UN / Canada / Cyprus beginings

[rob love]

Exceptions are not usually ignored. In recent years the DND even came out with a canforgen that un-authorised modifications to equipment would not be acceptable.

It was when the Iltis came out that Ottawa dictated that there were to be no field modifications including things like mapboards, map lights etc. There was to be no drilling of holes in the vehicle for anything unless it was for an authorized modification.

All that said, the strict rules sort of went sideways during Afghanistan. The LCMMs were very accommodating to the needs of the troops on the ground. Some unit procurements were accepted (like Eotech and ACOG scopes that were not in our system) which never would have flown before. But even then, vehicle modification teams would come either from the contractors who were in theater, or else teams that were sent from Canada. Modifications were not "ad-hoc".

[45jim]

The rifle range at the Nicosia airport had two Ferret turrets sitting on the side all shot up. I was taken to see them while on exchange with Scout Car SQN of the 16/5th Lancers in '88, but I don't have a photo. We enjoyed bombing up and down the runway doing Ferret drag races and trying to drive around the go-kart track in the Ferret (much fun!). They had UN Markings but were UK European camouflage.

I know it doesn't answer your question directly but it shows there were spares on the Island and all we would have had to do is ask for them. The Brits were quite obliging that way.