A toggle rope was part of the standard equipment of British commandos [1] and the Parachute Regiment during World War II. It was 6 feet (1.8 m) long, and had a toggle at one end in a tightly fitting eye splice, with a larger eye at the other end. [2] [3] This enabled them to be fastened together to create an ersatz rope ladder, or to secure around a bundle for hauling, among other uses as well as an ad-hoc truncheon. The ropes were carried around the commandos and paratroopers waists while not in use. [4]
The toggle rope was also used by US Army Rangers [5] and Australia in the Vietnam War as the fibre rope assembly, single leg, polyester fibre, 1in circ. 9ft long [6] [7] Later variants of the nylon rope lacked the toggle and was 10mm x 4m long and was stored in a 1 ft long coil when stashed away. Modern day issued variants are the Platatac toggle rope.
The South African Defence Force (SADF) issued a modern version of the toggle rope widely to its soldiers in the 70's and 80's, it was generally referred to by soldiers by its Afrikaans name "tokkel-tou". The toggle was manufactured of anodised aluminium and a spliced nylon rope 190 cm long was used. [8]
Gallery
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Toggle bridge, showing the linking eyes and toggles. -
Commandos on a toggle rope bridge. -
Polish Commando equipment, 1945, including a toggle rope and a Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife. -
A Para Barra using field medical supplies. Note the toggle ropes.
References
- ^ USE OF TOGGLE ROPES Sgt John Liddle, 22nd Training Battalion Royal Marines. 1st Feb 1944
- ^ Pre-Service Physical Training and Recreation for Army Cadets 1943, Chapter 17 IMPROVISATION AND MAINTENANCE OF APPARATUS AND KIT FOR PHYSICAL AND RECREATIONAL TRAINING p.154
- ^ Home Guard Instruction Manual No.51, Part III Patrolling
- ^ Ladd, James (1 January 1979). Commandos and Rangers of World War II. p. 241. ISBN 9781131235172.
- ^ The RANGER-December 1, 1941, How to Make a Good TOGGLE ROPE For Your Ranger Work.
- ^ https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1149740
- ^ https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5a5ec07d90751a15e847651f
- ^ hatchfive (2023-04-03). "SADF Toggle Rope". Tales from the Supply Depot. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
External links
- "Equipment of British Airborne Forces in WWII". British 1st Airborne, Living History Association.
- "The Commando Rope". Archived from the original on 28 January 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- "Combat Recon Manual Tips Of The Trade".
- "PHILLOSOPH Toggle Ropes".
- "The Old and the Bold: Toggle Rope". National Army Museum.
- "Manual Of Land Warfare Part Two Infantry Training, Volume 1 Pamphlet No 2 The Rifle Platoon 1986" (PDF). Australian Army.
- "FM 90-5 Appendix C Jungle Obstacles". Global Security.
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