Equipment and Weaponry

Douglas Dakota KP208 Gate Guardian at Aldershot and Colchester

Dakota KP208 stood outside the Aldershot Airborne Forces Museum for many years and was extensively photographed in the background of passing out platoon images.

Rifle Anti Tank .55 "Boys"

The Rifle, Anti Tank, .55inch, was issued to British infantry units from 1934 onwards.

The 24 Hour Ration Contents Layout

The 24 Hour Ration

The 24 Hour Ration was a direct successor to the Mess Tin Ration (48 Hour), which was first issued for the invasion of North Africa. Whilst the Mess Tin Ration served

Glock 17 Gen 4 pistol

Glock 17 Gen 4/L131A1 pistol

The Glock 17 Gen 4 was brought into service, replacing the venerable Browning L9A1 after over 40 years in the MOD

MP40 Sub Machine Gun

The MP40 or Maschinenpistole 40 was a 9mm German sub machine gun designed in 1938 by Heinrich Vollmer.

Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol/L9A1

The Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol was used by the British Airborne Forces from the 1940s onwards. The Browning Hi Power pistol also known as:

Hotspur Glider on the ground with armed troops.

M1911 Pistol / Colt 1911

This iconic pistol has been used by over 40 countries and even 100 years after it's creation is still in use by armies and Special Forces today, making it one of the longest running firearms in his

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.

Clark Mk5 Crawler Tractor

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.

Polsten 20mm Cannon

The Polsten design originated in Poland and was transferred to the UK when the Germans overran Poland in 1939.

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.

1 Para Aden 1967

Land Rover Truck Utility Light

The Land Rover was launched by Rover in 1948. Over the following years it developed into a a series of four-wheel-drive models in both long and short wheel base versions.

Web Equipment

Throughout history soldiers have had various methods of transporting their equipment, weapons and ammunition to the battlefield.

Lee Enfield Rifles

The Lee Enfield Rifle has a long and prestigious heritgae within the British Army, tracing its root back to a requirment for a new rifle in the late 19th century.

Soldier from 3 PARA pauses on patrol, Musa Quelah, Afghanistan, 2008

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

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

3 PARA soldier on patrol with a Light Machine Gun, Musa Quelah, Afghanistan, 2008

L110 Light Machine Gun

Developed from the Minimi Light Machine Gun following experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, the LMG is a belt-fed suppression 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.

Early paratroopers in training.

Airborne and Para Helmets

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

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.

Panzer Mk IV knocked out by Pat Barnett near Arnhem Bridge

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

Panther Tank

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

A Wolf Hound on the driver training course at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2010

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.

Donate

Make a donation to Airborne Assault ParaData to help preserve the history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces

Make a donation

The Airborne Shop

The Airborne Shop is the official shop of Support Our Paras (The Parachute Regiment Charity RCN1131977).

Profits from all sales made through our shop go directly to Support Our Paras, so every purchase you make with us will directly benefit The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.