Why were SAS Land Rovers Painted Pink?

The British Special Air Service, known universally as the SAS, is one of the top Special Forces units in the world.

Their motto is "Who Dares Wins".

Copyright: DO NOT translate and re-upload our content on Youtube or other social media.

SIMPLE HISTORY MERCHANDISE

Get the Simple History books on Amazon:

T-Shirts

Simple history gives you the facts, simple!

See the book collection here:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script: Conan White
Narrator:

Chris Kane

[coolhandluke]

You forgot to mention that the color used on the vehicles is called, “Mountbatten pink” and was first used by Lord Mountbatten in the Second World War. They chose it, because at night the color is almost invisible. The SAS liked it, because a lot of their long recon missions would occur at night, and a fast moving almost invisible vehicle was what they needed.
Edit: I did not expect this comment to get so many likes. I’m also surprised I managed to make people happy, and piss them off with this comment.

[dadbot]

“You guys are stupid! You see, they’ll be looking for army guys.” - Peter Griffin

[rautamiekka]

"It ain't stupid if it works" certainly applies here.

[SirHellNaja]

At first when I got a plastic model kit of a Spitfire from a local toy store, I was so damn disappointed with it that I got a pink Spit instead of cool battle of Britain camouflage. It was until I looked up to history of Mountbatten pink and PRU pink.

[In_Our_Timeline]

Four vehicles that formed part of a unique collection of ex-SAS Land Rovers sold for a combined £179, 000 at a recent auction.

[AuRoaraAnimations]

Calling it the pink panther to signify its stealth was genius

[j.peters]

I remember a story my dad told me about his unit's M2A2 Bradley fighting vehicles. Shortly before deploying to the Gulf in 1991, apparently some of the vehicles had just gone through the paint shop and they wanted everybody to get acquainted with their vehicles. Turns out instead of painting the Bradley's a sand tan color they were a bright pink color instead! Gave everyone quite the laugh and the next day they went through the painter once again and got their proper colors.

[tombenjamin]

My Grandad was an RAF Flight Engineer circa. 1950+ He served in Aden during the withdrawal and the hercules he served on transported the SAS into the field. I remember him telling me about their pink jeeps and how all the crew laughed at the SAS at it looked ridiculous, he then said that once the doors opened and the jeeps drove out into the desert, within 30ft they were 'invisible' and the laughter just as suddenly stopped.

[Siegmund]

The animation going into such detail that they paid attention to the landrovers front and rear differentials being offset. Very impressive

[AtotheR]

So basically the pink paint scheme was said to be a highly effective desert camouflage, especially at dawn/dusk. They were eventually replaced by the Land Rover 110 series and its more subdued beige camouflage scheme.

[lieutenantrouter]

SAS Soldiers “Hop in losers, We’re going to the desert”

[christophersilsby]

The Nickname was "THE PINK PANTHER", was used by SAS Dessert during World War 2 were trucks as fighting vehicles. The best was a Jeep, armed with 2-Dual mounted Lewis Gun with the larger Air Force designed magazine, that held more ammo, in a double stack pan magazine.

[handsomegeorgianbankrobber]

Can you imagine during a battle an SAS member screaming "GET TO THE PINKY!"

[privatehudson]

Fun fact: Luke Skywalker's lightsaber turned green in Return of The Jedi for the exact opposite reason: because a green lightsaber stands out and create a contrast with the desert background visually, and thus looked better than blue lightsaber. The fact that the blue lightsaber's colour matched the sky also made it necessary to change the colour.
This was later retconned of course, and a story meaning was added (Luke has matured and is now worthy of the Jedi Master's status)

[MrAlwaysBlue]

I made an Airfix model of one of these in early 80's. The scheme looked great and realistic.

[FerrariJetlife]

In france we call British "rosbeef" as when they come in holidays they turn pink cause of sunburn. I now believe the pink camouflage was to hide passengers not vehicles, especially in north Africa i can only imagine the color of their skin. Love to my rosbeefs friends from a humble frog.

[Vinylicbobcat]

Shout out to the animator including the British Fijian soldiers especially the tank of a man, Talaiasi Labalaba who single handedly operated a main cannon by himself while he was injured

[jackthedragon]

1:08 That battle deserves a video of its own.

[halvorsvren]

Love your content dude! You're the reason i love history👍

[donnerblitzen]

I remember hearing about this on top gear when Ranulph Fiennes was on as "the star in the reasonably priced car". Jeremy clarkson asked about it if I remember correctly. Great episode and a tasty tidbit of unknown knowledge! Great work guys!