Long Range Desert Group Patrolman: The Western Desert 1940–43 (Warrior, 148)

A brief but pretty comprehensive look at a sometimes overlooked campaign, the Desert War. In particular its very interesting to look at what many would consider to be the forerunner of specialized reconnaissance teams and intelligence gathering teams certainly in the British armed forces. Although a mismatch of vehicles, weapons, clothing and tactics,these brave men brought the fight to the enemy with a tenacity and aggressiveness that was out of all proportion to their small unit size. Very interesting reading. Great colour illustrations as well of vehicles and weapons and general kit.

Having trained in the Mojave during my years with the US Army, I developed a fascination with the North Africa Campaign of 1940-43, particularly how the average Tommy and his Afrika Korps counterpart dealt with and fought in this hostile yet strangely beautiful environment. Moreman fills the bill nicely, leaving nothing out and providing the reader with a highly readable and informative little volume on the LRDG, covering origins, doctrine, organization, training, vehicles, weaponry and even clothing and rations. Nor is the operational side of the Group's war neglected, telling of the monotony and dangers of conducting road watch and their occasional departures from intelligence gathering to conduct "beat ups" of Axis airfields and convoys. This little volume (only 64 pages) left this desert buff only wanting to know more. Highly recommended.

At the opening of the North Africa campaign in 1940, a British Major with much desert experience called for the creation of a desert patrol unit, one specially equipped and trained to bypass the coastal roads and reconnoiter deep in the Axis rear. The British Commander-in-Chief Middle East blessed the idea within weeks, and the unit was in action within a couple of months. Thus was born the famed Long Range Desert Group."Long Range Desert Group Patrolman" is an Osprey Warrior Series book, authored by Tim Moreman, with illustrations by Rafaele Ruggeri. The book is something of a companion work to Moreman's "Desert Rat 1940-43" with its emphasis on the individual soldier and his unit experience in the desert favored over a detailed battle history. The author methodically sketches the origins of the Long Range Desert Group, and its training, weapons and equipment. The experience of extended patrols in the sand seas of North Africa is recreated, with daytime heat, shockingly cold nights, water rationing and primitive living conditions. The author makes a particular point of the LRDG's remarkable skill at navigation across tough empty desert terrain.The author is honest enough to fairly evaluate the intelligence gained by the LRDG, and the one raid discussed in detail seems to have been a very costly success. However, the unit and its men set a high standard of performance under difficult circumstances. The book is recommended as a quick introduction to the topic.

If this book was longer than 58 pages it would be good but really there is nothing to it.

very insightful and great vendor

I guess I did not read the information about this book closely enough. I had expected it to be a history of the LRDG. Instead, it is just a collection of pictures, with a few brief summaries. It is only 50 pages or so. Not what I had expected.

There are better overviews available.

LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP PATROLMAN: THE WESTERN DESERT, 1940-43TIM MOREMANOSPREY PUBLICATION, 2010QUALITY SOFTCOVER, $18.95, 64 PAGES, GLOSSARY, INDEX, BIBLIOGRAPHY, ILLUSTRATIONS, MAPS, PHOTOGRAPHSThis book, LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP PATROLMAN: THE WESTERN DESERT, 1940-43 is a valuable addition to the literature on the LRDG, incorporating information which I haven't seen elsewhere. The opening statement in the introduction is rather questionable, however. The author, Tim Moreman, doesn't define "special force", therefore it is impossible to either support or to overturn his assertion. It is unfortunate that the author failed to include a description of the LRDG operation in 1944 cryptically mentioned on Page 60. The author very much overreaches when it comes to his comparison between the LRDG and the SAS.Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida GuardOrlando, Florida

Book arrived promptly and well packed. Very pleased.

Described more about how tthe LRDG operated, the method of transport and equipment used etc. Did not describe any exploits.

OspreyからはLRDGの本は既にNew Vanguardシリーズで出ていますが、それとは切り口が違うので両方持ってても損はない、みたいな話を書こうと思ったんですが、New Vanguardの方は絶版状態らしいんで、LRDGに関心がある人には基本資料として絶対お薦めですね。New Vanguardと被る写真ももちろんありますが、New Vanguardのときより写真の印刷の質がかなり改善されているので、その点からもお薦めできるかと思います。

Good pictures and support information and not that expensive for what one got.

Good history review