Operation Nimrod

The British Army Special Air Service (SAS) regiment that had been formed during WW2 is an elite secretive unit whose existence was barely known before the events of Operation Nimrod where their excellence at Close Quarter Battle (CQB) for hostage rescue earned them global esteem.

On 30th April 1980 six gunmen rushed into the Iranian Embassy at Princes Gate in London's borough of South Kensington, capturing twenty six people demanding the release of Arab prisoners from prisons in the Khuzestan region of Iran.

Police cordoned off the area and began negotiations, meanwhile B squadron of 22 SAS was instructed to make preparations in order to free the hostages should the negotiations fail.

After six days on 5th May gunshots were heard from within the embassy as the Iranian chief press officer Abbas Lavasani was executed and his body was thrown into the street where press from around the world had gathered.

Operational control was officially handed to the SAS to conduct an assault of the embassy codenamed Operation Nimrod which was put into effect at 19:23 that evening.

The assault was completed in seventeen minutes during which the gunmen had killed one more hostage whilst wounding two others. Four gunmen were killed outright as they attempted to repel the assault and two tried to hide amongst the hostages as they were being evacuated.

One of these that was holding a hand grenade was recognised and killed as he was making his way down the stairs and the final gunman was identified and arrested as soon as he exited the building.

The only SAS casualty was a Staff Sergeant who suffered burns to his legs when he was engulfed in flames as a consequence of the flash bang grenades setting the building on fire as he abseiled down to one of the balconies, who even though injured continued the assault and later made a full recovery.

This incident made the SAS famous due to events being captured live in front of the worlds media and exemplified their regimental motto "Who Dares Wins" on their winged dagger insignia seen here on the cap of the units founder David Stirling.

The events of Operation Nimrod have inspired many film and TV adaptations most recently the film 6 Days which was inspired by the book Go! Go! Go! by former team leader Rusty "No Gloves" Firmin pictured during the assault at the embassy.

Take care

Roo     

Scrim scarf a.k.a. snipers veil

The scrim scarf or snipers veil was issued to the British Army from 1942 to provide personal concealment by breaking up the silhouette of the soldier and his equipment without overly impeding their vision.

There are many different sizes but usually it measures 1.2m (4ft) square with hems on two opposing edges

Made from green cotton open weave netting occasionally overprinted with brown swirls today you can buy many different disruptive patterned prints and various solid colours.

When not being used for concealment it was usually rolled up and worn as a convenient neck scarf.

Just like the shemagh which has become more popular in recent years due to the Iraq and Afghanistan deployments it has multiple uses. These range from trapping small game and fish, improvised slings, to simple load carrying etc etc.

The open weave construction allows it to dry rapidly when hung up near a campfire or in even a gentle breeze.

Whilst disrupting the soldiers outline it also reduces glare from optics that can reveal their position and was often cut into strips for rifle wrapping.

A great lightweight item particularly if you're wild or stealth camping and wish to remain unobserved.

Take care

Roo

Giant Dutch Oven Giant Hot Cross Bun

I had planned to bake a giant hot cross bun for Easter in my dutch oven over an open campfire whilst camping but in the current situation that is not sensible so I've tried to simulate it in the garden using a fire bowl from a hanging BBQ 

Ingredients:

250g flour (212g for the mix and 38g for the cross paste)
25ml rape seed oil
3.5g yeast
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice 9nutmeg, ginger,fennel,cloves,caraway, corriander)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder
25g brown sugar
75g raisins and sultanas
13g mixed citrus peel
65ml milk
65ml hot water
38g plain sugar for glaze solution

Method:

Combine dry ingredients and fruit in a ziploc bag and shake to mix

Heat water and add to milk and rapeseed oil then pour into ziploc bag and knead for at least ten minutes

Set aside to prove for at least 45 minutes in a warm dutch oven

Mix flour and water into a paste then pipe over proved bun in cross pattern

Bake for at least 30 minutes and when done add warm water to remaining sugar to glaze leave dutch oven away from fire and place a couple of coals on the lid to set the glaze whilst you make a cup of tea!

Serves two normal people, great with a cup of tea

As ever I'd love to hear what you guys thought so please leave a comment, happy Easter!

You can watch a video of me doing this on my YouTube channel here:

Take care

Roo