Equipment and Weaponry

M1 Carbine

The M1 Carbine was a lightweight rifle developed and produced by the United States and used in limited numbers by British airborne forces during the Second World War.

Tractor Crawler Class V 20 DBHP Clark

Some original images from AATDC (Army Airborne Testing & Development Centre), resourced from the Airborne Assault archives.

Flamethrower, Portable Number 2 also known as Ack pack or lifebuoy

The flame thrower portable No2, was nicknamed the "Lifebuoy" due to the shape of it's fuel tank. Also known as the "Ack Pack" it was of British design and used by infantry in the Second World war.

C15TA Armoured Truck

The C15TA Armoured Truck was developed by General Motors Canada along the same lines as the American M3 ‘White’ Scout Car, which it was intended to replace.

L85A2, 5.56mm Rifle, SA80A2, with Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL)

The L85A2 is the British Army's standard combat weapon.

Camouflage Painting of Airborne Vehicles

In imagery of airborne forces vehicles in the Second World War it is apparent a similar camouflage pattern is employed on each.

Airborne and Para Helmets

From the onset of parachute training at RAF Ringway in June-July 1940, it was quickly identified that

Body Armour

The first type of body armour issued to airborne forces was designed by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

M3 White Scout Car

The M3 Scout Car was an all wheeled armoured car designed in 1937 by the White Motor Company in the United States.

Universal Carrier Number 1 Mark III

The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier, was a light armoured tracked vehicle built by Vickers-Armstrong from 1934 onwards.

Truck Utility Medium (Heavy Duty)

The Pinzgauer 716M Truck Utility Medium (Heavy Duty) – TUM(HD) – performs a variety of roles for Airborne Forces, from carrying stores, acting as command and communications vehicle

Ordnance Quick Firing 17 Pounder

The Ordnance Quick Firing 17 Pounder (76.2mm) Anti tank Gun was developed as a replacement for the earlier 6 Pounder gun

Ordnance Quick Firing 6 Pounder

The Ordnance Quick Firing 6 Pounder (57mm) Anti Tank Gun was developed as a replacement for the earlier 2 Pounder (40mm) gun and first saw service in North Africa in 1942.

German Panzerkampfwagen 740 B2 (F)

The Panzerkampfwagen 740 B2 (F) was the German designation of the French Char B tanks pressed into German service after the fall of France in 1940.

German Sturmgeschutz III

The Sdkfz 142 Sturmgeshutz III Assault Gun, was a German self propelled gun utilising the Pzkpfw III tank chassis and was produced in a number of variants from the Ausf A to Ausf G.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV Tank

The German Sdkfz 161 Panzerkampfwagen (Pzkpfw IV) was first introduced into German service in the late 1930s as Nazi Germany rearmed in preparation for war and was continuously produced until 1945

German Tiger Ausf B Tank

The German Sdkfz 182 Tiger Ausf B tank was known informally to the Germans as Konistiger (Bengal Tiger) whilst being commonly referred to as the Tiger II or King Tiger by Allied troops.

L85A2, 5.56mm Rifle, SA80A2

SA80 is the designation for a family of assault weapons in service from the mid 1980s.

L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle

The L129A1 was selected in 2009 to replace the L96 Rifle in the sharpshooter role.

M22 Locust Airborne Tank

The M22 Locust was developed in the United States, by Marmon Herrington, at the request of the British War Office in order to replace the

Wolf Hound Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV)

The Wolfhound is a six-wheeled variant of the Mastiff Heavy Protected Patrol Vehicle, which gives troops increased protection as they support missions in high-threat areas.

Tetrarch Light Tank

The Tetrarch, Light Tank MkVII was designed in the late 1930s to replace the existing fleet of British Light Tanks.

Springer Dune Buggy

The Springer Dune Buggy was one of a fleet of new all-terrain vehicles to move vital equipment to troops on the frontline in Afghanistan.

Jackal Armoured Vehicle

The Jackal is a high mobility weapons platform, with a unique air-bag suspension system allowing rapid movement across varying terrain.

50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)

The powerful L1A1 12.7 mm (.50) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) is an updated version of the Browning M2 'Fifty-cal' - recognised as one of the finest heavy machine guns ever developed.

Land Rover Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (WMIK)

The Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (WMIK) was developed by Ricardo and is fitted to Airborne Landrovers (officially known as Truck Utility Medium High Specification

Coyote Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV)

Introduced for operations in Afghanistan, the Coyote Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV light) is based on a 6x6 derivative of the

81mm Mortar

The L16A2 81mm Mortar is a indirect fire weapon which is capable of providing accurate High Explosive, smoke and illuminating rounds out to a maximum range of 5,650m.

GQ X-Type Parachute

The British X-Type Parachute was developed in 1940 under the initiative of Raymond Quilter of the GQ company, in collaboration with Leslie Irvin of Irvins, both parachute manufacturers.

Thompson Machine Carbine

The Thompson was an American designed and built sub machine gun and used in limited numbers by British airborne forces in the Second World War. It was commonly known as the “Tommy gun”.

DZ Flashes

The DZ Flash is the most recognisable distinguishing feature on clothing and uniforms for the identification of different Airborne Units.

Tiger Moth aircraft

Miles Magister aircraft

German Second World War Armour, Weaponry and Ordnance

During The Second World War, the German armed forces fielded an array of weaponry against their Allied opponents.  Many of these weapons were either encountered by, or indeed, used by Airborne Forc

L7 'Gimpy' General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)

After the Second World War the Belgian Mitrailleuse d’Appui General (MAG – General Purpose Machine Gun) was selected as the winning design to replace both the Vickers Heavy Machine Gun and Bren Lig