Thommo's Army Land Rover Photos -REMLR

Thommo's Land Rover (and Inter) Army Pics A few happy snaps from my Army Days mid 70's - 2000 both ARA and GRES. Most early pics taken with a "cheapo" 110 instamatic. (As we did at the time) I never had much time from early 80's - 2000, once you become a NCO/SNCO you never seem to find much time for taking snaps. Most of series 2A FFR's at 103 Sig Sqn in the 70's carried names of Sesame Street Characters (Bert, Ernie Etc) or other "fun" albeit cryptic names (FCANAL). I still have a soft spot for the series 2A as they were rugged, reliable and/or repairable. Any one with basic mechanical knowledge, a 10" shifter, big hammer and some gaffer tape could fix/repair or bodgy up to keep them going the same can not be said for modern vehicles. If anybody would like to contact Thommo (Mark Thomas), contact REMLR and we will pass his details on. REMLR Administrator.
	ARN 177 191 Exercise "Multi Link" 103 Sig Sqn mid to late 70's
	103 Sig Sqn mid 70's driver's course, local unit applied cam.
	103 Sig Sqn mid 70's driver's course, getting feet wet
	103 Sig Sqn mid 70's drivers course, how to make a creek exit
	103 Sig Sqn mid 70's driver's course, daisy chain down Rollingstone Creek Nth Qld?
	103 Sig Sqn mid 70's driver's course, daisy chain down Rollingstone Creek Nth Qld?
	103 Sig Sqn mid 70's out side Ravenswood Pub Nth Qld. Back in the days of stopping for a cold beer was not a criminal offence.
	103 Sig Sqn Ex "Brahman Drive" GS Line Vehicle ARN 174-868 Rollover.
	Note Trailer bent axle, trailer picked up and place in back of 174-868 and continued under its own power after basic repairs.
	103 Sig Sqn, Ex Brahman Drive overnight stage at Long Reach Footy Club?
	2 Field Survey GS Series III in Iryan Jaya 1980's Operation Cenderawashi unloading from Hercules using borrowed trailer (trolley)
	Official Tropical Roof Mod for use in Iryan Jaya, actually just collecting palms to use as roof for the "long drop"
	103 Sig Sqn High Range Training Area? Mid 70's Bogged F1
	2 Sig Regt 1980's Heavy Radio Troop enroute to Mallacoota
	ARN 174-991 2 Sig Regt, F1 Heavy Radio Troop. Note Heavy Radio Troop on this ex was commanded by a "young" Lt M. McNarn" who went on to Command Aussie Troops as a Brigadier in the Gulf.
	ARN 172-719 2 Sig Regt, F1 Heavy Radio Troop with Cam Paint
	ARN 177-182 103 Sig Sqn, Ex Long Vigil receiving new generator from LAD between Townsville NQ and Katherine NT.
	Trailer ARN 173-494 behind FFR 177-182 rear Convoy Vehicle Ex Long Vigil
	ARN 177-182 FFR Ex Long Vigil at Tindal Air Strip mid 70's (Note old barrack accommodation back then). Vehicle using expedient end fed HF antenna suspended on roof and bonnet (it worked!)
	103 Sig Sqn Radio Troop vehicles line up out side bays.
	GS ARN 174-876 Fitted as "Line Laying Vehicle" in the foreground of line up of 103 Sig Sqn Vehicles Mid 70's
	GS ARN 174-901 MP vehicle heading 103 Sig Sqn Convoy. somewhere between Townsville and Katherine. (would be a bitumen road today)
	Close up of Typical HF Antenna mount used with AN/PRC-47 Radio. Very common on series 2A FFRs used at Brigade and Div Level.
	Line Up of FFR's at School of Signals Watsonia Barracks 1976
	A young me hanging off a VHF antenna mount. I remember this one on Top of Mount Stuart getting very wet during a tropical downpour trying to establish a Retrans. Who here can remember those "Smocks psychological" ? any one who used one will know!
	FFR ARN 177-193 getting its' feet wet somewhere in Nth Qld mid 70's
	A young me again but pic shows better detail of Ant Mount used with AMU on AN/GRC-160 Radio as seen fitted.
	GS ARN 178-452 using winch Mid 70's
	1FFR ARN 177-193 103 Sig Sqn, backed into 11x11 CP (unusual not to be cammed up must have been a "swan" somewhere ?)
	Another local applied cam job 103 Sig Sqn (the things we did when we ran out of white paint for the rocks, no I am NOT joking)
	FFR ARN 177-191 again somewhere in Nth Qld enroute to Cooktown.
	FFR 177-191? with broken axle stuck in creek bed. Sides up canopy shows a common radio configuration for RASIGS FFR's with VHR & HF Radios
	A dusty me with "personal dust issue equipment) Ex Brahman Drive. Note Sides UP back DOWN on tops for driving in dust. This works
	Dust on Ex Brahman Drive
	A young me again as the driver/sig for Chief Land Umpire Ex Brahman Drive (from memory I think it was a officer by the name of Cosgrove ?
	FFR ARN 177-193 getting wet North Qld 1970's
	Taking Five at rear of FFR ARN 175-310 configured as CRATT vehicle (Fitted with AN/GRC 106A radio, modems, KW'7's etc
	Anyone for a whip antenna, FFR's and ACV in FUP during Ex Brahman Drive
	GS ARN 178-372 rolled on "Chinamans track" between Cairns and Cooktown (the costal track) Late 70's
	Making temp repairs to 178-372 to continue under its' own power
	Picking up the pieces from Rollover of 178-372
	178-372 under way after repairs.
	NZ LWB FFR outside Waiouru Training Centre
	NZ Shorty FFR 1970's
	Shorty FFR in NZ that I managed to get bogged trying to follow a APC up a track on Mt Ruapehu
	ARN 177-191? With jack knifed trailer mid 70's
	GS ARN 174-868 Line Vehicle after roll over.
	GS ARN 174-868 Line Vehicle after roll over.
	Here is a photo of Perentie FFR we used in Cambodia (UNTAC) 1992-1993. It is a good demonstration of the point I have made previously about the various ant mounts being removed modified etc. It can clearly be seen that this vehicle was painted white prior to OS deployment but some crafty sig (probably me) has removed the rear ant mount as demonstrated by the OD paint now showing. Front mount has HF Raven installed.
	I spent much of my time in Cambodia attached in support of the Dutch Marines (A very professional outfit unlike the conscript Dutch Army of the time). As I remember this LHD Dutch LR was hit by an RPG. All on board survived (wearing Kevlar) although some broken bones etc and I believe some injuries from small arms fire. (I think I have an article somewhere, I will follow up with more details if I can find!)