Jeep Recce Troop or SAS Section

The SAS (Special Air Service) had operated in its traditional role, far behind the lines during the Normandy Campaign. Together with local partisan groups, they harassed the Germans and delayed troop trains with well-placed demolitions. They continued these operations in the Netherlands before meeting up with the advancing divisions as they overran the German defences.

The SAS raiders weren't going to get the same helpful reception in Germany, so were forced to revert to a more conventional role as reconnaissance troops.

Operation Archway, the largest and boldest SAS operation, sent two full squadrons into battle. With more than 50 reconnaissance jeeps between them, the SAS squadrons crossed the Rhine into the airborne bridgehead. As the armoured divisions pushed out of the bridgehead and deep into Germany, the SAS pushed ahead of even the armoured cars. The intelligence they gathered on the location of German roadblocks and unguarded bridges, and the confusion and destruction they left in their wake, helped the tanks keep up an extraordinary rate of advance.

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The 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron was supposed to spearhead the drive on Arnhem. However, a lack of gliders meant that the crews were parachuted separately. By the time they found their jeeps and got underway, the route to Arnhem was blocked. Only one troop made it there, fighting as infantry in the rubble of the city. The squadron’s commander wanted to armour the jeeps and add extra machineguns, but was turned down as the extra weight would have needed more gliders.

THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS:

• 4x Jeep (MG) that can be painted as either SAS Jeeps or a Jeep Airborne Recce Troop