News and Blog posts around overland travel, open top vehicles, mods , gear and adventure travel safety.
The Long Patrol Update
PPE has been busy getting organized for the Long Patrol expedition to Algeria in November 2026. We have ten crews signed up, with eight CAT 1 Land Rovers and two CAT 2 Toyotas. Our partner on this expedition, Desartica, may also have a couple of CAT 2 trucks joining. So with support vehicles we look to be around 15 vehicles total. A big group, but manageable.
Wannes and Alan, two of our members, have been working on our mapping. Wannes has taken the old 1941 maps and run them through software that tidies them up, corrects the Lat/Long overlay and adds in modern roads and tracks. We plan to continue our normal practice of navigating by sun compass, map reading and dead reckoning. There will be back up sat navigation available, but this will be good for crews to test their nav skills against some truly epic, long distance legs.
Ferry bookings, visa applications and transit logistic planning us underway!
New Batch of Sun Compasses
Bill Morgan, our chief mechanic and metalworking genius, has been working on a second batch of sun compasses. The first of these will be ready by mid-July and available for sale here on the website when the online store goes live. Pricing is yet to be determined, but given the high quality, handmade nature of the units, and the fact that as far as we are aware, these are the only new sun compasses of the Bagnold type available anywhere on the planet, they will come at a premium. Badged PPE members will have a discount and possible rental access for expeditions, but others will be available for collectors and enthusiasts.
Future Expeditions: 2027 and Beyond
While PPE has now become a business and we need to generate enough income to remain solvent, we won’t be planning massive numbers of tours just to generate revenue. Our objective remains to ensure that every expedition or tour remains unique and developed with a clear objective and mission statement in mind. As we did in April, we will run ‘tours’ that are less minimalistic and more suitable for CAT 2 trucks and even spouses, but these will still aim to achieve an objective, whether historical or geographical.
Our expeditions on other hand are going to be continued to be planned with the same focus we have always maintained: to conduct desert expeditions the old school way with simple, rugged vehicles, stripped down and sent to accomplish a mission of research, reconnaissance or exploration.
The Sand Sea Circumnavigation-Tunisia, April 2027
Our expeditions in Tunisia have been primarily focused on locating and documenting historical locations related to the WWII special forces; SAS, LRDG and PPA. But the inner sand sea beyond the berm has largely remained a mystery to us. Despite all their years of desert travel expertise, the sand sea defeated the WWII special forces. So far, it has always defeated us as well. So in April 2027 we are going to challenge ourselves: to finally go where those desert units could not and explore the inner vastness of the great sand sea. This expedition will be for CAT 1 trucks only, and only those that can travel extremely light. So the heavier Wolf’s and WMIKs will be setting off on a different adventure later in the year. Lightweights, Jeeps, Series SWB’s and similar is what we are looking for.
For WWII special forces enthusiasts, the deep deserts of Libya hold a unique mystique. However, for years now their sands have been off limits to travelers. Desartica, who we have engaged to support us in Algeria for the Long Patrol, have been running forays into the western Libyan desert for several years now. So, for PPE, we intend to seek volunteers for our own reconnaissance by joining a scheduled Desartica trip. Definitely only for those with a real sense of adventure! THis will be a CAT 1 and CAT 2 trip.
Eastern Rekkam Expedition-Morocco October 2027
PPE has not been back to the Rekkam Plateau in eastern Morocco since 2018, so it is likely time. In previous trips we did set nav points on old military history sites, but never with the level of research we now normally bring to these adventures. There is a great deal of military history in Morocco and we intend to put in the study time to identify objectives for this expedition. We will start with a crossing of the Atlas mountains by small mountain tracks before crossing the lowlands and ascending the escarpment up onto the Rekkam. From there we will head east towards the border villages of Iche and Figuig. Along the way we will seek out French Foreign Legion forts, sites of historical battles and assess whether Morocco has more mysteries to explore. This will be a CAT 1 and CAT 2 trip.
Western Libya Reconnaissance 2027
The Willys Special Forces Tour-Tunisia April 2028
PPE has mused for years about organizing a trip back to Tunisia and taking a group of WWII jeeps into the Sahara to follow the actual routes used by the SAS, LRDG and PPA. We will return to Wilders Gap, seek out Qaret Ali and all the relics still lying there, the Roman fort at Ksar Ghilane used by all the special forces, and follow the T1/PPA reconnaissance routes up past Bir Amir to the Tebega Gap. We will organize transport of the vintage vehicles as far as the desert and then provide all the usual support during the expedition. Post-war jeeps, Mahindra’s, early Series Land Rovers and perhaps even a Chevrolet 30cwt or two will be welcome as well. Planning will get underway in early 2027.
Tunisia 2019 Expedition Planning
It is a pretty rare thing in the modern world to discover in the texts of decades-old accounts a ‘lost’ treasure that is both accessible and, as far as we can tell, no one has gone in search of yet. But here we are and plans for our upcoming expedition to the dune seas of Tunisia are well advanced.
What treasure are we seeking? Well, not gold or jewels or lost cities of antiquity; but something a little closer to our hearts for those that are fans of Popski’s Private Army (PPA) and the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). Towards the end of the WWII North African campaign a joint PPA and LRDG patrol set off from Libya seeking to gain more information about defences west of the German Mareth Line. Thirteen vehicles set out including jeeps, LRDG Chevrolets and a pair of 3-ton heavy section supply trucks. The supply trucks turned back before crossing into Tunisia after establishing a supply dump and the remaining eleven ‘fighting vehicles’ pushed on, eventually reaching the eastern edge of the Grand Erg Orientale sand sea. Here seven of the vehicles were hidden in the dunes while four jeeps set off to scout the area around Matmata. However, the stashed vehicles were discovered by the Luftwaffe and the crews had to abandon all seven vehicles as aircraft strafed their hideout. Later the survivors linked up with the returning jeeps and marched northwest to link up with the approaching American 1st Army near Tozuer, 200 miles away.
So what ever happened to the seven abandoned special forces vehicles left behind? Well, we know that the LRDG always tried to recover their lost vehicles, but since these were all damaged by aircraft fire or explosives set by their own retreating crews, they may not have made the effort. The PPA had a more laissez faire attitude and Popski always claimed ‘war is wasteful’ and went on to acquire replacement jeeps from the Americans. The quick end to the African war and pressure to look towards Europe may also have played a part as the LRDG was to give up their vehicles in future operations in the Adriatic. Did the local Tunisians drag off or dismantle the wrecks? The answer to all the above is that we just don’t know.
So, towards the end of October 2019 the PPE is going to set off in four desert-equipped trucks with eight crew and go in search of any remaining signs of the ‘lost patrol.’ Having studied a number of print accounts, old War Office records and maps we have narrowed the area down to a reasonable size. Our search will be led by a former search and rescue pilot experienced in coordinating ground searches. The rest of the crew members include experienced desert hands, a paramedic, journalist and other adventurers up for the trip.
What will we find? In all likelihood nothing but sand. Maybe a few old ration tins or ‘flimsy’ fuel cans if we are lucky. But perhaps as the sands shift we may discover the actual remains of a late desert war special forces vehicle or two. But those discoveries yet lie ahead of us…so stay tuned.
What does Popski's Private Expeditions mean?
So, I imagine that anyone who comes across the name of our group wonders where we got the name and what 'private expeditions' really means...
Well, first off, if you have seen the 'Our Inspiration' section of the About Page, you will see that the name is a tribute to Popski's Private Army, one of the more unique and little known British special forces units of WWII. It's founder and commander, Lt. Colonel Vladamir Peniakoff, was an inspiration to me as young soldier and his account of his military exploits a motivation for me as a man.
The 'private' part of the name also suits because we are not a commercial tour company. We do hope to find others to join our expeditions but not just anyone can join up. Like the wartime PPA, you have to measure up to our standard of selection. Some of the key traits we look for:
- A reasonable state of physical fitness as the desert can test your endurance sometimes
- A sense of humour and the ability to laugh at challenges and adversity
- A desire to pitch in with group chores and with helping each other when we need it
- A sense of adventure
Of course, a desire to experience vehicle-based expeditions without the bubble wrap of a roof, windscreen, air con or leather seats also is a basic quality we look for!
So if you think you have the spirit of a classic adventurer, introduce yourself and you may be able to join our private little club!