Sand channel, PSP, Marsden matting

[lynx42]

Tony,

The channel on the side of the Bedford MW you show is known as "Sand Channel". It was invented by the LRDG founder, Brigadier Ralph Bagnold way back in the 1920's to assist his exploration of the African Deserts. It is completely different to Marston Matting. It cannot be joined together and has formed sides for stiffness. This was carries by mose vehicles in the North African Campaign. Even my 1940 Chev Staff car carried some on the roof. There were/are still marks from the roofrack and dents above the rear window where they were thrown up to the roof rack.

You will see plenty of photos of vehicles with the Sand Channel being carried.

Regards Rick.

[Lang]

Some good LRDG photos of mats here.

http://lrdg.hegewisch.net/Chevy_wb.html

Lang

[lynx42]

Lang, I've seen that photo before. It is amazing that you posted it whilst I was writing my post.

Is there anyone with the technology to read the ARN painted on the bonnet on the ground?

I can only make out the "AIF ####.
Rick.

[Lang]

Here is a great photo of the British mats. You can also see the roll-out type mat on the front guard. These were canvas with wood stays, easy to handle but I believe easily broken.

As a sideline - I found photos of current SAS in Iraq and Afghanistan and they do use marsden matting BUT it is the alloy type. Same as WW2 pattern but about 2/3 the weight

[Lang]

Just had a good look at that mat photo. Seems style overcame practicality. The "tags" bolted to the bottom of the mat are wonderful for holding it in the rack. I bet they were the first things to be taken off.

Designers in UK probably thought the tags would just sink into the sand and also stop the mats being shot backwards by the huge power of the British army vehicle. Unfortunately I think the people using them found the tags made them a pain in the a... to slide under the wheels and of course the first rock they rested on would bend the tags and make them impossible to put back in the rack.

Lang

[Lang]

Tony,

To finally answer your question. I have looked at over 100 photos of LRDG jeeps and about 40 photos of WW2 SAS jeeps and NONE carry marsden matting or any type of sand channel, despite what re-enactors put on their vehicles.

It makes sense in that the jeeps always travelled with trucks if they needed them. More to the point, they were so hopelessly overloaded that any extraneous gear could have been the straw that broke the camel's back. They also had plenty of fit young blokes to push them through soft stuff and with those skinny tyres and big weights I reckon there was a lot of pushing going on.

The other point is the desert is not made of sand and the vast majority is stony flat ground capable of carrying 2WD vehicles eg the bulk of LRDG vehicles were only 2WD.

Never say never but if you put marsden matting on your replica LRDG/SAS jeep you are gilding the lilly.

Lang

[Little Jo]

Hi Rick and Lang

Thanks again for your input. I am now aware of the difference between the types of matting the LRDG used and can see I wrongly named it as Marsden Matting used by the LRDG. I can clearly see the difference between them. Your information clears up part of the debate and I can see the reasoning that Jeeps travelled with trucks would use the trucks matts if stuck. But I am still racking my brain as to where I saw the picture of the LRDG Jeep carrying the sand matting.

Cheers

Tony