Army Flags - OT
Steve Howarth
Out driving today, I overtook an Army convoy. One of the trucks carried a
blue flag flying from its front off-side wing, and another carried a green
one. No other vehicle carried such flags. What is the significance of the
flags and their colours?
--
Steve Howarth
Anthony Doherty
vehicle, the green one is the final vehicle. Any flying a yellow flag have
broken down and require assistance. Some years ago a coloured Gel used to be
put over the lens of the headlamp (Blue or Green) to indicate the same at
night but not too sure if that is still Current.
groundzero
they could NOT accept hitch hikers (usually other servicemen) for they were
carrying rations, but I think that this has been dropped due to the fact to
the number of hijackings that took place.
Jim.
"Anthony Doherty" <ab.do...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
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Joseph Yeardly
"Steve Howarth" <ma...@stevehowarth.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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They are used to indecate there position in a convoy or to which part they
belong
or section they head.
red ones mean live explosives
Steve Howarth
"Steve Howarth" <ma...@stevehowarth.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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vehicles were located somewhere in the middle. They must have been out of
place, in that case.
--
Steve Howarth
Stuart Jamieson
I drive an ex-military vehicle - a 1980 Series II landrover, and I
know it was still in service until 1995.
The construction of that vehicle includes a light switch with 6
positions,
H.S.T
S.T
S
OFF
Convoy
S.Convoy
where H=Headlights S=Sidlights and T=Tail Lights.
The convoy setings would activate a seperate convoy light, which I
dont have but I am about to buy. but disables all other lights, fog,
indicators, Headlights, etc.
and only in the case of the S. convoy do the sidelights come on for
reading the road.
the only filters for the headlights were IR from when the night vision
system used by by the British Army relied solely on Reflected IR. so
when you hit the IR switch on the control panel all lights are kill
except headlights, which have filters so they only produce IR light.
Also, given red flags, vehicles with the wings painted red indicate,
bomb disposal vehicles and may also be carrying live explosives.
hope this information is of use to someone,
regards,
Stuart
Andy Wells
news:540248c7.02062...@posting.google.com...
> The convoy setings would activate a seperate convoy light, which I
> dont have but I am about to buy.
The convoy light is a quite small white light fitted under the chassis at
the back which shines on the white painted rear axle differential. The
theory is (and it works) that the vehicle behind just follows the dim white
spot. Of course, the beauty of it is that there is no side or top spillage
of light to alert a passing ground attack aircraft, or any other enemy
forces.
Regards,
Andy.
Ed
> Thanks for all the replies. In this particular convoy, both flag-carrying
> vehicles were located somewhere in the middle. They must have been out of
> place, in that case.
> the only filters for the headlights were IR from when the night vision
> system used by by the British Army relied solely on Reflected IR
Its possible that these two flag carrying vehicles were a unit within
a convoy , for example when we go to germany as a packet we will carry
blue and green flags but may become part of a larger convoy which may/
may not be carrying flags
Oh and we would also carry gels for the headlights, dont know why cos
the are a pain in the bum and dont really seem to work to well
Jon Bird
many years ago in a far away land called Colchester garrison lived a tall
smart soldier who was told by his big nasty bully of a section corporal to
take a land rover back to the resident infantry unit who had kindly lent it
to them. The tall smart soldier was very happy because despite being in the
Royal Corps Of Transport, he did bugger all driving. Off he drove at a very
steady pace, making sure that he didn't drive above the speed limit and give
the monkeys something to complain about. The tall smart soldier was very
happy until he stopped to let the Garrison commanders car pull out into
traffic, and was struck from behind by a civilian car.
"Bugger" thought the tall smart soldier, who was trying desperately to
figure out what had caused the civvie to hit his vehicle. The he noticed
the bloody light switch was set to "C" for convoy
Thought I would share this humous moment in my life with you
PS. Monkeys (for those non military ones among us) are also called Swan
Vesta's AKA Royal Military Police.
"Andy Wells" <andy....@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
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Stuart Jamieson
> It saddens me to admit this, but here goes.
>
> many years ago in a far away land called Colchester garrison lived a tall
> smart soldier who was told by his big nasty bully of a section corporal to
> take a land rover back to the resident infantry unit who had kindly lent it
> to them. The tall smart soldier was very happy because despite being in the
> Royal Corps Of Transport, he did bugger all driving. Off he drove at a very
> steady pace, making sure that he didn't drive above the speed limit and give
> the monkeys something to complain about. The tall smart soldier was very
> happy until he stopped to let the Garrison commanders car pull out into
> traffic, and was struck from behind by a civilian car.
>
> "Bugger" thought the tall smart soldier, who was trying desperately to
> figure out what had caused the civvie to hit his vehicle. The he noticed
> the bloody light switch was set to "C" for convoy
>
> Thought I would share this humous moment in my life with you
> PS. Monkeys (for those non military ones among us) are also called Swan
> Vesta's AKA Royal Military Police.
>
Haven't had that happen yet, although once drove for around a day with
the IR switch on giving similar effects. Everyone managed to avoid me
though, and also had one short journey with it set to c.
However the Lack of reversing lights on all but current military
landrovers led to me starting a 3 point turn with a car (unknownst to
me) in my blind spot and still not seeing it until after I had crushed
its wing like a tin can at 2 fathoms.
This has since been rectified. although it wasn't cheap.
When would the switch be set to C then? Only in blackout condtions or
anytime in convoy to prevent lights dazzling other drivers? and if
it's the latter how are the front and rear vehicle light colours
changed when the headlights are not switched on?
Similarly my Wiring diagram for the vehicle shows a slave convoy
output to any trailer - assuming sankey or simmilar, what would the
light reflect off in that circumstance given a trailer has no diff?
Sorry for extending this OT Posting,
But since we're on the topic...
Stuart Jamieson
Jon Bird
> anytime in convoy to prevent lights dazzling other drivers? and if
> it's the latter how are the front and rear vehicle light colours
> changed when the headlights are not switched on?
I personally only ever used the "C" setting when entering a tacticle
location. All lights would be switched off and the light switch set to "C".
This effectively killed all the lights on the vehicle. You have no idea how
bright brake lights can be at 2:00am in the morning, especially when your
night vision has set in. All you could see (if you were lucky) was the
white painted Diff of the vehicle in front, or if it was a trailer , a white
painted square that hung down from the underside of the trailer.
Hope this helps
Simon Rose
convoys, presumably indicated buy colored flags etc. Does this still hold
true and if so what colors should I be looking out for?
Cheers
Simon
Paul Stevenson
"Simon Rose" <simon...@iname.com> wrote in message
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The no overtaking rule would be a bit of a bugger on motorways. :-)
Paul
Chris B
driving an ex military Land-Rover! You should see the looks on the
drivers' faces:
First question, "What's 'e doin'? Where's 'e fink 'e's goin'?"
Second question, "Why's 'e got a tart in the passenger seat?"
Third question, "Why's 'e got a yellow number plate?"
--
Chris B
er...@burke29.freeserve.co.uk
"Chris B" <chr...@marenv.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
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>
> >
> >The no overtaking rule would be a bit of a bugger on motorways. :-)
> >
> It's a hoot when you do overtake them, providing, of course, that you're
> driving an ex military Land-Rover! You should see the looks on the
> drivers' faces:
>
> First question, "What's 'e doin'? Where's 'e fink 'e's goin'?"
>
> Second question, "Why's 'e got a tart in the passenger seat?"
>
> Third question, "Why's 'e got a yellow number plate?"
> --
> Chris B
And the Fourth question would be "Why aint e got is effin headlights on?"
ejb
Ed
Hmmm new one on me , was it in the "Highway Code" ? If not then where
. I've never heard of such a rule and can't really see it being a good
idea
Ever been stuck behind a mil convoy of bedfords ?
Andy Wells
military
> convoys, presumably indicated buy colored flags etc.
Nuclear weapons convoys, for obvious reasons. But they normally have an
escort of marked MOD Plod or RAF Police vehicles (all armed, AFAIR). They
will vigorously block ANY attempt to get near the convoy vehicles. ISTR
they also used to have a detachment of Royal Marines armed to the teath,
plus mechanics, signals guys, etc etc - a full convoy full.
Also, although not the army, there are three large armour plated cash
transit vans with amber flashing lights that run the used notes destined for
destruction out to the Royal Bank of England at Loughton - they usually have
two marked Discos full of armed Met Police and a couple or three Trojan ARVs
to escort them. They go through every red light on blues and twos, they
block any vehicle from overtaking and will literally ram their way through
any vehicle stopped in front of them if they assess there is a threat.
Quite an impressive sight !
Halmyre
> "Simon Rose" <simon...@iname.com> wrote in message
> news:102565109...@iris.uk.clara.net...
> > I remember reading somewhere that it is illegal to overtake certain
> military
> > convoys, presumably indicated buy colored flags etc.
>
> Nuclear weapons convoys, for obvious reasons. But they normally have an
> escort of marked MOD Plod or RAF Police vehicles (all armed, AFAIR). They
> will vigorously block ANY attempt to get near the convoy vehicles. ISTR
> they also used to have a detachment of Royal Marines armed to the teath,
> plus mechanics, signals guys, etc etc - a full convoy full.
>
ISTR a post somewhere else from a motorcyclist who was waved past a
nuclear convoy on a dual-carriageway. He wrote that he was sorely
tempted to let off a backfire as he passed the bus full of gun-toting
army types...
Halmyre
def
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