HOW SUPPORT LAND ROVER WORLD WAR 2

During World War 2, the SAS used stripped down jeeps, many of which were still in use during the early 1950s. By then the army was using the standard 80inch Series I and the SAS was no different, expect that its vehicle had doors, screen and tilt removed.

It become clear that the little Land Rover really needed to be modified to cope with the specialized role of the SAS big machine guns everywhere, extra fuel, water, lots of ammunition and a bazooka missile launcher. An 86inch prototype was created at Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment. All this hardware made the vehicle extremely heave even with no doors, roof or windscreen; it still weighed in at 304kg more than the standard 86inch.

This prototype was eventually demonstrated at FVRDE on February 12 1957. By then, a second 86 inch and three 88inch vehicles had already been created. Following the demonstration the remaining batch of five was produced including 66 BS 14, the splendid example now in the safe care.