Sand channel, PSP, Marsden matting

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Little Jo

Hi All

I have been having a debate with some mates for a while now as too whether any WW2 LRDG Jeeps carried "Marsden Matting" on their vehicles. We are all sure we have seen photos of the matting cut down and attached to the side of the LRDG Jeep.

I have spent hours on looking at LRDG sites checking equipment and photos of LRDG vehicles and only found Marsden Matting attached to the side of their trucks, but I could not find any LRDG Jeeps with cut down matting carried on their Jeep. We are sure we have seen photos somewhere but we cannot remember where. I am sure that matting would have been of benefit for any vehicle working in desert country.

Can any MLU member out there assist in solving our debate or if they have seen Marsden Matting carried on any WW2 Western Desert Jeeps.

Cheers

Tony

Although Marsden Matting or PSP was developed by the USA just before the war, the Commonwealth forces were running around North Africa long before the Americans became involved. I am thinking that is why you only see the British sand planks on vehicles. The Americans had not supplied any PSP at that stage. Re-enactors and Hollywood throw a few curve balls into the historical equation, probably because they can't get the British planking. Or the lazy restorers find the PSP easier to obtain. And don't do their research.