The British Special Air Service, or SAS, is one of the most elite special forces units in the world. Their motto, “Who Dares Wins,” reflects their daring missions, often carried out in secret behind enemy lines. The SAS was formed during World War II and has since taken on various roles, including anti-hijacking operations in the 1970s.
To succeed in their missions, the SAS used a range of specialized equipment, including boats, helicopters, and light attack vehicles. In 1967, they began using a specially modified Land Rover Mark II for many operations. These vehicles were particularly important during missions in Oman from 1970 to 1977, where the SAS supported local forces in a conflict against communist rebels.
One notable event was the battle at Mirbat, where a small SAS unit of nine men successfully defended against an attack by around 400 insurgents. The Land Rovers, painted in a unique sand pink color, were essential for blending into the desert environment, earning them the nickname “Pink Panther.”
Contrary to some beliefs, the pink color was not the result of sandstorms wearing away the paint. The sand pink camouflage actually dates back to 1942 during the British Army’s North African campaign. Although it wasn’t used on main battle tanks, it was applied to non-fighting vehicles like trucks. This color scheme was short-lived due to the quick end of the conflict in that region.
Pink camouflage was rare but not unheard of. During World War II, some British reconnaissance aircraft were painted a pale pink to help them stay hidden in the sun’s haze during low-level missions at dawn or dusk. In the 1990s, a similar “desert pink” was used on British aircraft during the Gulf War to blend in with the desert terrain.
The Land Rover Mark II was introduced in the late 1960s, following the conflict in Aden from 1963 to 1967. This highlighted the need for improved long-range capabilities for the SAS, especially for potential future operations in the Middle East. The long-wheelbase Series 2A 109 Land Rover was chosen, and 72 of these were modified for SAS use.
Modifications were done by Marshalls of Cambridge and included features like machine guns, extra fuel tanks, and smoke grenade launchers. The vehicles also had side-mounted rifle scabbards for quick access to weapons. In other regions like Western Europe, these Land Rovers were painted in the standard British Army colors of olive drab and black.
By the mid-1980s, the pink Land Rovers were phased out and replaced with the Land Rover 110, which had a more subdued color scheme and improved suspension for smoother rides. Despite these changes, the SAS still affectionately refers to their vehicles as “Pink Panthers” or “Pinkies,” keeping the legacy of these unique vehicles alive.
Research different camouflage techniques used by military forces around the world. Create a presentation that explains how these techniques help vehicles and personnel blend into various environments. Highlight the unique use of pink camouflage by the SAS and compare it with other methods.
Using art supplies or digital tools, design a new camouflage pattern for a vehicle operating in a specific environment of your choice. Consider the colors and patterns that would be most effective. Present your design to the class and explain your choices.
Develop a timeline that traces the evolution of vehicles used by the SAS from World War II to the present day. Include key changes in design, technology, and camouflage, and explain how these changes improved mission effectiveness.
In small groups, plan a mock mission that involves using a modified Land Rover. Assign roles such as mission commander, driver, and navigator. Discuss how you would use the vehicle’s features to achieve your objectives while remaining undetected.
Prepare a set of questions and conduct an interview with a military historian or watch an interview online. Focus on the role of the SAS and their use of specialized vehicles like the Pink Panthers. Share your findings with the class in a written report or presentation.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Why were SAS Land Rovers painted pink? The British Special Air Service, known universally as the SAS, is one of the top special forces units in the world. Their motto is “Who Dares Wins.” They were formed back in World War II, and their prime mission was to carry out covert operations, often deep behind enemy lines. Later on, in the 1970s, they were required to provide more specialist anti-hijacking teams.
To achieve all of this, they used a variety of specially adapted equipment, like rigid hull inflatable boats, helicopters, and light attack vehicles. In 1967, they started to use a heavily modified Land Rover Mark II for many of their missions, especially in hotspots like Oman, where between 1970 to 1977, in an operation codenamed Storm, the SAS helped support and train the local government’s armed forces who were fighting an intense war against communist rebels.
At one stage during their deployment there, the SAS training base at Mirbat was attacked in a battle that lasted hours. A nine-man SAS unit fought off and defeated a force of around 400 insurgents. These new Land Rovers became crucial to such operations and were painted in a sand pink color to help them blend in with the desert terrain, earning them the nickname “Pink Panther.”
Contrary to popular belief, the sandstorms didn’t blast the paint off to reveal a pink primer underneath. The unusual sand pink camouflage scheme has its origins in the British Army and can be traced back to 1942 when it was used in the North African campaign. It was not applied to main battle tanks but was mostly used on non-fighting vehicles such as trucks. It was only used for a short time as the conflict in that region was soon over, resulting in an Allied victory.
Though pink camouflage was rare, it was not unique and seemed to be mostly used by British forces from time to time. For instance, in World War II, large numbers of armed photo reconnaissance Spitfires were painted a very pale camo tint pink. The logic was that as most of their missions were carried out at low level at dawn or dusk, this color scheme would allow them to remain hidden in the sun’s haze.
Years later, in the 1990s, the British used a much more subtle pink scheme during the Gulf War on their Jaguar and Tornado aircraft. It was basically a sandy brown with a hint of pink, officially designated as “desert pink.” The rationale was that as most of these aircraft’s missions were at very low level during the day over desert terrain, it was important to have camouflage that would be most effective when seen from above.
As for the Land Rover Mark II, they were first introduced in the late 1960s. The earlier conflict in Aden, which occurred between 1963 to 1967, highlighted the need to update the SAS long-range mission capability, especially regarding possible operations in future potential crises throughout the Middle East. The new Land Rover long-wheelbase Series 2A 109 was chosen, and 72 of these were modified for long-range operational use by the SAS.
The modifications were carried out by a specialist car company named Marshalls of Cambridge and included two general-purpose machine guns, each capable of firing over 10 rounds of 7.62 millimeter ammunition per second. They also had the windscreen and side doors removed, and extra fuel tanks fitted to increase the distances they could cover, along with being equipped with multiple smoke grenade launchers.
One particularly handy feature was the side-mounted rifle scabbards that allowed quick access to personal weapons if needed. They often carried additional weaponry like reusable recoilless anti-tank launchers and light anti-tank disposable rockets. These Land Rovers, when used in other operational areas like Western Europe, were painted with the conventional British Army standard camouflage scheme of the time, which was olive drab and black.
These vehicles were phased out of service, along with their pink color scheme, in the mid-1980s and were replaced with the long-wheelbase Land Rover 110, which has a much more subdued color scheme. The newer Land Rover rectified one of the few weaknesses of the previous sturdy Pink Panthers, which was their bumpy rides across rough terrain. The new 110s had superior coil spring suspension as found in the upmarket civilian Range Rovers. Still, to this day, the SAS refer to these new vehicles affectionately as Pink Panthers or simply as “Pinkies.”
SAS – A special forces unit of the British Army known for its covert and high-risk operations. – During World War II, the SAS was formed to conduct raids behind enemy lines.
Land Rovers – All-terrain vehicles used by military forces for transportation and reconnaissance. – The British Army used Land Rovers extensively during their missions in the desert.
Pink – A color used for camouflage in desert environments to blend with the surroundings. – The SAS painted their Land Rovers pink to better camouflage them in the desert during operations.
Camouflage – A method of concealing military personnel or equipment by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings. – Soldiers used camouflage to hide from enemy forces during reconnaissance missions.
Missions – Specific tasks or operations carried out by military units to achieve strategic objectives. – The SAS undertook several dangerous missions to gather intelligence during the war.
World War II – A global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world’s nations. – World War II was a pivotal event in history that reshaped international relations.
Insurgents – Individuals or groups that rebel against established authority, often using guerrilla tactics. – The military faced challenges from insurgents who used the terrain to their advantage.
Vehicles – Machines, such as cars or trucks, used for transporting people or goods, especially in military contexts. – Armored vehicles were crucial for transporting troops safely through conflict zones.
Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument, often a prolonged armed struggle between nations or groups. – The conflict between the two countries led to a series of battles over several years.
Legacy – Something handed down by a predecessor, often referring to the lasting impact of historical events. – The legacy of World War II continues to influence global politics and military strategies today.
