BRITISH ARMY JEEP RESEARCH
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1945-50

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A Parachute Regiment Jeep in the immediate post-ww2 years. Taken between 1945-46. Notice the registration of the vehicle on the back is repeated in Arabic below. It would likely have this same Arabic version of the registration on the drivers side of the bonnet.
The immediate post-war period largely revolved around peacekeeping efforts around the world. Blackout masks were removed, gloss green paint applied (where theatre appropriate).

The jeep carried on in many of the roles that it has been used for in WW2. British jeeps were not returned to the USA at the end of the war. Though a small number may have been sent back to go towards re-payment of the lend-lease scheme. If this did happen, it was the exception, and not the norm.

The jeep was as valuable as ever in the post war years. The British armed forces had treasured the jeeps, and despite having them in vast numbers, they still needed more. In during the war there had been several programmes initiated to develop a British made equivalent of the iconic Willys jeep. The eventual winner of this progamme was the Austin Champ, but it was still years from getting in to production.

Therefore, the jeep soldiered on without any competition. The census numbering system remained in place, and the vehicles saw very little modification from their wartime specification. However, the vehicles were looking increasingly rough, and it is hard to imagine that there were many that had not been through the re-build programmes. 

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A British Royal Military Police jeep in service with BETFOR. British Element Trieste Force. Notice that after WW2 had ended, Police jeeps often got rather lavish with their decoration.

Military Police usage was one of the most common jobs of the jeep in the immediate postwar years, as order needed to be kept throughout many territories that were both owned or occupied by British and Commonwealth forces.
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BRITISH JEEPS IN NORWEGIAN SERVICE

Norwegian troops aided with the occupation of Germany after the war had ended. They were largely equipped with British, and some American equipment. British vehicles ended up in service with various nations after the war. However, these Norwegian used vehicles retained their British registration. This practice continued beyond 1950, and therefore they can be found with census and ERM numbers. These Norwegian troops were called the ​ Tysklandsbrigaden.
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  • Home
    • About us
    • Mission Statement
    • Owner Stories
  • Intro
    • How to recognise a British Jeep
  • Jeep in WW2
  • 1945-50
  • 1950-1960
  • M15 Rebuilds
  • RAF/RN
  • Photo Gallery
  • MORE INFO
    • Contact
    • WW2 Jeep Guide
    • Research your Jeeps History
    • FAQ
    • Recommended Reading
    • Looking to buy a Jeep?
    • Your British Jeep Impression