"Sminky-Pinky Bang-Bang"

The Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) discovered the use of desert patrol vehicles as early as 1941, using Chevrolet trucks and Jeeps. A complete article had been done already in the LRDG. In the 1950s the Land Rover became the new perfect off-road vehicle for the service, and initially the SAS choosed the 1-1/4 Ton short wheelbase (SWB), before later opting for the larger 3/4 ton Mk9 LWB, and start to modify vehicles for its own needs. Only 10 SWB 88” were built including the Prototype in late 1954 on a 86” wheelbase. It is estimated 72 LWB were built however.

Development

In 1967, Marshall's of Cambridge was asked to modify the Mk9 for long range desert patrols. Basically a compromise between the best featured of the Jeep and Chevy of WW1 fame, completely tailored and modified. Its specification were developed at the time by The Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (FVRDE) based at Chertsey. Modifications were made also in the trials period, ironing out all defaults on guelling crash courses befire it was approved for delivery to SAS Regiment in late 1970. 74 were delivered in all.

Design

Royal Ordnance name was "Truck, GS SAS, 3/4 ton 4x4, Rover 11". But compared to a standard Rover its design implied a number of important modifications:
-Suspension strengthened, with heavy duty springs, better shock absorbers.
-New mudguards fitted to differencial housings.
-Large section sand tyres, rated for 9.00x16 and low pressure (but no central inflation system yet).
-Reworked Steering damper to cope with very rugged conditions
-Numerous pintle positions for armament, as well as smoke dischargers forward
-Three seats, two facing froward, one backward, facing the main compatment's weapon's pintle.
-Navigation and camping equipment tailored for desert conditions.
-Spare roadwheel installed before the bumper.
-Sand ramps on either sides
-Boxed tooling above the wheels tunnels
-Extra storage for water and fuel jerrycans.

Armament

In a museum, note the fake MG forward
Given its combat role, the vehicle, not yet nicknamed the "Panther" as the iconinc pink color was not yet applied, had a potential considerable armament, however in its most basic form, there was a pintle forward, accessible to the co-driver to the right, and a rear combat compartment with another pintle for AA defence or chase defence. Both normallly were provided with a GPMG. 7.62mm, belt fed, 750-1000rpm (tracers). with 1,800m range. There were also small arms, like an SLR. 7.62mm, single shot, 20 rounds and 600m range.

The General Purpose Machine Guns was for the Commander's front seat, with its mount fixed to the bulkhead, down to the floor for extra rigidity. Its seat squab was raised compared to the driver, for a better field of view. There was no windshield, no doors for weight and easier access. The back Gunner had a central pivot mount, universal attachment, which could mount oif needed a heavier Cal.50 M2 Browning heavy MG. This rear mount on its floor mounted pintle had its seat placed between the two stepped 40 gallon fuel tanks.

Between the front and rear seats was also located a 84mm Carl Gustav anti tank weapon for bad encounters. There are also three two-compartment grenade holders, two in the cut down bulkhead near the mirror mounts, and a third to the right of the rear gunner, ideally placed to be thrown in chase. To be located in duress in the middle of the desert, each vehicle also carried a signal flare pistol, close to the commander's right foot and the transmission tunnel.

For concealement of needed, on each extreme corner sets of three grouped smoke launchers are placed on the front bumper's extremities. There was another pair on top of the corner cappings on the back body. There were also two Self Loading Rifles in stowage either side of the wings, boxed for protection and easy access. There was also a rifle holder for the driver. A pick axe was placed in the tyre bead breaker, on top of the R/H box. Extra grenades for the pre-loaded smoke launchers were located above the gear lever.



Chassis frame of the IIa.

Performances

The engine was extact same as the regular Land Rover serie 2a fitted with the 2.6 L IOE Rover I6, coupled with a transmission 4-speed manual. Top speed 90 kph opn good road, 50 kph off-road. Otherwise, range was the greatest imperative, and was estimated of around 1,000 miles (1,600 km) or less dependong on the terrain, enough for deep forays into enemy territory and back.

The extra weight urged new larger tyres so the steering needed assistance over rough terrain. It was enhanced by fitting a hydraulic telescopic damper, between the left hand chassis member and clamp on the steering drag link.

For extra sand grip when bogged down, two pressed steel planks were fitted as sand ladders on either side of the back body and to help extraction, two shovels are mounted on the wing tops with a theodolite atop its side. between the distinctive spare wheel to the front bumper and extra folding pannier at the rear, the vehicle's overall length was 18 feet (5.5 metres) instead of the 175.0 inches (4,445 mm) of the standard LWB version.

Storage and Equipments

Detail bonnet overview

Details dashboard

Detail Rear

Details rear comp

Details bonnet

Details dashboard

There was a filler cap for one of the large fuel tanks on left. These larger fuel tanks were completed by axpansion tanks fitted below and between the chassis outriggers. The seatboxes in the back body located forward of the wheelarches were removed to allow the main tanks to sit in place, and they supplement the standard twin 10 gallon tanks under the front seats, plus additional stowed jerrycans. The Navigation equipment consisted of bulkhead mounted sun compass, the driver's side bulkhead illuminated Type E2B magnetic compass (mounted on a mast) and a theodolite for accurate location measurement, stowed on the left and right wing tops.

The Cooking set and munitions boxed for the GMPG were placed under canvas cover, the Grenade box was located beside the spotlight. Also stored was a Tent rolled up at body side and black water canisters on either side of seat squab. There was a fire extinguisher installed close to the filler cap, behind the commander. Scrim and camouflage nets could also be carried, and hung on the drivers side as well as a tent on the commanders side when stopped in station. A Radio set was placed between thefront seat backs and behind the driver. The Spotlight for night operations was face down in front of the sun compass. There were also water containers on the external sides of the front seat bases.

For communication the radio set comprised the Type A41, A43 and A123 units, and there was a UHF set for ground to air reconnaissance and HF set for long range communication with other units. They were mounted behind the driver and between the front seats. In addition to the commander/front gunner and driver forward and the single rear gunner's seat, there were two more seats foldable extrernal seats fitted over the rear wheel arches. Of course bagged kit could be stored everywhere.

The electrical equipment is from the Rover 11, rated for 12 volts. There was a front night driving light, searchlights front and rear, power sockets for radio and radio charger, power supply for the electically discharged smoke launchersn a compass lamp and inter vehicle starter socket (right hand A pillar) and a normal-ignition only switch to disable all other electrics systems aboard.

specifications
Lenght	18 feet (5.5 metres)
Width	66.0 in (1,676 mm)
Height	Unknown, less than 1.5 m
Total weight, battle ready	2.5 tons unladen
Crew	3 (driver, cdr, gunner)
Propulsion	2.6 L IOE Rover I6 c70 bhp
Suspension	Leaf springs, extra shock absorbers
Speed (road)	40-90 kph
Range	1000 miles (1600 km)
Armament	2x GMPG, 1x Carl Gustav ATRL, 2 SLR, Grenades, smoke dischargers
Production	72

Service

In all, 72 vehicles were delivered to the SAS under contract WV7218 with a few in reserve and mpst sent to Hereford, seeing service at home for a start. They were deployed for some in Oman, and were often overloaded. When the land defender 110 arrived and was declined into SAS derivatives, the good old Pink Panther still serviceable were sold off in auctions, some having seen very little service. 20 were sent to an undisclosed customers and others ended as target practice. About 15 are still in private or museums. The land rover 110 at gaydon was also nicknamed "pinky" but had a subtler sand beige scheme, but a carrying capacity augmented with a Hi-Cap back body and more powerful 3.5 V8 engine, better coil sprung suspension and power steering.

Its iconic "Mountbatten" pink paintwork was a likely derivative from WWII aircraft and vehicles, particularly suited to Oman and best compromise where the sand was frequently red in colour and heat haze of the desert. It worked in little natural cover and had heat reflecting properties. It's the color that pormpted forward the vehicle's famopus moniker of "pink panther", after which it was simply known as the "panther". This pink shade varies from vehicle to vehicle and was done by mixing proportions of paint available at any Army base, of red, white and very small quantities of black. So the vehicle were not unified, as shown by photos, it went from bright pink to purple. It seems also the color would have been made usinf red Lead and grey primers instead of red gloss, so tone down the shade and avoid any shining. Some received also disruptive green/black of the standard British Army pattern, European theater.

(originally written by Wayne Davies, saved from emlra.org/vehicles/special/pinkpanther.htm and rewritten)

Src/Read More

warwheels.net
Same, photos and walkaround
www.emlra.org
www.remlr.com
cars.bonhams.com
topgear.com

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Italeri 6501 Land Rover SAS Recon vehicle "Pink Panther"

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Two SAS vehicles side by side

Camouflaged vehicle mixing pink and sand

The related Land Rover 88 series 1 SAS 1957

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