anotherthing

Pussers 'harry' black maskers. Could fix any of the aforementioned items with it...

Also great for impeding the progress of a crocadilly-moose-pig (swamp-donkey), when you are trying to make a hasty escape the morning after several beers too many

effortless

Lumpies........................

Wader2

Aircrew boxer shorts in a blue shirt material and rubber buttons

Arclite01

Aircrew socks - mine still going strong from 1993 and the green liney gloves with brown leather palms still going strong. Much better than the black palmed DPM replacements.................

Arc

Oh and I have a can-opener thingy too !!!!

Parson

High leg boots - easliy worn for 48 hrs+. Can't say that about my Scarpa Mantas.

Wader2

Best - Aircrew Crew Coach with its 10 seats arranged back to back and a driver.

Worst - the JU contraption, sliding door and self-drive.

Gainesy

With a so-called gear box that went screeeee, scrauggle kerlonk.

I reckon HM Forces must have bought all of 'em, can't imagine anyone with half a brain parting with coin for one.

Hmm, wasn't it a J2 rather than JU?

sisemen

For longevity it has to be the set of brushes (shoe, blanco, brass for the use of) that were issued in September 1963 and still in daily use.

My original holdall also now houses my bushfire kit.

And I have a compo can opener on my key ring.

Wouldn't mind a working Buccaneer though if anyone has a spare one they don't want.

biddedout

Speed tape.

Sonobuoy Tubes.

cornish-stormrider

Speed tape does not count. It was never issued - you had to steal it!

As a sooty I'd also say the liney gloves - nice when having to inspect cracks in a hot end.

Bob the Doc

Definitely second the aircrew socks and gloves. Of the 'newer' kit, the desert boots (Lowa/Meindl) are massively superior to their predecessors. The windproof desert DPM overtrousers were an absolute godsend on MERT over last Xmas and New Year.

Softie jacket and trs (no need for sleeping bag most of the time)

Extreme Cold Weather boots - Goretex lined and warm as toast. Much better than the standard combat high and not too warm even in summer

JTIDS

The new issue thermal mug. Brilliant bit of kit!

diginagain

G10 Thermos flask. Keeps hot stuff hot, and cold stuff cold.

But how does it know?

Dr Schlong

The newish black kit bag with 2 sets of handles that can be converted to a rucksack - loads of space and as tough as my mum's cooking! Mine's been all over the globe and still going strong.

Also second the softie jacket and trousers - excellent drinking gear for early/late o'clock in AKR in block 101!

Cornerstone958

Best my 1250
Worst handing it back in 27 years later
CS

Pontius Navigator

Had a couple of buoy tube end caps ex-summer ball. Had 'em years, great as plant pot holders and also enjoyed by a robin that nested in one.

BEagle

Whilst the JU was a pretty dreadful vehicle, the J2 was far worse!

Pontius Navigator

Can't remember which was which but we had one in Akrotiri that was a real peach. We once set off for Epi but it couldn't hack the hill and simply stopped. The engine cut out and that was that.

When MT brought us more fuel they could only get 1/2 a gallon into the tank. Not because the tank was full but because it had imploded. We were the told off by MT for taking it off the unit - they had authorised the 658!

Later we noticed the brake hydraulic reservoir was empty, remember it was on the floor by the clutch pedal? MT said bring the vehicle back to MTSS. When we pointed out that it had no brake fluid they said "drive it slowly".

Not sure who or what was worse - MT or the MT

Also remember the MT Fleet in Malta? Command reserve vehicles with "Drive carefully the hydraulic fluid is contaminated".

seafuryfan

The old aircrew knife. Replaced with a J knife - useless for pulling up 'o' rings from the floor, breaking into cabs, bottle opener etc

Boozydragon

Best kit ever issued was the Fiat Punto hire car and Agip fuel chits issued at Gioa in 1996!. Second fastest production vehicle ever after the white van driven by the Plumber's apprentice!