BD5 1942 Willys MB LRDG style - A word after the breakdown and kiwi ingenuity saving the day

[jupytr1]

The first LRDP troupers were hardy Kiwis from places like Te Aroha, Rotowaro, Te Kaha, and Tutira. Next came the Rhodesian s' and Brits even some Indians later on.

[swanningaround]

The first LRDG was the famous All American "Rat Patrol", which took on Rommel.

See them in action. "The Rat Patrol End theme"

[DrLeavingsoon]

Very very wrong.

The first LRDG was a bunch of New Zealanders in 1940 against the Italians, led by Ralph Bagnold. The Long Range Patrol was so successful, they went on be renamed and joined by the British, the Rhodesians and eventually the Indians. No Americans ever served with the LRDG. Rommel arrived in North Africa around 1941.

Look up our promo video under K Troop here in youtube.

[swanningaround]

So. What is the Rat Patrol? Have you seen the clip? Most historical footage in Africa shows the Americans in action there. They landed in Tunisia and fought east, while the French, Poles and English, and the NZers came from the west.

[DrLeavingsoon]

@swanningaround hate to say it, but britopinion is right - the rat patrol was a fictional US TV show.

Operation Torch, however, was not. US Forces did arrive to push East in a pincer move. However they never took part in any actions like the LRDG as 'the rat patrol' would have you believe.

HOOOOOWever.... Its a bloody cool tv series!!!

[britopinion]

The Rat Patrol was a 60s American TV series, it wasn't real. To my knowledge the US never had a unit comparable to the LRDG during the campaign in North Africa.

[skittlesareyum48]

@swanningaround there were no lrdg americans...

[swanningaround]

@skittlesareyum48 Sorry. The Americans were in the Rat Patrol. They were the American equivalent of the LRDG. They were real cool, like the SWAT teams in LA.