'G', 'S' and 'Y' Patrols. Each patrol was expected to belong to the same regimental group, but only the Brigade of Guards and the Yeomanry regiments formed their own Patrols, 'G' and 'Y' respectively.
In August 1941 an artillery unit was formed to attack Italian forts more effectively. Initially it used a
Squadrons
In October 1941 the LRDG was expanded to 10 patrols by the simple method of splitting the existing patrols into two-half patrols; the New Zealanders formed A Squadron comprising 'R1', 'R2', 'T1', and 'T2' Patrols and the British and Rhodesians formed B Squadron comprising 'G1', 'G2', 'S1', 'S2', 'Y1', and 'Y2' Patrols. The 'H' Patrol had been disbanded in September 1941 after three months service.[20]
These two squadrons were joined in December 1941 by the
The vehicles of each patrol adopted their own markings. The New Zealand 'R' Patrol used a green
The British 'G' Patrol vehicles carried no distinctive markings, although some vehicles had the Guards insignia. They took over 'W' Patrol's vehicles when that unit was disbanded.
Equipment
Vehicles
The LRDG vehicles were mainly
Weapons
The patrol vehicles were initially armed with 11
Supplementing their army-supplied weapons, the LRDG was equipped with surplus
The men of the LRDG carried the standard
Captured German and Italian small arms were utilised including the
Communications
In the LRP, most of the radio operators were New Zealanders, but the LRDG radio operators were all from the
While on the move the lead vehicles of the patrol commanders and sergeants flew a small flag. Because the LRP was organised on divisional cavalry lines the leaders carried green flags for 'A' (HQ) Troop, black for 'B' Troop, yellow for 'C' Troop and red for 'D'.[48] When the LRDG was organised into 11 vehicle patrols this was simplified to a green flag displaying the patrol letter in white; the later half-patrols used a plain green flag on occasion. When it became necessary to change course from an intended route, or in the event of enemy action, patrol movements were controlled by a simple semaphore flag system using blue and white signal flags,[nb 9] or hand signals, depending on how widely dispersed the trucks were.[48]
All trucks of the LRDG were equipped with the Bagnold sun compass and some trucks were also equipped with a P8 Tank
History
The LRDG area of operations between 1940 and 1943, known as the
The first LRP patrol began during the
On 31 January they were intercepted by the
After Operation Compass ended with the Italians forced out of Cyrenaica it was decided to move the LRDG from Cairo to Kufra (SE Libya). At the same time the LRDG was expanded with the addition of 'Y' and 'S' Patrols.[61] When the German Afrika Korps under command of General Erwin Rommel counterattacked in April 1941, the LRDG was ordered to reinforce the Kufra area. 'R' Patrol were based at Taiserbo, 'S' Patrol at Zighen, and the headquarters LRDG, 'T' Patrol, and the Free French were at Kufra, under command of Bagnold. The detached 'G' and 'Y' Patrols were based at Siwa Oasis, under command of XIII Corps.[61]
The LRDG air link was created during the occupation of Kufra by Major
The LRDG now began a series of patrols behind the Axis lines. Near the end of July 'T' Patrol left for the desert to the south of the
Eighth Army command
In November 1941 the LRDG, now under command of the newly formed Eighth Army, moved from Kufra to Siwa (central Libya). The patrols were given the task of watching the desert tracks south of Jebel Akhdar and report any signs of reinforcements and withdrawals. 'R1' Patrol was to pick up Captain David Stirling and 30 men who had parachuted behind the lines to raid airfields to the west of Tobruk. Only 21 men arrived at the rendezvous and were returned to the British lines, later becoming the nucleus of the Special Air Service (SAS). One of the other roles assigned to the LRDG was to transport SAS units behind enemy lines; this continued until the SAS were issued with their own transport in 1942.[62] In early November 'T2' Patrol took four British officers to the Gebel and was to return and collect them three weeks later. The officers were the advance land party of Operation Flipper, which had planned to kill General Rommel.[62]
On 24 November, in support of
The last operations of 1941 were in December, when the LRDG twice ferried the SAS to and from raids on Axis airfields, attacking the airfields at Sirte (twice), El Agheila, Ajdabiya, Nofaliya and Tamit, and destroying 151 aircraft and 30 vehicles.[63] During the second raid at Sirte, the SAS devised a new method of attacking parked aircraft. They drove the LRDG trucks between the rows of aircraft, which were then engaged by machine guns and hand grenades. Prior to this the procedure had been to quietly infiltrate an airfield and place Lewes bombs on aircraft and vehicles, leaving before the bombs exploded, but this attack was so successful that it became the preferred method for attacking airfields.[63]
Road watch
When the LRDG was based at Siwa, they took part in what has since become known as the 'Road Watch' along the
If tanks or a large number of troops were seen passing, they would radio the LRDG headquarters at Siwa immediately so that by the time the enemy reached the front line, GHQ at Cairo would know they were coming. Once a patrol was relieved they would transmit details of all they had seen back to Siwa.[66] The LRDG did not lose any men or vehicles when on the road watch, but they did have some close encounters. On 21 March 'R1' Patrol was surrounded by a convoy of 27 vehicles and about 200 men who stopped for the night between the watchers and their vehicles.[65] While the road watch was ongoing, other patrols would be attacking targets along other stretches of the Tripoli to Benghazi road, by planting mines or attacking vehicles with machine gun fire.[67] The road was kept under constant observation around the clock from 2 March to 21 July 1942.[64]
After the Battle of Gazala and the fall of Tobruk, the LRDG were forced to withdraw from Siwa on 28 June. 'A' Squadron withdrew to Cairo to resupply and then moved back to Kufra, while 'B' Squadron moved to Faiyum.[68]
Barce
With the Eighth Army now holding the
On 30 September 1942, the LRDG ceased to be under command of the Eighth Army and came under direct command of GHQ Middle East.[72] The final LRDG operation in North Africa was in Tunisia during the Mareth Offensive when they guided the 2nd New Zealand Division around the Mareth Line in March 1943.[73]
Post 1943 operations
In May 1943 the LRDG was sent to
In December 1943, the LRDG re-organised into two squadrons of eight patrols. Each patrol contained one officer and 10 other ranks. Major
In August 1944, British Squadron patrols were parachuted into
After the end of the war in Europe, the leaders of the LRDG made a request to the
Legacy
The Long Range Desert Group was disbanded at the end of the Second World War. The only comparable British Army units today are the Mobility troops of the Special Air Service. Each of the regular army Special Air Service squadrons has a Mobility troop. Like the LRDG, they are specialists in using vehicles, trained in an advanced level of motor mechanics to fix any problem with their vehicles, and are experts in desert warfare.[81][82]
The Long Range Desert Group is one of the Second World War units represented by the Special Air Service Association. Other wartime units represented include all the SAS regiments, the Special Raiding Squadron, the Special Boat Service (Wartime), the Phantom Signal Squadron, the Raiding Support Regiment and the Greek Sacred Squadron.[83]
The New Zealand Army erected a permanent memorial to the LRDG at the New Zealand Special Air Service barracks, in the Papakura Military Camp. On 7 August 2009, two honour boards containing details of every New Zealand soldier who served in the LRDG were unveiled.[84]
One of the LRDG's Chevrolet WB trucks is displayed in the Imperial War Museum in London. It was presented to the museum by the LRDG Association, after being recovered from the Libyan desert in 1983 by David Lloyd Owen, by then a retired Major General and chairman of the Association.[85] It is preserved in the condition in which it was discovered, rusted but largely intact.
As of 2022, there is only one surviving member of the group, Jack Mann.[86]
Notable personnel
- Ronald Joseph Moore, leader of the "Moore's March" of LRDG survivors through the Libyan desert
Popular culture
- Sea of Sand (1958). Film depicting an L.R.D.G. patrol mission behind-enemy-lines on the eve of the Second Battle of El Alamein.
- Afrika Corpsinstallation.
- Gli scorpioni del deserto (1969–92). Comic book series by Hugo Pratt and others.
- Killing Rommel (2008). A historical fiction novel by Steven Pressfield depicting the L.R.D.G's activities.
- Lost in Libya – In Search of the Long Range Desert Group (2009). Television documentary film tracing three L.R.D.G. lorries that were abandoned at Gebel Sherif in Southern Libya in 1941 after the unit's first encounter with its Italian equivalent the
- SAS: Rogue Heroes (2022). A British television historical drama series.
- Undaunted: North Africa (2020). A board game about historical battles in North Africa, between the L.R.D.G. and Italy
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ 'Patrol' was capitalised when referring to a specific unit (for example, 'Y' Patrol) within the LRP and LRDG.[9]
- ^ As the Heavy Section expanded the Marmon-Herringtons were replaced by four White 10-ton trucks. The Whites were later replaced by Mack NR 9 trucks; by 1943 the Heavy Section was equipped with 20 CMP Ford F60s.[17]
- ^ The steel channels and canvas sand mats were used to release a vehicle caught in soft terrain. This entailed unloading the vehicle and digging shallow, sloped trenches in which the channels and mats could be placed under the wheels to provide traction.[26]
- ^ Because the bulk of the load carried by an LRDG truck was petrol, any increase in fuel consumption meant that there was less room for other essential supplies.[28]
- ^ The 1533X2 was essentially a civilian commercial truck converted and equipped for military use; these trucks were identified as Modified Conventional Pattern (MCP) rather than the purpose-built CMPs.[29]
- ^ Although some references refer to the No. 4 Mk I, it was not introduced into service until the spring of 1942[38] and was rarely, if ever, used by the LRDG in the desert.[37]
- ^ The 'greedy boards' were used to extend the load height of the Godfredson 4B1 Steel ammunition body used on Chevrolet 1533X2s; the steel tubes used to secure the boards doubled as weapons mounts (see photo of "T10").[44]
- ^ On occasion the Philips was used to listen to BBC radio or music like the song Lili Marleen.[26]
- ^ Some typical signals were 'Enemy in sight': a flag waved vertically, and 'Disperse': two horizontal flags waved up and down.[48]
- Citations
- ^ a b Gross, O'Carroll and Chiarvetto 2009, p.20
- ^ a b Gross, O'Carroll and Chiarvetto 2009, p.18
- ^ "The Long Range Desert Group". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ^ a b Gross, O'Carroll and Chiarvetto 2009, p.19
- ^ a b c d Haskew 2007, p.34
- ^ "Wavell". Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ a b c Doyle and Bennett 2002, p.316
- New Zealand Electronic text centre. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.3
- ^ a b Jenner and List 1999, pp.8–9, 12
- ^ a b Molinari 2007, p.16
- ^ Molinari 2007, pp.16–17
- ^ a b c d Doyle and Bennett 2002, p.317
- ^ a b c Molinari 2007, p.15-16
- ^ Molinari 2007, pp.17–18
- ^ List and Jenner 1999, p.12
- ^ a b c Jenner and List 1999, pp.10–11
- ^ Jenner and List 1999, pp.9, 27, 45–46
- ^ a b c Jenner and List 1999, p.11
- ^ Molinari 2007, pp.20–21
- ^ a b c Molinari 2007, p.23
- ^ a b Jenner and List 1999, p.13
- ^ a b c d e f Jenner and List 1999, pp.24–32
- ^ Jenner and List 1999, p.30
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p. 50.
- ^ a b c Jenner and List 1999, p.18
- ^ "Stovebolt Tech Tip -- Antique Chevy / GMC Truck Restoration Help". stovebolt.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ Gibson 2009, p. 8
- ^ Jenner and List 1999, pp.28–29 and 46
- ^ Gross, O'Carroll and Chiarvetto 2002, pp.20–22
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.64
- ^ Molinari 2007, p.83
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.67
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, pp.65–66
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.65
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.66
- ^ a b Gibson 2009, p.9
- ^ Walter 2006, p.254
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.72
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.68
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, pp.70–71
- ISBN 978-0415459495
- ^ Molinari 2007, p.82
- ^ Jenner and List 1999, pp.28–29
- ^ a b c d O'Carroll 2000, p.55
- ^ a b "Wireless Set No 11". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ Molinari 2007, p.79
- ^ a b c O'Carroll 2000, p.50
- ^ a b Kennedy Shaw 1943, p.255
- ^ Kennedy Shaw 1943, pp.254–256
- ^ Kennedy Shaw 1943, pp.257–258
- ^ a b Molinari 2007, p.6
- ^ Morgan 2003, p.6
- ^ Bagnold 1945, p.36
- ^ Molinari 2007, p.89
- ^ Bagnold 1945, pp.38–39
- ^ Gross, Chiarvetto and O'Carroll 2009, pp.10–17
- ^ Gross, Chiarvetto and O'Carroll 2009, pp.95–105
- ^ Bagnold 1945, p.39
- New Zealand Electronic text centre. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ New Zealand Electronic text centre. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ New Zealand Electronic text centre. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ a b Shortt 1981, p.8
- ^ a b c Kay 2008, p.13
- ^ a b Kay 2008, p.14
- ^ Kay 2008, pp.13–14
- ^ Kay 2008, p.15
- ^ Kay 2008, p.16
- ^ a b Kay 2008, p.17
- ^ Kay 2008, pp.19–21
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, p.62
- ^ Public Record Office 2001, p.157
- ^ Jackson 2006, p.111
- ^ Kay 2008, p.37
- ^ Daily Telegraph. London. 7 April 2001. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
- New Zealand Electronic text centre. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
- ^ Daily Telegraph. London. 16 May 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ Pearson 2006, p.390
- ^ O'Carroll 2000, pp.185–189
- ^ Haskew 2007, p.36
- ^ Ryan 2009, p.150
- ^ Ryan 2009, p.97
- ^ "Units represented". Special Air Service Association. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
- ^ "Long Range Desert Group Honoured in Papakura". New Zealand Army. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Chevrolet 30cwt • Imperial War Museum London". Preserved Military Vehicle Registry Project. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ^ Malvern, Jack (23 June 2022). "Second World War veteran, 96, found romance behind enemy lines" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
- ^ Lost in Libya: Television New Zealand Retrieved: 5 February 2014.
- ^ 12 minute excerpt and credits from Lost in Libya, retrieved on 5 February 2005.
References
- Bagnold, R. A. "Early Days of the Long Range Desert Group". The Geographical Journal, Vol 105, No. 1/2, Jan – Feb 1945.
- Doyle, Peter and Bennett, Matthew R. Fields of Battle: Terrain in Military History. New York: Springer Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-4020-0433-8
- Gibson, Tobias. "Non Vi Sed Arte: Long Range Desert Group, Their Vehicles and Camouflage." Model Military International, Issue 43, November 2009.
- Gross, Kuno; O'Carroll, Brendan and Chiarvetto, Roberto. Incident at Jebel Sherif. Berlin: Kuno Gross, 2009. ISBN 0-620-42010-3
- Hargreaves, Andrew L., "The Advent, Evolution and Value of British Specialist Formations in the Desert War, 1940–43", Global War Studies, Vol. 7, No.2, 2010.
- Haskew, Michael E. Encyclopaedia of Elite Forces in the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Pen and Sword, 2007. ISBN 1-905704-27-5
- Jackson, Ashley. The British Empire and the Second World War. New York, London, UK: Continuum International Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1-85285-417-0
- Jenner, Robin; List, David and Badrocke, Mike. The Long Range Desert Group 1940–1945. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-85532-958-1
- Kay, R. L. Long Range Desert Group in the Mediterranean. Bennington, Vermont: Merriam Press, 2008. ISBN 1-4357-5730-0
- Kennedy Shaw, W.B. "Desert Navigation: Some Experiences of the Long Range Desert Group." The Geographical Journal, Vol 102, No.5/6, Nov–Dec 1943.
- Kennedy Shaw, W.B. (1945). Long Range Desert Group. London: Collins.
- Molinari, Andrea. Desert Raiders: Axis and Allied Special Forces 1940–43. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1-84603-006-4
- Morgan, Mike. Sting of the Scorpion: The Inside Story of the Long Range Desert Group. The History Press Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0-7509-3704-1
- O'Carroll, Brendan. The Kiwi Scorpions. Devon, UK: Token Publishing Limited, 2000. ISBN 1-870192-41-9
- Pearson, Owen. Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism 1940–1945. London, UK: I.B.Tauris, 2006. ISBN 1-84511-104-4
- Public Record Office War Histories. Special Forces in the Desert War 1940–1943. Kew, Richmond, Surrey UK: Public Record Office, 2001. ISBN 1-903365-29-5
- ISBN 1-84605-666-7
- Shortt, James. The Special Air Service. Oxford UK: Osprey Publishing, 1981, ISBN 0-85045-396-8
- Walter, John. Rifles of the World:World's Definitive Guide to Centerfire & Rimfire Rifles (3rd edn.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications, 2006. ISBN 0-89689-241-7
External links
A series of radio interviews were made with members of the LRDG in 1941 by the New Zealand Broadcasting Unit. Some can be heard online on the catalogue of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision:
Also, silent film footage of the Fezzan campaign in 1940
- Website of the Long Range Desert Group Preservation Society
- LRDG 1940–43, Exploits in the desert with extensive information on weapons, personnel, and equipment. (Also includes detailed annotated bibliography.)
- The Long Range Patrol and the Long Range Desert Group, from Jean's pages
- Raids in the Fezzan – description of LRDG and Free French operations in Libya from the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre
- Correspondence of New Zealand General Bernard Freyberg on Long Range Desert Group
- Lost in Libya (Pacific Screen): commentary and excerpt from documentary Lost in Libya