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When I was in the RAF Regiment in the very early 80s we used to drive in convoy like most other armed forces units i.e. with our lights on. Now that works fine in the UK as a way of recognising the military vehicles in front (permanent tail lights) of and behind you amongst all the other traffic which doesn't have and isn't required to have its lights on.
HOWEVER, once you get to certain countries on the continent e.g. all the Scandinavian countries, it no longer works because over here all vehicles are required to have their lights on all the time, from dark winter mornings to bright summer afternoons.
The last convoy I was on, was during the Falklands (spring 82), and we were going from RAF Hullavington (near Chippenham) to one of the tank firing ranges on Salisbury Plain to exercise with our Scorpions and APCs. The convoy included several low loaders carrying our Scorpion tanks and other Alvis CVRT vehicles, Sultan, Spartan etc. Because the rubber feet on the tracks of these had a very short life we weren't allowed to drive them on metalled surfaces....My lasting memory of the trip was the whole convoy stopping in some tiny Wilthsire town to buy fish & chips...and having purchased food I remember myself sitting on the roof of one of our SWB hardtop Landrovers. Christ knows what the public must have thought, II Field Squadron Airborne, the parachute sqn of the RAF Regiment out for a spin in the country with their Landrovers, 3 tonners (still S Type Bedfords) and armour on lowloaders.
Personally, as it was during the Falklands, I think a lot of our swanning around like that & in full uniform off station when off duty was a means of support for the public. And it made us feel good too.
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