SAS North Africa Diorama Desert raiders: the Long Range Desert Group | Armorama™

Timothy Bishop and his superb SAS North Africa Diorama. Desert raiders: the Long Range Desert Group in the Second World War. In June 1940, a science writer named Ralph Bagnold was authorised to create a British special forces unit that would operate in Italian-occupied Libya during the Second World War, gathering intelligence and carrying out raids behind enemy lines. Bagnold called the unit the Long Range Desert Group – and it would become a vital part of the 8th Army's desert operations.


This is partial text from the full article (usually with photos) at https://armorama.com/news/sas-north-africa-diorama-desert-raiders-the-long-range-desert-group
3 Likes

Wonderful model. Very convincing.

Just FYI, the LRDG and SAS were two entirely separate units. The LRDG was indeed an outgrowth of Ralph Bagnold’s pre-war desert journeys. But the LRDG remained largely a long-range recon group, not a raiding (direct action) organization.

The SAS was created through a separate process, and grew out of the Commando units that were sent to North Africa and SW Asia in 1940-41. David Stirling, who with Paddy Mayne founded the SAS, was an ex-Commando officer. The SAS was a direct-action spec ops unit, not a long range strategic recon unit.

The two units occasionally operated together, with the SAS essentially hitching rides and getting other support from the LRDG.

3 Likes

I really liked the entire presentation, but like Dan I think it more represents Sterling’s Special Air Service or the lesser known, but every bit as effective, Popski’s Private Army, that the Long Range Desert Group.

Regardless, the workmanship is splendid.