Derek, I must defer to you on all artillery matters. Your excellent work has been known to me for 20 years or so. The material that I am posting now is simply an unrevised copy of that which I wrote more than 15 year ago. I cannot at the moment check my sources since they are on discs and I do not have a disc reader. Thank you for your contribution. Mike
The Medium Artillery Guns. Plus tractors and signals. 6” Howitzer. The 6” 26cwt howitzer entered service in 1915 and by the end of WWI 3,633 had been issued for service. It was a sturdy and effective weapon and designed with the hydropneumatic recoil system which eventually continued almost unchanged in the WWII 5.5” gun. There were only ever very minor changes and there was never a second mark. The box trail carriage of the original design also continued unchanged except for updating of the wheels. Carriage Mk1 was fitted with rubber tyres to become Mark 1R and was later fitted with pneumatic tyres on pressed steel wheels to become Mk1P. When towed by an AEC Matador an extension was fitted to the trail. No limber was used. The 6” howitzer could fire a 86lb shell to a range of 11,400 yards or a 100lb shell to range of 9,500 yards. There were two shells Shell HE S/L 86lb Mk1D which was the standard shell. Shell HE S/L 100lb Mk1D D = streamlined. Separate propelling charges were used. The 86 lb shell used a Super Charge containing five increments. The 100lb shell used a Normal Charge containing three increments. Limbers were not used with 6” howitzers but when being towed by Dragons they used an extension bar to prevent the gun trail from fouling the vehicles rear end and tracks. The Matador did not have such obstructions but the extension could still be used. The 6" Howitzer. 60pdr gun The 60pdr gun was introduced before WWI but the version used by the BEF in 1939/40 dated from 1918. It also used the hydropneumatic recoil system. None were ready for issue before the end of WWI and only a small number were built, as 60pdr Mk2 on Carriage Mk4. The 60pdr gun on Carriage Mk4 was fitted with rubber tyres in the 1930s to become Carriage Mk4R. Those which went to France had pneumatic tyres on pressed steel wheels and were Carriage Mk4P. A limber, also with pneumatic tyres on pressed steel wheels, was also used. This was not intended to carry ammunition but to spread the weight. For long moves the 60pdr guns recoil system could be disconnected and the gun run back to full recoil and secured to the rear of the trail. One source states that the older Mk1 guns on Carriage Mk3 went to France. The German army listed some of this version in service as 12.7cm Kanone 381(e). These may well have been captured elsewhere as some of the earlier guns were used in the Middle East. There seems to be no record of the earlier Mk serving in France and little reason why they should have been sent when more modern ones were available. The Mk2 guns on Carriage Mk4 that were taken into German service were 12.7cm Kanone 382(e). The 60pdr Mk2 fired a 60lb shell to a range of 16,400 yards. Elevation was from -4.5 degrees to +35 degrees. Traverse was limited to 3 degrees either side. The 60pdr used two types of shell. Shell HEMk9C Shell Shrapnel Mk5C. This contained 397 round bullets. It was little used in WWII. The propelling charge was a single bag containing 8lb 12oz of explosive. The 60pdr gun in travelling position. Photo from 'Photographs of Modern Equipment 1939.' War Office. 4.5”/60pdr gun In the 1930s it was decided that a new medium gun was needed. The obvious and cheapest method of obtaining one was to give the 60pdr Mk2 a new barrel liner and shell, much as had been done successfully with the 18/25pdr. This became the 4.5” Mk1 but was generally called 4.5”/60pdr. The carriage was the Mk4 as used with the 60pdr. It is not clear how many of the 4.5” Mk1 were made and issued. It is certain that one regiment of these guns went to France with the BEF in September 1939. It seems that a second regiment must have followed since the Germans captured thirty two of these guns and put them into service as 11.4cm Kanone 365(e). It is also known that there were only seventy six 60pdr Mk2 available for conversion, which led to the programme of conversion being abandoned and a new 4.5” gun developed. The 4.5” MkI could fire a 55lb shell to a range of 20,000 yards. Elevation and traverse were as for the 60pdr Mk2 on Carriage Mk4. Only one shell was issued for use – HE S/L Mk1D. The Tractors. Medium Artillery Regiments used a variety of tractors and they were issued as available. New tractors were being produced in 1939 and 1940 but many older vehicles remained in service. There seems to have been some exchanges of tractors in France and probably some requisitioned tractors were used. It is difficult now to know exactly which units used which tractors since most vehicles, and most records, were lost. It is reasonable to suppose that medium regiments were up to establishment since mobility was important and they operated fairly near the front. Between the wars the Medium Dragon tractors were used to pull medium artillery. As with much between war equipment these were bought in small batches and issued for trials and manoeuvres. As defects were noted a new batch with improvements were ordered. The original Medium Dragon was a modified MkII field artillery tractor. This simply had ammunition lockers for the 60pdr and 6” howitzer added to become the Medium Dragon MkIII. In 1926 ten Medium Dragon MkIIIA were built with a revised engine compartment and improved suspension. In 1927 all the 28 Field Artillery Dragons were modified by having new ammunition stowage and an improved transmission and steering clutches to become Medium Dragon MkII* In 1928 ten MkIIIB were built with improvements to the driving compartment and engine cooling. In 1931 five MkIIIC were built again with modifications to the driving compartment and engine cooling. All these early Dragons had the engine at the front nearside and the driver alongside it on the offside. Most modifications were aimed at making the driving position at least bearable for the driver. Most machines in service were further modified to MkIIID standard. However all the MkIII Dragons were expensive to build and maintain and a new design was produced. It is doubtful if any of the MkIII Dragons remained in service in 1939. The Medium Dragon MkIV was an attempt to build a cheaper and more practicable tractor based on the Vickers 6ton tank. This had the engine in the rear compartment. The driver plus 2 gunners sat in the front with ammunition stowage on both sides and there were further crew seats either side of the engine. Ten were built in 1936 and were used in the BEF. By this date official thinking was beginning to favour wheeled tractors. The first were the AEC FWD R6T which again was built in small batches. Originally intended for anti aircraft artillery some were used to tow medium artillery. The R6T was a 6 X 6 tractor with winch. Nine vehicles were built in 1929 followed by six more in 1931. Further small batches were built in 1932, 1933 and 1935. Finally eleven were built in 1935. An unknown number were used in the BEF. The ‘official’ Medium Artillery Tractor was the AEC Matador which was first produced in 1938. It was ordered in quantity in 1939 but it is not known how many were available by May 1940. The Matador was a sturdy and powerful tractor with a diesel engine, four wheel drive, winch and a forward control cab. The Medium Artillery Tractor body was a simple wooden construction with a canvas tilt on a tubular frame. It was in most respects like a general Service body. There was a door at the front nearside which gave access to two rows of wooden seats. The rest of the body was occupied by ammunition and gun equipment. Propellant charges were stowed down the sides and shells were simply piled in the centre and held in place with chocks. The canvas sides of the tilt could be rolled up and the front portions had small muslin ‘windows’. Crew equipment was carried in racks in the curve of the roof sides. Communications Wireless set No 11 Introduced in 1938 Wireless Set No 11 was a very useful general purpose set for communication over short distances. It could be used as a ground station, a vehicle station or it could be man handled. There were many combinations of set, batteries and aerials to suit most needs in the front line areas. A station is used to describe a set plus all the other items needed to use it effectively – power units, remote control units, batteries, aerials, microphones and earphones, wires and plugs etc. The set was designed as a transmitter and receiver in a single case and using a variety of separate power sources. Unlike many contemporary sets it was easy to tune to a wireless net since the tuning controls of the transmitter and receiver were linked. Tuning the receiver to a transmitted signal automatically tuned the receiver. Using the appropriate power source the following stations could be set up Portable Low Power ground station using a six volt accumulator and a 240 volt dry battery. This was by far the lightest station at some 60pounds which could be carried broken into two loads. Low Power ground station. This used a Low Power Supply Unit plus a six volt accumulator. The basic station was some twelve pounds heavier but was usually used with other equipment which increased the weight considerably. Low Power vehicle station. This could be heavier, and it could still be dismounted for use as a ground station. It used a twelve volt Low Power Supply Unit plus a twelve volt accumulator, or two six volt accumulators in series. High Power vehicle station. This used a twelve volt Low Power Supply Unit and a twelve volt High Power Supply Unit. This was the heaviest station at about 220 pounds. Depending on the aerial used the various stations could give the following ranges. Low Power Station using Morse six to ten miles Low Power Station using voice three to five miles High Power Station using Morse sixteen to twenty miles High Power Station using voice eight to ten miles Aerials could be Vehicle mounted D rod either six foot or nine foot. This could be used on the move. When stationary longer rods could be used. Ground mounted D rod from nine foot to twenty one foot. Wyndom aerial. This was a copper wire aerial strung between two masts. Depending on the frequency being used it could be rapidly adjusted from fifty six to ninety six foot. The set could be used up to six hundred yards from the aerial using two Remote Control Units A. When used as a ground station the set rested on the detachable front of the set which had folding legs. When used in a vehicle it was carried in a frame which could be adjusted to accommodate the various items. When mounted in the 8cwt FFW a twelve volt High Power set is normally used. All the various units of the station are mounted in a line down the offside of the body. Two twelve volt accumulators rest on the floor either side of the operator. These can be charged from a separate dynamo. A six foot aerial mounted on a spring base is most commonly used although longer aerials as mentioned above can be used. When mounted in an Observation Carrier the set was carried in the front of the offside compartment. The batteries were carried in an armoured box at the rear of the body. There were no charging facilities. Telephone D This was a field telephone which was always connected and the line always open. It was not disconnected when the handset was replaced. The caller alerted the other end of the line or the switchboard by buzzer. It could be used for normal speech but also had a key for Morse transmission. A line from an observation post to a command post would be a direct line but most lines went through a Switchboard, Universal Call which might be a ten line or a six line switchboard connecting any incoming line with any other. The operator was alerted by a lamp or by a buzzer. The wire used in the forward areas was Wire D which was a braided steel and copper wire which was suitable for lines up to ten miles long. Wires could be laid by hand, by hand operated cable layer in a 15cwt truck or by a power cable layer in a 15 cwt truck or 30cwt lorry. Mike
HEAVY ARTILLERY War Establishment WE III/1931/11/2. 6” and 60pdr guns. War Establishment WE III/1931/11A/1. 6” and 8” guns. Heavy artillery and super heavy artillery were GHQ units. These were available to support Corps when required. Much of it was not very mobile and was best suited to static warfare of the kind experienced in WWI. There was an artillery general at GHQ but the organisation of GHQ artillery did not allow rapid or flexible deployment. In the BEF GHQ artillery included 2 X regiments of Royal Horse Artillery 6 X regiments of field artillery 8 X regiments of medium artillery 3 X regiments of heavy artillery 3 X batteries of super heavy artillery. Heavy artillery regiments went into WWII with the same guns with which they had ended WWI twenty years earlier and many were still on the earlier large traction engine wheels. The heavy artillery consisted of 6” guns, 8” howitzers and 9.2” howitzers. The latter could hardly be considered mobile. The super heavy batteries used 12” howitzers which were even less mobile, although some were on railway mountings. The organisation of the Heavy Regiment is taken from the contemporary handbook ‘Artillery Training Volume I, Pamphlet 2A – Battle Drill and Manoeuvre for the Reconnaissance and Occupation of Positions’ March 1940. This handbook gives the grouping of vehicles and personnel when moving into position as well as the organisation of the regiment when in position. HEAVY REGIMENTS There were only three Heavy Regiments with the BEF, all of them GHQ troops. Their history was rather confused as they rationalised equipment and absorbed reservists. First to go to France, in September 1939 was 1st Heavy Regiment. This had only three batteries on mobilisation and they had non standard equipment. This consisted of one battery of 6” Mk19 guns and two batteries of 6” 26cwt howitzers which were the standard equipment for Medium Regiments. By November 1st Heavy Regiment still had only three batteries but was now equipped with the more usual 6” gun and 8” howitzer. By May 1940 1st Heavy regiment had its full complement of four batteries, one with 6” guns and three with 8” howitzers. 3rd Heavy Regiment also went to France in September. Again this regiment had only three batteries but in this case one had 6” guns and the other two had 9.2” howitzers. By May 1940 3rd Heavy Regiment had one battery of 6” guns and three batteries of 9.2” howitzers. The first Territorial Army regiment to arrive in France was 51 Heavy Regiment. This arrived in November 1939 and seems to have had a battery of 6” guns and three batteries of 9.2” howitzers on arrival. A fourth regiment was formed and ready to go to France in June 1940. This was 52 Heavy Regiment TA. It is not clear if it actually took its guns to France or if only its personnel went. 1 Heavy Regiment....GHQ Reserve....4 X 6” gun and 12 X 8” howitzer 3 Heavy Regiment....GHQ Reserve....4 X 6” gun and 12 X 9.2” howitzer 51 Heavy Regiment..GHQ Reserve....4 X 6” gun and 12 X 9.2” howitzer 52 Heavy Regiment..GHQ Reserve....4 X 6” gun and 12 X 9.2” howitzer HEAVY REGIMENT Personnel Lieutenant Colonel 5 X Major Captain, Adjutant 4 X Captain 10 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 4 X Battery Serjeant Major 4 X Warrant Officer Class III 4 X battery quartermaster serjeant serjeant, technical stores 4 X signal serjeant serjeant cook 16 X serjeant No1 of guns 71 X bombardier 567 X gunner 5 X trumpeter Attached Medical Officer RAMC Chaplain driver for chaplain batman for chaplain 7 X fitter MV RAOC 10 X radio operator RAF Trades. 13 artificer RA clerk 4 X equipment repairers 7 X motor mechanic 4 X battery surveyor 5 X technical storeman 6 X battery commanders assistant and rangetaker 6 X battery surveyors assistant 24 X batman 7 X clerk 13 X cook 211 X driver IC 4 X GPOs assistant 4 X computer 560 X gun detachments 20 X lmg detachment medical officers orderly 16 X orderly 80 X signaller 5 X sanitary duties 5 X storeman 5 X water duties butchery dutyman 5 X trumpeter 29 X motorcycle 2 X car 4 seater 19 X 8cwt truck 20 X 15cwt truck 5 X 15cwt water 1 X 30cwt 6 X 4 office 13 X 30cwt lorry GS 12 X 3ton lorry GS 16 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS 36 X heavy tractor 16 X carrier transporting firing platform Organisation -Motorcycle 1 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant -Motorcycle 2 orderly -Motorcycle 3 orderly -Motorcycle 4 orderly -Motorcycle 5 orderly -Car 4 seater 1 Lieutenant Colonel, Orderly Officer, trumpeter, driver IC -Car 4 seater 2 Chaplain, batman, driver -8cwt truck 1 Major, 2 X operator RAF, driver IC Carries RAF radio set -8cwt truck 2 Survey Officer, surveyor, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 3 Quartermaster, technical stores serjeant, clerk, driver IC -15cwt truck 1 Adjutant, bombardier clerk, 2 X gunner, batman, driver IC Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the front of the body -15cwt truck 2 3 X surveyor, driver IC Carries survey equipment -15cwt truck 3 bombardier surveyor, 3 X surveyor, driver IC Carries survey equipment -15cwt truck 4 Artificer RA, 2 X motor mechanic, 2 X fitter RAOC, driver IC Carries fitters tools 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 Regimental Serjeant Major, clerk, driver IC Carries office equipment 30cwt lorry GS 2 Medical Officer, medical orderly, batman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries medical equipment -30cwt lorry GS 3 serjeant cook, cook, butcher, driver IC Carries cooking set and rations -30cwt lorry GS 4 storeman, bombardier, gunner, batman, clerk, driver IC Carries anti gas capes, reserve clothing, QM stores Carries Bren lmg Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -30cwt lorry GS 5 technical storeman, motor mechanic, fitter RAOC, driver IC Carries MT stores and petrol -30cwt lorry GS 6 3 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess and baggage 4 X Battery Battery Headquarters Command section -Motorcycle 1 Battery Serjeant Major -Motorcycle 2 Warrant Officer Class III -Motorcycle 3 signal serjeant -Motorcycle 4 orderly -Motorcycle 5 orderly -Motorcycle 6 orderly -8cwt truck 1 Major, bombardier battery commanders assistant, signaller, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -8cwt truck 2 Subaltern Gun Position Officer, bombardier gun position offices assistant, signaller, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -8cwt truck 3 Subaltern Observation Post Officer, 2 X signaller, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -8cwt truck 4 3 X signaller, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -15cwt truck 1 Captain, computer, trumpeter, 2 X relief signallers, driver IC Carries AT rifle -15cwt truck 2 bombardier signaller, 5 X signaller, driver IC Carries mechanical cable layer -15cwt truck 3 bombardier signaller, 4 X signaller, driver IC Carries hand cable layer -15cwt truck 4 clerk, 2 X gunner, 2 X operator RAF, driver IC Carries RAF wireless set and office equipment Carries Bren gun and AT rifle Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the front of the body Administrative section -15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 4 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess gear -30cwt lorry GS 2 driver IC Carries spare anti gas capes and reserve clothing -3ton lorry GS 1 battery quartermaster serjeant, storeman, 2 X driver IC Carries QM stores Carries AT rifle -3ton lorry GS 2 Artificer RA, motor mechanic, technical storeman, 2 X gunner, fitter RAOC, equipment repairer, 2 X driver IC Carries MT stores Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -3ton lorry GS 3 3 X cook, sanitary dutyman, 2 X driver IC Carries cooking sets -Tractor 2 X driver IC Reserve tractor 6” Gun Battery Section 1 -Tractor 1 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 6” Gun -Tractor 2 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 6” Gun -Tractor 3 bombardier, 4 X gunner, artificer RA, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -Tractor 4 bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 1 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Section 2 -Tractor 1 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 6” Gun -Tractor 2 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 6” Gun -Tractor 3 bombardier, 4 X gunner, artificer RA, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -Tractor 4 bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 1 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition OR 8” Howitzer Battery Section 1 -Tractor 1 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows 8” Howitzer -Tractor 2 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows 8” Howitzer -Tractor 3 bombardier, 4 X gunner, artificer RA, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -Tractor 4 bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 1 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Section 2 -Tractor 1 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows 8” Howitzer -Tractor 2 serjeant, bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries wedges, gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows 8” Howitzer -Tractor 3 bombardier, 4 X gunner, artificer RA, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -Tractor 4 bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores and camouflage equipment Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tows carrier transporting firing platform -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 1 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 bombardier, 3 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries skidding and gun stores Carries 20 rounds of ammunition OR 9.2” Battery The 9.2” Battery was sufficiently different for the regiment containing it to be given a separate war establishment. However the differences are restricted to the 9.2” Howitzer sections, although these affect the number and type of vehicles and the number of drivers IC and gun numbers. 29 X motorcycle 2 X car 4 seater 19 X 8cwt truck 20 X 15cwt truck 5 X 15cwt water 1 X 30cwt 6 X 4 office 13 X 30cwt lorry GS 12 X 3ton lorry GS 28 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS 36 X heavy tractor 4 X carrier transporting firing platform 12 X trailer transporting holdfast 12 X wagon transporting howitzer 12 X carriages and limbers transporting bed 12 X carriages and limbers transporting body and cradle Section 1 -Tractor 1 serjeant, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage transporting body and cradle -Tractor 2 serjeant, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage transporting body and cradle2 -Tractor 3 bombardier, 4 X gunner, artificer RA, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 10 rounds of ammunition Tows two carriages transporting beds -Tractor 4 bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 10 rounds of ammunition Tows two trailers transporting holdfasts -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 1 4 X bombardier, 12 X gunner, 2 X driver IC -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 3 2 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 2 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Section 2 -Tractor 1 serjeant, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage transporting body and cradle -Tractor 2 serjeant, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage transporting body and cradle2 -Tractor 3 bombardier, 4 X gunner, artificer RA, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 10 rounds of ammunition Tows two carriages transporting beds -Tractor 4 bombardier, 4 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 10 rounds of ammunition Tows two trailers transporting holdfasts -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 1 4 X bombardier, 12 X gunner, 2 X driver IC -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 3 2 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 2 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Heavy Regiment Signal Section Personnel Subaltern Sergeant 2 X corporal 22 X signalman 6 X driver 6 X motorcycle 4 X 8cwt wireless truck 1 X 15cwt wireless truck 1 X 30cwt 6 X 4 lorry 1 X 30cwt lorry 10 X pistol (for subaltern, serjeant, despatch riders, electricians and linesmen 22 X rifle 1 X AT rifle -Motorcycle 1 serjeant -Motorcycle 2 despatch rider -Motorcycle 3 despatch rider -Motorcycle 4 electrician -Motorcycle 5 lineman -Motorcycle 6 lineman -8cwt truck 1 Subaltern, batman, spare driver, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -8cwt truck 2 2 X operator, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -8cwt truck 3 2 X operator, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -8cwt truck 4 2 X operator, driver IC Carries a Wireless set -15cwt truck 1 3 X lineman, driver IC Carries mechanical cable layer -30cwt lorry GS 1 2 X corporal, 6 X operator, driver IC This vehicle used as signal office -30cwt lorry GS 2 electrician, cook, driver IC Carries charging set and manual cable layer Carries AT rifle LIGHT AID DETACHMENT RAOC Personnel Captain or Subaltern (OME 3rd or 4th Class) Warrant Officer armament artificer lance corporal fitter 3 X fitter MV electrician driver mechanic storeman batman driver motorcyclist 2 X driver IC 1 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 breakdown lorry 1 X 3ton stores lorry 2 X pistol 11 X rifle Organisation for Manoeuvre and Deployment For tactical purposes the regiment formed a number of groups which could move separately. Z Group Regimental Commanders Party The regimental headquarters party contained those personnel and vehicles essential to the tactical planning and operation of the unit. The Commanding officer would take his group to Corp Headquarters to receive his orders. He would then select a Regimental Headquarter site close to the Corp Headquarters. The Second in Command would then go to supervise the establishing of gun positions while the Commanding Officer would establish observation posts. The Signal Officer would establish communications from observation posts to gun positions and to battery headquarters, and from battery headquarters to regimental headquarters. Royal Signals were fully integrated with the headquarters and where Royal Artillery personnel travelled in Royal Signals vehicles these are shown. The Royal Signals detachment had a separate War Establishment. The letter/number code is that officially given to the vehicles and was usually displayed on the arm of service sign. Z 4 seater car Commanding Officer, trumpeter, driver IC S2 8cwt FFW. Royal Signals Royal Signals personnel Carries Wireless No11 set tuned to the regimental net. MC1 Motorcycle commanding officer’s orderly Z2 8cwt truck Second in Command, Signal Officer, NCO linesman, driver IC The signal officer rode in this truck when he was accompanying the CO or 2ic to Order Group. Otherwise he travelled in signal section S1. Motorcycle. Royal Signals. despatch rider MC2 Motorcycle second in command’s orderly Sur1 Car 2 seater Survey Officer, battery surveyor A Group Adjutants party The adjutant was responsible for establishing Regimental Headquarters and running it in the absence of the Commanding Officer. He would select the site for regimental headquarters and arrange the different areas within it. Signals would then be established from the Regimental Headquarters to Corp Headquarters, battery headquarters and to observation posts. At first these were by wireless but as soon as possible the telephone cables were laid and wireless then used only if the cables were cut. A1 8cwt truck Adjutant, clerk, 2 X AA gunners, driver IC MC3 motorcycle adjutants orderly S4 8cwt FFW. Royal Signals Orderly Officer and Royal Signals personnel Carries Wireless No11 set on the regimental net S5 8cwt FFW. Royal Signals Royal Signals personnel Carries Wireless No11 set tuned to higher formation. S1 Car 2 seater. Royal Signals Signal Officer, batman driver. Motorcycle. Royal Signals signal serjeant Motorcycle. Royal Signals despatch rider Motorcycle. Royal Signals signal linesman Survey party Heavy Regiments had their own survey section in regimental headquarters. This was most important since the heavy guns would be firing mostly from map references or bearings. Heavy guns would never fire over open sights and relied less on forward observers giving fire orders directly. Heavy guns would mostly be engaged in counter battery work against enemy artillery located by observers, aircraft, sound locating or flash spotting. All this information was processed and passed to the regiment as bearings or map references. Regimental surveyors would need to accurately locate the position of Regimental Headquarters in relation to the batteries. A zero line would be established as a basis for calculations at regimental and battery command posts. MC4 motorcycle serjeant surveyor MC5 motorcycle bombardier surveyor Sur2 Car 2 seater 2 X surveyor Sur3 Car 2 seater 2 X surveyors. Sur4 Car 2 seater 2 X surveyor Regimental Headquarters Group: The Regimental Headquarters Group was responsible for the administration of the regiment. It would normally be separate from the regimental headquarters itself and the various elements could operate separately on arrival as required. The second in command was responsible for this area assisted by the Quartermaster and regimental serjeant major. A2 15cwt GS truck Regimental Serjeant Major, 2 clerk, driver IC A3 Car 2 seater Medical Office, batman driver S6 30cwt lorry. Royal Signals Royal Signals personnel Equipped as Signal Office S7 30cwt lorry. Royal Signals Royal Signals personnel Equipped for battery charging S8 15cwt truck. Royal Signals Royal signals personnel Carries cable layer and cable reels. Motorcycle. Royal Signals signalman electrician Motorcycle. Royal Signals signalman linesman Regimental B echelon The B echelon contained those vehicles and personnel not immediately required by the various regimental headquarters groups. Batteries had their own B echelon vehicles and personnel which might travel under the command of regimental headquarters. The Quartermaster commands this group. Q1 Motorcycle Quartermaster Q2 30cwt GS lorry cook, 5 X batman, 2 X AA gunners, driver IC Carries officers mess cooking sets and rations. Q3 30cwt GS lorry 2 X cook, butchery dutyman, batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Q4 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC Q5 30cwt GS lorry Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, clerk, storeman, driver IC Q6 30cwt GS lorry armourer, serjeant RAOC, technical storeman, driver IC Q7 30cwt GS lorry electrician, driver IC Carries battery charging and repair equipment Q8 15cwt 2 X AA gunners, driver IC MC7 Motorcycle serjeant technical storeman MC8 Motorcycle motor mechanic The Batteries. Each of the four batteries was identical and was organised as follows. Battery Commanders Party The Battery Reconnaissance Group was the small tactical headquarters of the battery. Led by the Battery Commander. X 8cwt FFW Major (Battery Commander), 2 X signalman(wireless), observation post assistant, driver IC. Carried a Wireless No11 set tuned to the battery net. O 8cwt FFW Subaltern, 2 X signalman(wireless), observation post assistant, driver IC. Carried a Wireless No11 set tuned to the battery net. MC1 motorcycle battery commanders orderly MC2 motorcycle signaller serjeant G Party G 8cwt FFW Gun Position Officer, gun position officers assistant, signaller (wireless), driver IC Carried a Wireless No11 set tuned to the battery net. MC3 motorcycle gun position officers orderly H 8cwt FFW Assistant Gun Position Officer, gun position officers assistant, signaller (wireless) driver IC Carried a Wireless No11 set tuned to the regimental net MC4 motorcycle Battery Serjeant Major Gun Group RA 8cwt FFW Captain, gun position officers assistant, signalman (wireless), driver IC Carries Wireless No11 set tuned to battery net MC5 motorcycle captains orderly MC6 motorcycle Subaltern (battery leader) The captain may have had to travel separately to receive orders etc in which case the Subaltern battery leader would lead the gun group. He might travel in K2 for long journeys, or when he needed to read a map. K2 15cwt truck Subaltern battery leader, clerk, 3 X signaller, driver IC. M1 15cwt truck bombardier signaller, 5 X signaller, driver IC Carries mechanical cable layer and cable reels. AA Heavy Artillery Tractor towing 8” howitzer serjeant, 5 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 10 rounds of ammunition AB Heavy Artillery Tractor 7 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition, skidding and stores AC Heavy Artillery Tractor towing 8” howitzer serjeant, 5 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 10 rounds of ammunition AD Heavy Artillery Tractor 7 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition, skidding and stores AE Heavy Artillery Tractor towing 8” howitzer serjeant, 5 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 10 rounds of ammunition AF Heavy Artillery Tractor 7 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition, skidding and stores AG Heavy Artillery Tractor towing 8” howitzer serjeant, 5 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 10 rounds of ammunition AH Heavy Artillery Tractor 7 X gun number, 2 X driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition, skidding and stores M2 15cwt truck bombardier signaller, 3 X signaller, 2 X AA gunners, driver IC Carries hand cable layer. Ammunition Group The battery ammunition group travelled with the guns and carried a first reserve of ammunition. Amn1 3ton lorry GS 4 X gunner, 2 X driverIC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Amn2 3ton lorry GS 4 X gunner, 2 X driverIC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Amn3 3ton lorry GS 4 X gunner, 2 X driverIC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Amn4 3ton lorry GS 4 X gunner, 2 X driverIC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition ? Heavy Artillery Tractor 2 X driver IC Spare tractor Battery B echelon The battery B echelon contained those vehicles required for the administration and supply of the battery. It was normally kept under the control of regimental headquarters and vehicles sent forward as required. Q1 3ton GS lorry battery quartermaster serjeant, storeman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carried Q stores Q2 3ton GS lorry technical storeman, 2 X AA bren gunners, equipment repairer, gun fitter, driver IC Carries 2 X bren guns plus MT stores Q3 3ton GS lorry corporal cook, 3 X cook, batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations. Q4 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC. Q5 15cwt truck 5 X batman, officers mess cook, driver IC officers mess and baggage Q6 15cwt truck gun fitter, driver IC Carries petrol. Mike
HEAVY REGIMENT 2. THE GUNS The Heavy Regiment used the 6” gun plus the 8” howitzer and 9.2” howitzer. The 6” gun and the 8” howitzer were partner pieces which used the same carriage. The 6” gun had the longer range, half as far again as the 8” howitzer. The 8” howitzer fired a shell twice as heavy as the 6” gun. 6” gun The guns which went to France in 1939 were 6”Mk19 on Carriage Mk8. This dated from the later part of WWI. It was a box trail carriage and the gun used a hydropneumatic recoil system. The 6” gun fired a 100lb shell to a range of 18,750 yards. Elevation was up to 38 degrees. Traverse was 4 degrees either side. Shells included Shell HE Mk20B Shell Shrapnel Mk18**B which contained 874 bullets. Some hundred 6” guns were built but only twelve plus one spare went to France. At first some still had traction engine wheels but these were probably replaced by pneumatic tyred wheels as soon as possible. 8” howitzer One of the mainstays of the heavy artillery in WW! This howitzer again formed the larger part of the heavy artillery in the BEF. There had been no changes apart from the fitting of large pneumatic tyred wheels. It was a reliable weapon which was later given a new lease of life by fitting liners to produce the 7.2” howitzer. The 8” howitzer fired a 200lb shell to a range of 12,400 yards. Elevation was up to 45 degrees. Traverse was 4 degrees either side. The shell was Shell HE Mk15 The propelling charge was a bagged charge in six increments. Charge 1 gave a range of 4,950 yards Charge 2 gave a range of 6,100 yards Charge 3 gave a range of 7,950 yards Charge 4 gave a range of 10,750 yards Charge 5 gave a range of 11,450 yards Charge 6 gave a range of 12,400 yards 9.2” Howitzer. The 9.2” Howitzers which remained in service in 1939 were Mk2 which had entered service in 1916. At that time the gun was transported in three loads of about six tons each. Each load was carried on a transport wagon with four wooden wheels. There is no evidence that the guns or wagons were updated although the wagons may have been fitted with solid rubber tyres. Speed in transport was not a requirement with this class of weapon and it took at least twelve hours to assemble and emplace on arrival. The 9.2” howitzer Mk2 weighed 36,288 lb in action. In addition it needed a large steel earth box containing eleven tons of soil to anchor the front end against recoil. The elevation was from 15 degrees to 50 degrees when firing although it was lowered to the horizontal for loading. Traverse was 30 degrees either side. This was necessary since it would take many hours to reposition the whole weapon. The howitzer fired a 290lb shell to a range of 13,935 yards. There seems to have been only one shell – Shell HE Mk17A There were two propelling charges -Normal which was divided into five incremental charges -Super which was a single bag For movement the 9.2” howitzer was towed in two parts - the actual gun weighing 6.55 tons - the carriage and cradle weighing 6.6 tons The carriage bed formed of steel beams and the collapsed earth box formed a third load weighing 5.6tons. The bed of steel beams was laid out and the carriage emplaced on it. The barrel was then lined up with the cradle and winched into place. The earth box was erected and filled. Heavy Artillery Tractors There were never sufficient heavy artillery tractors. Only very small numbers had been built before the war and although some excellent designs were being introduced production was slow and most units were below the official establishment. The Scammell Pioneer was the preferred tractor for heavy artillery. This was an excellent vehicle in every way. The success of the Morris 6 X 4 CDSW Field Artillery Tractor had led to the decision to develop 6 X 4 tractors for heavier guns. Scammell already built a suitable chassis in the Pioneer. This was sold , mainly overseas, to heavy haulage contractors and oil companies. It had a sturdy and reliable Gardner diesel engine which gave ample power at low revolutions. After trials it was suggested that the Pioneer could haul 36 ton loads on roads, although at a fairly low speed. This exceeded the weight of guns, or loads, then in service. Of course later the Pioneer would be used as a 30ton tank transporter. The Pioneers suspension was also excellent. The patented Scammel rear bogie allowed all four driven wheels to be firmly in contact with the ground, and thus delivering power, over the roughest terrain. A pivoting front axle did the same for the front wheels. Many pioneer tractors, although mainly the breakdown version, remain in the hands of collectors and preservationists and still perform as well as ever they did. Many were still earning their living until fairly recently. In 1936 sixty pioneers were ordered and plans were made to use them to haul medium, heavy and anti aircraft artillery. In 1937 the Pioneer was further improved by installing a horizontal winch which saved spaces, and newly developed 13.50 – 20 tyres which were low pressure with stiff sides, giving even greater adhesion. By 1938 Pioneers were in service to haul 60pdr guns. Later some were used to haul 3.7” Heavy Anti Aircraft guns. However production was slow and there were never enough so that Heavy Artillery had priority. It is very difficult to say now which regiments used which tractors. It is known that the first regiments to go to France in 1939 were fairly well equipped but as more regiments were sent there was some redistribution of vehicles. Numbers were made up with impressed civilian vehicles. By 1940 the supply situation had improved somewhat but since most vehicles and records were lost it is difficult to know the precise numbers in service. It would seem most likely that the Heavy Artillery regiments had Scammel Pioneer Heavy Artillery Tractors for the 8” howitzers and 6” guns. They may not have had the two tractors per gun stipulated in the War Establishment. The 9.2” Howitzer was moved in three loads and each could be handled by a lighter tractor than the Scammell Pioneer. However there was an even greater shortage of Medium Artillery Tractors. Scammell Pioneer with 6" gun. Scammel Pioneer with 8" Howitzer. 9.2" Howitzer in firing position but without earth box. In Action The Organisation for Manoeuvre shows the various groups as they approached and deployed for action. The following shows where the different groups were when deployed for action and what the tasks of each group were. Full details of personnel are not given since these are the same as in for Manoeuvre. With minor changes to reflect the differences in War Establishment and organisation the following applies to all Field Artillery Regiments whether field, medium or heavy. Commanding Officer. The Commanding Officer with his small group would be at the headquarters of the formation being supported. In the case of the field regiment this would be the infantry brigade headquarters. For others it would be division or corp headquarters. The nucleus of this group would be the 4 seater car, 15 cwt signals truck and a motorcycle with the commanding officers orderly, driver, batman and signalmen. The Commanding Officer may have taken other personnel including the orderly officer. The other groups that accompanied the Commanding Officer to receive orders would have returned to their duties in the regimental area. Regimental Headquarters. The second in command was responsible for the gun area and administration of the regiment. His small headquarters group would be sited centrally in the gun area and be in communication with the Regimental Command Post and the B echelon. He would take over command of the regiment if the Commanding Officer became a casualty. The Regimental Command Post was the responsibility of the adjutant. The Command Post would be manned at all times by the adjutant, orderly officer or the signal officer. There were communications to the Commanding Officer, Second in Command, Batteries and Observation Posts. The Regimental Serjeant Major was responsible to the adjutant and was particularly concerned with the administrative headquarters, the regimental office and defence teams. The Quartermaster was responsible for the Regimental B echelon plus a proportion of the batteries B echelons and ammunition groups. These were held in the rear and sent forward as required. Batteries. No matter what type of regiment or gun the battery and troop had similar command systems. The operational and administrative responsibilities were as usual separate with the battery second in command being responsible for the administration and echelons. The Battery Commander usually sited his observation post near to the headquarters of the unit being supported. In the field regiment this would be an infantry battalion headquarters. The troop commanders would also man observation posts as decided by the battery commander. They might be near the infantry company headquarters or in a position which offered a good view of the battlefield. In any case the observation post would be manned by the observation officer and a small team. They were in communication with the battery and troop by telephone and might be allotted a wireless if necessary. Where possible two telephone lines were laid so that if one were lost communications could continue. The Battery had a Command Post under the Command Post Officer and his Assistant Command Post Officer. They were further assisted by command post officers assistants who were gunners trained in command post duties. There were communications to regimental headquarters, observers, troops and B echelon. The equipment and methods of the Command Post were essentially simple but capable of considerable flexibility and refinement. -The director was used to carry out a simple survey and lay out a battery zero line. This information was passed to regiment who then plotted the positions of batteries and passed the information to higher headquarters. -The artillery board. This is explained more fully below but the Battery Command Post maintained a board for each troop. The troop had a Gun Position Officer and his Assistant Gun Position Officer plus gun position officers assistants and signallers. The troop commander was usually manning an observation post. The Gun Position Officer had many practical responsibilities. Laying out a zero line using a director. This was the base line from which all calculations, and there were many, were made. The director was a simple graduated disc with a rotating sight mounted in the centre. The whole could be mounted on a tripod. Checking that all the guns were parallel. Again this was essential to the calculations. Aiming posts could be put out for each gun to establish and maintain this. Aiming posts were red and white metal stakes to which could be attached a cross arm with numbers to indicate the degree of variation from true. Accurately positioning the pivot gun. This was the gun on which all calculations were based. Usually it was the right hand gun in the troop. Preparing tables to show the deviation of each gun from the pivot gun. Guns varied not only in their position but also in their ballistics. As the barrels wore the ballistics changed. Maintaining the artillery board. This was a wooden board which came in two sizes. No2 was 21” square and No3 was 30” square. To the board was pinned a sheet of linen reinforced paper which was divided into grids to a scale of 1:25000. Thus the Board No2 could be used for ranges up to 12000 yards and the Board No3 could be used up to 16,000 yards. A brass pivot marked the position of the pivot gun (see below). A steel bearing arc was aligned to the surveyed zero line and a range arm rotated on the pivot. This simple device allowed rapid measurement of the range and bearing to any point marked on the grid. Targets and any other useful information were marked on the board thus forming a map. Calculating corrections to be made to range and bearing to take into account meteorological conditions. This was based on ‘meteor’ telegrams and a local thermometer. Wind, air pressure, humidity and temperature all affected either the shells flight or the performance of the propellant, or both. Meteorological data was prepared by the RAF and passed to the Corp Survey Regiment which processed it and converted it into a ‘meteor’ telegram which was then sent to regiments and thus to batteries and troops. In 1940 telegrams were sent three times a day, at 0600 hours, 1200 hours and 1800 hours. Recording targets. Whenever a target was engaged the range and bearing were noted, together with corrections for each gun so that the same target could be engaged very rapidly in the future. In order to do this targets were all given a number. Initially observers allocated numbers using their battery letter and a number. In order to perform all these calculations artillery officers made use of a variety of tools including: Range tables which were used to calculate the variations for each gun based on the individual guns ballistic characteristics. Meteorological correction tables which converted the meteorological data into variations in range or bearing. Logarithm tables. Slide rules And lots of official forms. When all this high tech work had been done orders were given to each gun by megaphone. Each gun was given the range and bearing. Guns had sighting dials which converted range into elevation. Mike
It has been pointed out by Aixman that I omitted the final part of 'Infantry Garrison Battalion' (Post 12). This was the 'Rifle Companies'. I have now added this. Mike
SUPER HEAVY BATTERY. War Establishment WE III/1931/11D/1. There were only three Super Heavy Batteries, all of which went to France in 1939. Super Heavy Batteries did not have troops and had only two guns per battery. 1 Super Heavy Battery GHQ Reserve 2 X 9.2” rail guns 2 Super Heavy Battery GHQ Reserve 2 X 12” road howitzer 3 Super Heavy Battery GHQ Reserve 2 X 12“ rail howitzer The following relates only to the road howitzer. Personnel Major Captain 2 X Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major Warrant Officer Class III battery quartermaster serjeant signal serjeant 4 X serjeant 10 X bombardier 126 X gunner 33 X driver IC Attached 4 X radio operator RAF 3 X artificer RA 3 X motor mechanic 2 X battery surveyor 2 X battery commanders assistant and rangetaker 2 X battery surveyors assistant 5 X batman 2 X clerk 4 X cook 33 X driver IC 2 X GPOs assistant 84 X gun detachments medical officers orderly 3 X motorcyclist 16 X signaller 2 X sanitary duties 2 X storeman water duties 2 X trumpeter 6 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 4 X 15cwt truck 8 X 3ton lorry GS 6 X heavy tractor 1 X water trailer Organisation -Motorcycle 1 Battery Serjeant Major -Motorcycle 2 Troop Serjeant Major -Motorcycle 3 signal serjeant -Motorcycle 4 orderly -Motorcycle 5 orderly -Motorcycle 6 orderly -Car 4 seater Major or Captain, driver IC 15cwt truck 1 6 X signaller, driver IC Carries hand cable layer -15cwt truck 2 6 X signaller, driver IC Carries hand cable layer -3ton lorry GS 1 battery quartermaster serjeant, storeman, 2 X driver IC Carries QM stores and baggage -3ton lorry GS 2 4 X cook, water dutyman, 2 X driver IC Carries cooking sets Tows a water trailer Marching personnel 1officer and 22 other ranks Section 1 -15cwt truck 1 Subaltern, 2 X gunner, 2 X operator RAF, driver IC Carries gun position officers equipment Carries RAF Wireless set Carries Bren lmg -Tractor 1 serjeant, 5 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows carriage and limber transporting gun carriage and carriage and limber transporting rear transom -Tractor 2 bombardier, 5 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting cradle and carriage and limber transporting side beams and earth box -Tractor 3 bombardier, 5 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage and limber transporting front transom -3ton lorry GS 1 gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries scotch stores -3ton lorry GS 2 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries artificers stores and compressed air reservoir -3ton lorry GS 2 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries 8 rounds of ammunition Marching personnel 26 X other ranks Section 2. -15cwt truck 1 Subaltern, 2 X gunner, 2 X operator RAF, driver IC Carries gun position officers equipment Carries RAF Wireless set Carries Bren lmg -Tractor 1 serjeant, 5 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows carriage and limber transporting gun carriage and carriage and limber transporting rear transom -Tractor 2 bombardier, 5 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting cradle and carriage and limber transporting side beams and earth box -Tractor 3 bombardier, 5 X gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage and limber transporting front transom -3ton lorry GS 1 gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries scotch stores -3ton lorry GS 2 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries artificers stores and compressed air reservoirs -3ton lorry GS 2 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries 8 rounds of ammunition Marching personnel 26 other ranks OR Sections equipped with Latil type tractors Section 1 -15cwt truck 1 Subaltern, 2 X gunner, 2 X operator RAF, driver IC Carries gun position officers equipment Carries RAF Wireless set Carries Bren lmg -Tractor 1 serjeant, 2 X driver IC Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows carriage and limber transporting gun carriage and carriage and limber transporting rear transom -Tractor 2 bombardier, 2 X driver IC Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting cradle and carriage and limber transporting side beams and earth box -Tractor 3 bombardier, 2 X driver IC Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage and limber transporting front transom -3ton lorry GS 1 gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores -3ton lorry GS 2 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries scotch stores -3ton lorry GS 3 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries artificer stores and compressed air reservoirs -3ton lorry GS 4 gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries 8 rounds of ammunition. Marching personnel Forty other ranks Section 2 -15cwt truck 1 Subaltern, 2 X gunner, 2 X operator RAF, driver IC Carries gun position officers equipment Carries RAF Wireless set Carries Bren lmg -Tractor 1 serjeant, 2 X driver IC Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows carriage and limber transporting gun carriage and carriage and limber transporting rear transom -Tractor 2 bombardier, 2 X driver IC Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting cradle and carriage and limber transporting side beams and earth box -Tractor 3 bombardier, 2 X driver IC Carries 5 rounds of ammunition Tows wagon transporting howitzer and carriage and limber transporting front transom -3ton lorry GS 1 gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries gun stores -3ton lorry GS 2 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries scotch stores -3ton lorry GS 3 artificer, 2 X driver IC Carries artificer stores and compressed air reservoirs -3ton lorry GS 4 gunner, 2 X driver IC Carries 8 rounds of ammunition. Marching personnel Forty other ranks The Latil tractors were not in fact used, they do not seem to even have been ordered. Latil was a French company which made a range of tractors which were four wheel drive and had four wheel steering. As artillery tractors they were powerful but not as good as the Scammell in trials. Since Latil were manufactured under licence in England they were seriously considered as an alternative to the scarce Scammell in the Super Heavy Battery where their lack of accommodation would not be so serious a drawback. The Latils were used in large numbers by the French Army. 12” Howitzer. This was an enlarged version of the 9.2” howitzer. The model used in 1939/40 was the Mk4 on Carriage Mk2. It was a very heavy weapon indeed and needed six wagons to transport it. The components were - the gun weighing 15.5 tons - the cradle weighing 14 tons - the carriage weighing 11.5 tons - the rear beam weighing 11.5 tons - the front beam weighing 10 tons - the earth box and firing beams weighing 12 tons. The earth box for this weapon contained 20 tons of earth. Maximum range was 14,350 yards firing a 750lb shell. As was common with howitzers the desired range was achieved by a combination of elevation and charge. There were two charges, a long range and a short range. Each consisted of several increments to give a choice of eleven different charges. The short range charge gave a choice of six and the long range charge a choice of a further five. A gun of this size was difficult and slow to move, erect and load. There were shell hoists and a trolley to get the shell and charge to the breech and a power rammer to actually load them. The transport wagons seem to have remained unchanged from those of 1916 and still had the heavy steel traction engine rims. I have never seen a photograph of this equipment on the move but there are photographs of one emplaced and one of these shows a line of AEC Matador Medium Artillery Tractors. These may well have been the normal form of traction. Mike
SURVEY REGIMENT War Establishment III/1931/13/4. Target Acquisition A major role for heavy artillery was counter battery fire. It had been established in WWI that a prime requirement in an attack was to neutralise enemy artillery. This does not mean necessarily the destruction of the enemy guns, indeed this is not so easily achieved, but a steady fire from heavy guns would make it difficult for enemy gunners to do their work. In order to engage in counter battery work however it was necessary to locate the enemy guns. By 1918 the means of doing this were well developed and continued in use in 1940 almost unchanged. Each corps had a Survey Regiment RA. In 1939 the Survey Regiment had a headquarters and three specialist batteries. One battery was for sound ranging, one battery was for flash spotting and the third battery was for survey. Each of the batteries deployed its sub units across the corps front. This organisation supposed that the line would be static, which was the experience in WWI. However it was possible for the Survey Regiment to form composite batteries for independent deployment with detached divisions in mobile warfare. In this case the battery headquarters of the Sound Ranging battery and the flash spotting battery would each form the headquarters of a composite battery. Each battery would then be assigned sub units from each battery as required. In 1942/43 this latter organisation became the norm and the Survey regiment had two identical batteries with sound locating, flash spotting and survey troops. Flash spotting was essentially very simple. Observers with flash spotting telescopes mounted on a platform with a graduated scale reported flashes to their headquarters. The bearings were plotted on a chart and when the bearings from several observers were plotted the position of the enemy gun was revealed. Observers also reported anything of interest to the headquarters and eventually a comprehensive map of enemy artillery positions could be built up. Sound locating depended on microphones being positioned some distance behind the front. When the microphones picked up the sound of a gun being fired a signal was sent to headquarters. When the signals from several microphones were received the difference in the time the microphones picked up the sound could be used to pinpoint the gun. In this case a number of arcs were plotted on a chart to show the possible range of positions indicated by the microphones. Where the arcs intersected should be the guns position. The clever bit came in deciding if all the microphones were reporting the same gun. A sound ranging troop had five detachments each with a Gun Sound Ranging Microphone, which was a large drum which had to be placed in a pit, a Sender Sound Ranging No1, which was a modified No11 wireless set without a receiver, and a standard No11 Wireless set for intercommunication. Troop Headquarters had a five unit receiver. Spotting enemy artillery from the air was also a technique developed in WWI and continued in 1940. The Westland Lysander was designed specifically for Army Co operation work. The first production models were delivered in mid 1938. A Mk II followed in 1939 and these equipped four squadrons in France in 1940, Nos 2, 4, 13 and 26. The Lysander was a two seat aircraft with a high wing and large amounts of Perspex which gave a good view for the crew. As a spotting plane the Lysander could cruise fairly slowly, its large parasol wing giving it great stability at slow speed. The crew could then report targets by wireless. Usually RAF sets were used and artillery units had RAF signal personnel attached to them. If need be the Lysander crew could drop messages in weighted capsules attached to long streamers. They could even pick up messages using a belly mounted hook. The short landing and take off capability of the Lysander meant that it could land near headquarters with information. Lysanders were also used for spotting the fall of shot and giving corrections to the guns. However the Lysander had other duties including ground attack in support of troops, supply dropping, photographic reconnaissance and transporting senior officers. It was not attached to the artillery as later spotter aircraft would be and the crews were not gunners. Although the Lysander proved to be a very useful and versatile army co operation aircraft in many parts of the world it was not suited to conditions in Europe, especially when air superiority was lacking. 180 Lysanders were lost in France and Belgium. This organisation applied to 1 Survey Regiment in I Corps 2 Survey Regiment in II Corps 3 Survey Regiment in III Corps SURVEY REGIMENT PERSONNEL Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding 3 X Major, Battery Commanders Captain, Adjutant 2 X Captain 8 X subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 3 X Warrant Officer Class III 2 X serjeant 11 X serjeant surveyor bombardier clerk 4 X artificer equipment repairer 2 X carpenter 129 X surveyor 37 X surveyors assistant motor mechanics 13 X driver mechanic 16 X batman clerk 8 X cook 3 X RSM’s assistants 45 X linesman 51 X driver IC 10 X motorcyclist 2 X orderly storeman 2 X water duties Plus attached 2 X instrument artificer RAOC Total 365 Total vehicles. 15 X motorcycle 35 X car 2 seater 2 X car 4 seater 4 X 8cwt truck 27 X 15cwt truck GS 11 X 30cwt lorry GS 10 X 3ton lorry GS 1 X 15cwt water trailer Organisation Regimental Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding Captain, Adjutant Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant bombardier clerk 4 X artificer equipment repairer carpenter 1 X driver mechanic 4 X batman cook RSM’s assistant 7 X driver IC 2 X motorcyclist 2 X orderly storeman 2 X water duties instrument artificer RAOC -Motorcycle 1 -Motorcycle 2 -Car 4 seater -Car 2 seater 1 -Car 2 seater 2 -Car 2 seater 3 -Car 2 seater 4 -Car 2 seater 5 -Car 2 seater 6 -30cw lorry GS Carries baggage -3ton lorry GS 1 Carries stores -3ton lorry GS 2 Carries office and mess equipment -3ton lorry GS 3 Carries anti gas reserves One 3ton lorry tows 15cwt water trailer. Flash Spotting Battery Major, Battery Commander Subaltern Warrant Officer Class III serjeant 2 X serjeant surveyor 45 X surveyor 18 X surveyors assistant motor mechanic 4 X driver mechanic 2 X batman 2 X cook 3 X RSM’s assistants 22 X linesman 14 X driver IC 1 X motorcyclist -Motorcycle -Car 2 seater 1 -Car 2 seater 2 -Car 2 seater 3 -Car 2 seater 4 -15cwt truck 1 For observers -15cwt truck 2 For observers -15cwt truck 3 For observers -15cwt truck 4 For observers -15cwt truck 5 For observers -15cwt truck 6 For observers -15cwt truck 7 For cable laying -15cwt truck 8 For cable laying 15cwt truck 9 -For cable laying -15cwt truck 10 For cable laying -15cwt truck 11 For cable laying -15cwt truck 12 For cable laying -15cwt truck 13 For cooks -15cwt truck 14 For petrol -3ton lorry GS 1 For plotting -3ton lorry GS 2 For plotting Sound Ranging Battery Major Subaltern Warrant Officer Class 3 serjeant 3 X serjeant surveyor carpenter 43 X surveyor 4 X surveyors assistant motor mechanic 5 X driver mechanic 2 X batman 2 X cook 23 X linesman 22 X driver IC 1 X motorcyclist -Motorcycle 1 -Car 2 seater 1 -Car 2 seater 2 -Car 2 seater 3 -8cwt truck 1 Fitted for Wireless -8cwt truck 2 Fitted for Wireless -8cwt truck 3 Fitted for Wireless -8cwt truck 4 Fitted for Wireless -15cwt truck 1 For observers -15cwt truck 2 For observers -15cwt truck 3 For cable laying -15cwt truck 4 For cable laying -15cwt truck 5 For cable laying -15cwt truck 6 For cable laying -15cwt truck 7 For cable laying -15cwt truck 8 For radio and microphones -15cwt truck 9 For radio and microphones -15cwt truck 10 For radio and microphones -15cwt truck 11 For radio and microphones -15cwt truck 12 For radio and microphones -30cw lorry GS For cooks and petrol -3ton lorry GS 1 For plotting -3ton lorry GS 2 For plotting -3ton lorry GS 3 For stores -3ton lorry GS 4 For cable and survey stores -3ton lorry GS 5 For charging sets and batteries Survey Battery Battery Headquarters Major Subaltern Warrant Officer Class 3 2 X serjeant surveyor 9 X surveyor 3 X surveyors assistant motor mechanic driver mechanic 2 X batman cook 4 X driver IC 2 X motorcyclist -Motorcycle 1 -Motorcycle 2 -Motorcycle 3 -Car 4 seater -Car 2 seater 1 -Car 2 seater 2 -Car 2 seater 3 -Car 2 seater 4 -15cwt truck 1 For observers -30cwt lorry GS 1 For observers -30cwt lorry GS 2 For computing centre -30cw lorry GS 3 For cooks and petrol 2 X Survey Troop each Captain 2 X Subaltern 2 X serjeant surveyor 16 X surveyor 6 X surveyors assistant driver mechanic 3 X batman cook RSM’s assistant 2 X driver IC 2 X motorcyclist -Motorcycle 1 -Motorcycle 2 -Motorcycle 3 -Motorcycle 4 -Car 2 seater 1 -Car 2 seater 2 -Car 2 seater 3 -Car 2 seater 4 -Car 2 seater 5 -Car 2 seater 6 -Car 2 seater 7 -Car 2 seater 8 -Car 2 seater 9 -30cwt lorry GS 1 For observers -30cwt lorry GS 2 For observers -30cw lorry GS 3 For computing centre Mike
ANTI TANK REGIMENT War Establishment II/1931/7/3 An Anti Tank Regiment consists of a headquarters and four batteries. Batteries are self contained and can be detached for long periods. When batteries are detached to support infantry units or formations the Anti Tank Regiment headquarters role becomes purely administrative, tactical control being in the hands of the supported unit or formation. Although Light Dragons are specified there were not sufficient of these and the towing vehicles was often the 15cwt truck, slightly modified with a drawbar, crew seats and ammunition stowage. Personnel Lieutenant Colonel 5 X Major Captain, Adjutant 4 X Captain 5 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 4 X Battery Serjeant Major 12 X Warrant Officer Class III 4 X battery quartermaster serjeant serjeant, technical stores serjeant cook 24 X serjeant section commander 62 X bombardier 409 X gunner 9 X trumpeter Attached Medical Officer RAMC Armourer RAOC 37 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 23 X 8cwt truck 22 X 15cwt truck 2 X 15cwt office 5 X 15cwt water 19 X 30cwt lorry GS 6 X 3ton lorry GS 48 X Light Dragon gun tractor 69 X pistol 181 X rifle 58 X Bren lm 17 X AT rifle 48 X signal pistol 48 X 2pdr AT gun Officers, Warrant Officers and motorcyclists are armed with pistols Each gun detachment has three rifles. Each gun detachment has a Bren lmg to enable it to carry out an AA role when not actually engaged in AT defence. Two men in Regimental Headquarters and at least one officer and six men in each battery will be trained in anti gas duties and decontamination work. One man in each battery headquarters and one man in each troop will be trained in first aid. HEADQUARTERS Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain, Adjutant Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant serjeant, technical stores serjeant cook 2 X bombardier 37 X gunner trumpeter Attached Medical Officer RAMC Armourer RAOC 5 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 3 X 8cwt truck 2 X 15cwt truck 2 X 15cwt office 1 X 15cwt water 3 X 30cwt lorry GS 13 X pistol 5 X rifle 2 X Bren lmg 2 X AT rifle 48 X signal pistol 48 X 2pdr AT gun Organisation -Motorcycle 1 motor mechanic -Motorcycle 2 orderly -Motorcycle 3 orderly -Motorcycle 4 orderly -Motorcycle 5 orderly -Car 4 seater Lieutenant Colonel, Subaltern, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 1 Major, clerk, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 2 Adjutant, clerk, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 3 Quartermaster, serjeant technical stores, armourer RAOC, driver IC -15cwt truck Office Regimental Serjeant Major, clerk, batman, driver IC Carries office gear -15cwt truck 1 Medical Officer, medical orderly, batman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries medical equipment -15cwt truck 2 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, batman, clerk, 2 X gunner, driver IC Carries a Bren lmg and AT rifle Fitted with Motley AA mount at the front of the body -15cwt truck 3 2 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess equipment -15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 technical storeman, equipment repairer, driver IC Carries MT stores and tools, anti gas capes and reserve clothing -30cwt lorry GS 2 serjeant cook, butcher, cook, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations -30cwt lorry GS 3 storeman, gunner, trumpeter, driver IC Carries QM stores and baggage Carries a Bren lmg Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the front of the body. 4 X Battery Battery Headquarters Major Captain Subaltern for liaison with unit being supported Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant 3 X bombardier 33 X gunner 2 X trumpeter 5 X motorcycle 2 X 8cwt truck 2 X 15cwt truck 1 X 15cwt water 4 X 30cwt lorry GS 8 X pistol 5 X rifle 2 X Bren lmg 1 X AT rifle -Motorcycle 1 Battery Serjeant Major -Motorcycle 2 artificer -Motorcycle 3 orderly -Motorcycle 4 orderly -Motorcycle 5 orderly -8cwt truck 1 Major, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 2 Captain, Subaltern, batman, driver IC -15cwt truck 1 2 X batman, 2 X trumpeter (as AA gunners), driver IC Carries officers mess Carries a Bren lmg Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the front of the body. -15cwt truck 2 cook, driver mechanic -15cwt truck 3 motor mechanic, driver IC Carries reserve petrol Carries an AT rifle -15cwt truck gunner, driver Carries reserve ammunition -15cwt truck 5 gunner, driver IC Carries reserve ammunition 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking set and rations -30cwt lorry GS 2 2 X artificer, technical storeman, motor mechanic, driver IC Carries MT stores -30cwt lorry GS 3 battery quartermaster serjeant, clerk, storeman, driver IC Carries QM stores and baggage -30cwt lorry GS 4 sanitary dutyman, 2 X gunner, driver IC Carries spare anti gas capes and reserve clothing Troop Headquarters Warrant Officer Class III 2 X gunner 1 X motorcycle 1 X 8cwt truck 1 X pistol 1 X rifle 1 X AT rifle -Motorcycle orderly -8cwt truck 1 Warrant Officer Class III, driver IC Carries an AT rifle Section serjeant 2 X bombardier 9 X gunner 6 X rifle 2 X Bren lmg 2 X signal pistol -Light Dragon 1 serjeant, bombardier, 3 X gunner, driver IC Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 round of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun -Light Dragon 2 Bombardier, 4 X gunner, driver mechanic Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 rounds of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun Section serjeant 2 X bombardier 9 X gunner 6 X rifle 2 X Bren lmg 2 X signal pistol -Light Dragon 1 serjeant, bombardier, 3 X gunner, driver IC Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 round of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun -Light Dragon 2 Bombardier, 4 X gunner, driver mechanic Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 rounds of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun 2pdr Anti Tank Gun. The 2pdr gun was an excellent weapon, the best in the world in the mid 1930s. It was designed to engage the tanks of the period and had the following characteristics: -light enough to be manhandled into position. -all round, 360 degree, traverse. -a rapid traverse with two gears, one for target acquisition and one for fine adjustment. -a rapid rate of fire. -an excellent telescopic sight. To achieve rapid all round traverse the gun was mounted on a turntable which was in turn mounted on a three legged mounting. The mounting had two folding legs while the third doubled as a towbar. There was an armoured shield for protection and an ammunition locker, both fixed to the gun/turntable. The wheels could be rapidly detached. All of this gave an excellent weapon but one which was very heavy when compared with other nations anti tank guns, and one which had a high silhouette which made it difficult to conceal. The standard anti tank shell was a solid steel shot weighing 2lb. The propelling charge was in a brass cartridge case. Maximum range was 8,000 yards. 112 rounds were carried with the gun. 368 rounds per gun were carried in reserve. Basically the same 2pdr gun, without the carriage, was mounted in most cruiser tanks of the BEF period. Mike
ANTI AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY In the 1930s a great deal of time and effort had been devoted to designing anti aircraft defences. By the mid 1930s the money was being made available to actually produce the equipment and recruit the personnel. It was defence policy that the Royal Navy and the defence of the Empire should have priority. Second priority however was given to Air Defence and Civil Defence. The Royal Air Force received its new Hurricane and Spitfire fighter aircraft together with a well developed early warning radar network and a system of control rooms. The army was given the task of providing anti aircraft artillery and received new 3.7” Heavy Anti Aircraft guns, improved 3” anti aircraft guns, sound locating equipment, searchlights and eventually mobile radar sets. Much of the personnel for Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiments and Searchlight Regiments were provided by the Territorial Army. There were separate establishments for Heavy Anti Aircraft units operating in base areas where they were fairly static, and those operating with a field army where they were mobile. In common with the rest of the artillery arm anti aircraft artillery changed from a system of independent batteries which were brigaded to form larger units when required to a system with permanent regiments of three or four batteries. The terminology can be confusing and I have tried to be consistent although this has meant using terminology that was not used in the original war establishment documents. In the original documents the unit of three batteries is called a Brigade and the larger unit with two or more heavy brigades, plus searchlights and lighter guns, was called a group. In the BEF however these terms were not used and the more usual Regiment replaced Brigade and Brigade replaced Group. A number of regiments would normally form a Group which also contained light AA batteries and searchlight batteries. In the field the Heavy AA regiment would have such units attached and would be responsible for their supply and maintenance. HEAVY ANTI AIRCRAFT REGIMENT with 3” GUNS Organisation. Regimental Headquarters The headquarters was small, with only 37 personnel. This was because the batteries would normally be dispersed and the regimental headquarters was responsible only for administration. The regimental headquarters had the following personnel. Lieutenant colonel – Commanding Officer. Captain - Adjutant Subaltern – Orderly Officer Regimental Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant serjeant clerk 1 X artificer 3 X battery surveyor 25 X gunners including Gunners included 3 X battery surveyors assistants 4 X batman (one per officer plus one for the Medical Officer.) 1 X batman driver (for the Regimental Serjeant Major) 2 X clerks 1 X cook 6 X motorcyclist 7 X drivers IC 1 X medical orderly 1 X storeman 1 X water duties On the establishment but detached for duties at Group Headquarters there was one clerk. Attached Medical Officer RAMC 6 X drivers IC RASC (from the Group Ammunition Company) 72 X RAOC personnel The establishment does not allot vehicles but does specify the following: Personnel not specified would travel in 30cwt lorry GS 3 or spare seats on other vehicles. The adjutant would issue standing orders relating to moves. -4 seater car Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Orderly Officer, driver IC -2 seater car Regimental Serjeant Major, driver batman -Motorcycle 1 commanding officers orderly -Motorcycle 2 Adjutants orderly -Motorcycle 3 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 4 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 5 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 6 motorcyclist -15cwt truck GS Medical Officer, medical orderly, batman and Driver IC. Carries medical supplies. -15cwt office 3 X clerk, driver IC Carries office equipment -30cwt lorry GS 1 cook, water dutyman, driver IC Tows water trailer. -30cwt lorry GS 2 battery quartermaster serjeant, storeman, artificer, driver IC Carries stores, instruments and petrol -30cwt lorry GS 3 driver IC Carries personnel -30cwt lorry GS 4 driver IC Carries baggage and blankets. RAOC AA Regiment Section This was detached from the AA Brigade Workshop and had the responsibility of maintaining all guns, vehicles and technical equipment for the AA regiment. 1 X motorcycle 1 X 2 seater car 1 X 4 seater car 1 X bus (28 seater) 1 X 30cwt 6 X 4 breakdown 1 X 30cwt 4 X 2 GS carrying workshop shelter 4 X 3ton 6 X 4 machinery 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 breakdown 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 stores 1 X 3ton 4 X 2 for technical stores and equipment. 1 X 4 wheeled recovery trailer details of personnel, apart from the ranks, are not given 2 X officer 2 X warrant officer 10 X staff serjeant and serjeant 58 other ranks Total 72 personnel. Signals Section – Royal Signals There was also a section Royal Signals. It seems that in common with other Royal Signals sections attached to Royal Artillery Regiments they were responsible for communication from regimental headquarters to batteries. This was by wireless and line. 4 X 8cwt 1 X 15cwt 2 X 30cwt 2 X motorcycle RASC detachment This was detached from the RASC Brigade Company for carrying supplies. 4 X 30cwt lorries 6 X drivers IC The Battery Each of the three batteries was identical and had a headquarters and four sections. Battery headquarters had the following personnel Major Captain Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major quartermaster serjeant serjeant 1 X artificer 1 X equipment repairer 2 X batman 1 X batman driver 2 X clerk 1 X cook 2 X motorcyclist 7 X driver IC 2 X gun position officers assistants 4 X long base height finder operators 3 X telephonists 1 X sanitary dutyman 1 X storeman 1 X water dutyman 16 X reserve pool. Total 51 personnel Note: The two gun position officers assistants were spare for allotment to sections as required. The 16 reserve pool personnel were largely for ammunition handling but when not in action were available for the many tasks to be found on a gun site. The establishment table does not assign all personnel to vehicles. Some can be deduced. -4 seater car major (commanding officer), batman, driver IC -2 seater car captain (second in command), driver batman -motorcycle 1 commanding officers orderly -motorcycle 2 second in commands orderly -30cwt lorry 4 X 2 GS 1 cook, batman, water dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Tows a water trailer -30cwt lorry 4 X 2 GS 2 driver IC Carries stores, instruments and petrol -30cwt lorry 4 X 2 GS 3 driver IC Carries stores, instruments and petrol -30cwt lorry 4 X 2 GS 4 driver IC Carries stores, instruments and petrol -30cwt lorry 4 X 2 GS 5 3 X telephonist, driver IC Carries signals stores -30cwt lorry 4 X 2 GS 6 driver IC Carries baggage and blankets Remaining personnel would be allotted places in the 30cwt lorries. Gun section. Each of the four gun sections in a battery were identical. There were 65 personnel and two guns. 2 X subaltern 3 X serjeant 1 X artificer 2 X AA lmg defence crew 1 X batman 1 X batman driver 1 X cook 1 X motorcyclist 14 X driver IC 1 X gun position officers assistant 6 X Vickers predictor crew 3 X UB3 height finder crew 26 X gun detachment 3 X telephonist. Again few personnel are assigned places in the vehicles according to the establishment -2 seater car subaltern, batman driver -motorcycle section serjeant -motorcycle orderly -gun tractor 1 serjeant, 9 X gun numbers, 2 X driver IC tows AA gun platform which carries the 3” AA gun, 4 gun numbers and 40 rounds of ammunition -gun tractor 2 serjeant, 9 X gun numbers, 2 X driver IC tows AA gun platform which carries the 3” AA gun, 4 gun numbers and 40 rounds of ammunition -3ton lorry 4 X 2 GS 1 2 X driver IC Carries 208 rounds of ammunition -3 ton lorry 4 X 2 GS 2 2 X driver IC Carries 208 rounds of ammunition -3 ton lorry 6 X 4 GS 1 2 X driver IC Carries 208 rounds of ammunition -3ton lorry 6 X 4 GS 2 10 X personnel as assigned, 2 X driver Carries stores and equipment Tows 15cwt AA instrument trailer -3ton lorry 6 X 4 GS 3 10 X personnel as assigned, 2 X driver IC Carries stores and equipment Each 3” AA gun had a total of 352 rounds on the section vehicles. This consisted of 40 shrapnel and 312 HE. 40 rounds were carried on the gun. The 3” Anti Aircraft Gun. Like much of the artillery the 3” AA gun was left over from WW1. The 3.7” Heavy Anti Aircraft Gun had replaced it for many roles but was in demand for home defence and for the protection of base areas in the BEF. The 3” AA gun was more suited to the protection of vulnerable sites in the GHQ area. These included bridges and depot areas. It was light, comparatively mobile, had a good rate of fire and rapid traverse and elevation. Originally the 3” AA gun was originally intended to be bolted onto a concrete base and had a pedestal which was of a simple and robust construction allowing a high elevation. In the 1920s this pedestal and gun was fitted onto a newly designed four wheeled platform which allowed it to be mobile. The platform had pneumatic tyres, not common at this time, jacks for levelling and support, semi circular extensions on each side of the platform and an ammunition locker holding 40 rounds. The 3” AA gun fired a standard 16.5lb High Explosive shell filled with TNT and fitted with an adjustable Time Fuze 199. This gave the following performance: -a maximum horizontal range of 12,400 yards. -a maximum ceiling of 25,200 foot. -an effective ceiling of 15,700 foot. The intention of anti aircraft fire was not to hit the enemy aircraft. This was almost impossible given the available gun laying devices. The intention was to fill the air immediately in front of the enemy aircraft in the hope that it would fly into this barrage. There was also a shrapnel shell for use against low flying aircraft. This contained 239 bullets and also had the Time Fuze 199. The Vickers Predictor. This was used to predict the flight path of an enemy aircraft. A crew of six entered all available data such as wind speed, enemy aircraft bearing, elevation, speed etc. and within 50 seconds the predictor could tell the gun crew where the aircraft would be when the shell arrived and thus the bearing, elevation and fuze time required. Mike
THE ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS. The Royal Armoured Corp consisted of the battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment and the regiments of cavalry which converted to armour. ARMOURED CAR REGIMENT. 1940 War Establishment III/1931/8C/1. This War Establishment was introduced on 26 June 1938 and remained in force until 1 January 1941. There were no predecessors or successors so it must have been successful. There was only one armoured car regiment in the BEF and that was the 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’). They were one of the first units to be mechanised and had operated armoured cars in the UK and the Middle East for several years. It went to France in October 1939. An armoured car regiment was intended to carry out long range reconnaissance, using the relatively high speed of their vehicles to operate well in advance of the main force. Being wheeled, and two wheel drive, the regiment was restricted to the roads. Its tasks included advance guard and flank guard when the army was advancing, forward observation when the army was static and rearguard when the army was retreating. There were no dismountable troops so that the unit could not seize and hold positions and it was difficult for it to carry out defensive or delaying tasks. Total personnel 1 X Lieutenant colonel 1 X Major, second in command 3 X Major 3 X Captain 16 X Subaltern 1 X Quartermaster 1 X Regimental Serjeant Major 1 X Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 4 X Squadron Serjeant Major 4 X squadron quartermaster serjeant 1 X provost serjeant 1 X serjeant cook 1 X transport serjeant 1 X serjeant, technical storeman 13 X serjeant 28 X corporal 302 X trooper Total 436 Plus 1 X Medical Officer RAMC 2 X motor vehicle fitter RAOC 1 X electrician RAOC Trades included 1 X carpenter and joiner 1 X clerk 45 X driver mechanics 32 X driver operator 1 X equipment repairer 4 X storeman (technical) 4 X motor mechanics 28 X batman 1 X butchery dutyman 5 X clerk 7 X cook 150 X driver IC 1 X intelligence dutyman 1 X medical officers orderly 2 X regimental policeman 30 X motorcyclist 1 X postman 4 X sanitary dutyman 4 X storeman 4 X water dutyman 1 X officers mess cook 1 X officers mess servant 1 X transport duties Note. At this time every officer had a batman, as did the regimental serjeant major and the medical officer Detail left at base 1 X orderly room serjeant Note: Base in this case meant GHQ 2nd Echelon. First reinforcements 5 X Officer 1 X Warrant Officer 2 X serjeant 33 X rank and file Total vehicles 34 X motorcycle 5 X 4 seater car 5 X 8cwt 1 X 15cwt GS 14 X 30cwt GS 15 X 3ton GS 38 X armoured car 1 X water trailer Weapons carried Pistols .38 inch. 231 carried which was one for each Officer including the medical officer Warrant Officer Motorcyclist Crew member of armoured cars, including relief personnel. Each man carried 12 rounds of ammunition and the transport carried a reserve of 3,468 rounds. hese figures give six rounds loaded in the pistol, six rounds carried on the man and six rounds per pistol in reserve. Rifles .303 inch. 156 carried. 50 rounds were carried with the weapon. Bren lmg .303. 4 carried. 1000 rounds were carried with the weapon. AT rifle .55 inch. 4 carried. 200 rounds were carried with the weapon. Each armoured car carried A Bren gun An anti tank rifle A smoke discharger A signal pistol and twenty rounds, five each white, red, blue, green. Attached Royal Signals. Cavalry Armoured Car Regiment Signal Troop. War Establishment WE/III/1931/26A/1 Warrant Officer Class III or serjeant corporal 12 X signalman (two may be lance corporals) 3 X driver 1 X motorcycle 1 X 15cwt wireless truck 3 X 30cwt lorry GS 12 X pistol for troop commander, electricians and signal operators. 5 X rifle Attached RAOC LAD Captain or Subaltern, OME 3rd or 4th Class Warrant Officer armament artificer lance corporal fitter 3 X fitter MV electrician driver mechanic storeman batman driver motorcyclist 2 X driver IC 1 X motorcycle 1 X 2 seater car 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 breakdown lorry 1 X 3ton stores lorry 2 X pistol for officer and warrant officer 11 X rifle Organisation. Regimental Headquarters. This was the tactical headquarters of the regiment in action. It was administered by the headquarters squadron Command Group -Motorcycle motorcyclist -Motorcycle motorcyclist -Motorcycle motorcyclist -Motorcycle motorcyclist -Motorcycle motorcyclist -Motorcycle motorcyclist -Motorcycle regimental police -Motorcycle regimental police -Motorcycle Regimental police. -Car 4 seater For the use of Commanding Officer. -8cwt truck Signal Officer, -Armoured Car Commanding Officer, Adjutant, -Armoured Car Major second in command, Regimental Serjeant Major, Note: The two armoured cars and the 8cwt truck each carry a Wireless set No11. Administrative Group -Motorcycle transport NCO -Car 4 seater 15cwt truck GS Medical Officer 30cwt lorry GS Carries cooks and cooking sets -30cwt lorry GS Carries anti gas stores and clothing -3ton lorry GS Carries small arms ammunition -3ton lorry GS Carries petrol -3ton lorry GS Carries personnel -3ton lorry GS Carries personnel -3ton lorry GS Carries stores and fitters -3ton lorry GS Carries stores and fitters -3ton lorry GS Carries stores and fitters -3ton lorry GS Carries officers mess and office equipment -3ton lorry GS Carries baggage and blankets Note: One lorry tows a 15cwt water trailer. Four lorries carry Motley AA mounts, two at the front of the body and two at the rear. Squadron X 3 Squadron Headquarters Major Captain Subaltern Squadron Serjeant Major squadron quartermaster serjeant serjeant 2 X corporal 36 X trooper Trades. 5 X driver mechanic 4 X driver operator motor mechanic technical storeman 3 X batman clerk 2 X cook 16 X driver IC 2 X motorcyclist storeman sanitary dutyman water dutyman 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 1 X 8cwt GS 1 X 30cwt GS for cooks 1 X 30cwt GS for small arms ammunition 1 X 30cwt GS for petrol 1 X 30 cwt GS for spare personnel 1 X 3ton GS for personnel 1 X 3ton GS for stores and fitters 1 X 15cwt water trailer Troop X 3 Subaltern serjeant 2 X corporal 14 X trooper 3 X driver mechanic 2 X driver operator batman 8 X driver 2 X motorcyclist All personnel in the troop were armed with pistols. 2 X motorcycle 3 X armoured car The Command Group was mobile in order to operate well forward, normally up to ten miles ahead of the main army. It also had good communications in order to maintain contact with the squadrons, with the administrative group and the headquarters to which it reported. Normally one would expect that the Commanding Officer would use a command net which would include the other command group vehicles. The second in command would be on a net which included the squadrons while the 8cwt would be on a net which included the administrative group. A Royal Signals troop was attached in order to provide communications to whatever headquarters the regiment reported to. In action the communications were found to be somewhat stretched since the range of the No 11 set was normally only ten miles. A 3ton 6 X 4 wireless house lorry with a Wireless set No 3 was attached for use as a rear link. One officer of the regiment was attached to GHQ as intelligence and liaison. It was recorded that the regiment had two Morris scout cars which were not on the establishment. These seem to have been Morris prototypes issued for trials before the war. They were similar in size and performance to the Morris armoured cars. These were used at Regimental Headquarters and would provide a useful additional space. When acting as forward observation posts or flank guards the squadron could only cover two or three roads, and the whole regiment could cover up to nine. At this there would be no reserve. It was concluded that three troops per squadron were not adequate. When acting as an advance guard the squadron could only advance on a three road frontage. This would only be for reconnaissance. With no reserve and no dismountable element it was not possible to seize and hold key points. The next establishment gave five troops per squadron and each troop had a small dismountable element on motorcycles or in scout cars. The Morris CS9 armoured car was not much loved by its crews. It was based on a 15cwt truck chassis. Its assets were that it was roomy, had a crew of four and had a reasonable road speed of 45mph. In action however it was high, large and difficult to conceal. It was difficult to manoeuvre, had little cross country ability and its armour gave little protection. In the 1940 campaign the armoured cars spent much of their time blowing bridges. In this they were helped by a detachment of engineers with three 3ton GS lorries. This was important work requiring good communications and mobility. Ideally a bridge should be prepared for demolition but not actually blown until all ones own units were safely over and the enemy were about to capture it. It is recorded that there were considerable losses of armoured cars and these were made good with 15cwt trucks. The War Establishment table does not assign personnel to vehicles. It is clear that are many reserve personnel to provides relief for drivers on long moves and for standing wireless watches. The regimental history records that the 30cwt and 3ton lorries were all newly issued Commer Q2 and Q4 and that the Technical Officer was the son of Wm Rootes whose firm made them. Markings. All vehicles carried a black arm of service square with a white bar at the bottom and the unit code 129. Armoured cars seem to have names beginning with the squadron letter. These were painted in squadron colours. Mike
HEADQUARTERS of an ARMY TANK BRIGADE War Establishment WE/III/1931/8A/3. In the BEF there was only one Army Tank Brigade of two Army Tank Battalions. PERSONNEL Brigadier, Commander Staff Brigade Major Staff Captain Services Captain RASC clerk RASC driver IC RASC motorcyclist RASC batman RASC 3 X chaplain Warrant Officer Class I Clerk, RAOC armourer RAOC Miscellaneous appointments Transport Officer Intelligence Officer Liaison Officer Warrant Officer Class III company quartermaster serjeant transport serjeant serjeant clerk intelligence serjeant corporal clerk 2 X clerk intelligence corporal intelligence dutyman officers mess corporal 6 X batman 3 X batman driver for chaplains 2 X cook fitter MV officers mess cook corporal driver IC lance corporal driver IC 12 X driver IC 8 X motorcycle motor mechanic 6 X signal orderlies sanitary dutyman water dutyman At least two men will be trained in anti gas duties and decontamination work. At least two men will be trained in first aid. The driver of the water truck will be trained in water duties. Transport 10 X motorcycle 3 X car 2 seater 4 X car 4 seater 3 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt office 1 X 15cwt water 3 X 30cwt GS Weapons (including those in light tanks and scout cars) 64 X .38” pistol 4 X .303” rifle 3 X .303” bren lmg 3 X AT rifle Organisation -Motorcycle 1 transport serjeant -Motorcycle 2 RASC motorcyclist -Motorcycle 3 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 4 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 5 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 6 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 7 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 8 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 9 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 10 motorcyclist -Car 2 seater 1 Chaplain, batman driver -Car 2 seater 2 Chaplain, batman driver -Car 2 seater 3 Chaplain, batman driver One chaplain per battalion in the brigade. -Car 4 seater 1 Brigadier, driver IC -Car 4 seater 2 Brigade Major, Intelligence Officer, driver -Car 4 seater 3 Staff Captain, driver -Car 4 seater 4 Captain RASC, clerk, driver -15cwt truck GS 1 intelligence serjeant, corporal, serjeant, private, 2 X driver IC Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle -15cwt truck GS 2 company quartermaster serjeant, 6 X batman, driver IC Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle -15cwt truck GS 3 RAOC Warrant Officer, RAOC armourer, fitter MV, motor mechanic, driver IC -15cwt truck office Warrant Officer Class III, 4 X clerk, driver IC Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle 15cwt water truck water dutyman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 2 X cook, 2 X driver IC Carries cooking gear -30cwt lorry GS 2 officers mess corporal, cook, batman RASC, driver IC Carries officers mess gear -30cwt lorry GS 2 corporal driver, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries spare anti gas capes and reserve clothing Note: Transport Officer, Liaison Officer and 6 X signal orderlies are carried in the transport of the signal section. ARMY TANK BRIGADE SIGNAL SECTION. War Establishment WE/III/1931/31A/3. Captain Subaltern Company Serjeant Major 3 X Warrant Officer Class III company quartermaster serjeant transport serjeant serjeant clerk 4 X serjeant 11 X corporal 65 X signalman 17 X driver IC Totals include 2 X lance serjeant and 6 X lance corporal 6 X orderlies attached from tank brigade HQ 5 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 4 X 8cwt truck GS 3 X 8cwt truck wireless 3 X 15cwt truck wireless 1 X 30cwt truck 4 X 3ton lorry, technical workshop 4 X 3ton lorry, charging sets and batteries 62 X .38” pistol 44 X .303” rifle 1 X AT rifle Organisation Headquarters -Car 4 seater Captain, Company Serjeant Major, batman driver, driver IC -30 cwt lorry company quartermaster serjeant, serjeant clerk, transport serjeant, corporal clerk, corporal storeman, 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking sets Headquarters section (attached to tank brigade headquarters) -Motorcycle 1 despatch rider -Motorcycle 2 despatch rider -Motorcycle 3 despatch rider -Motorcycle 4 despatch rider -Motorcycle 5 despatch rider -8 cwt truck GS Subaltern, serjeant, batman driver, driver IC -8 cwt truck Subaltern Liaison Officer, 2 X signalman operator Carries Wireless set No 11 -8 cwt truck Transport Officer, 2 X signalman operator Carries Wireless set No 11 -8 cwt truck 2 X signalman operator Carries Wireless set No 11 -15cwt truck wireless corporal operator, 3 X signalman operator, electrician Carries Wireless set No 9 -15cwt truck wireless corporal operator, 3 X signalman operator, electrician Carries Wireless set No 9 -15cwt truck wireless corporal operator, 3 X signalman operator, electrician Carries Wireless set No 9 -3 ton lorry 1 4 X instrument mechanic, 3 X orderly, driver IC Technical workshop -3 ton lorry 2 corporal electrician, electrician, 2 X fitter, 3 X orderly, driver IC Carries charging sets, spare batteries. Carries an AT rifle -Armoured Command Vehicle 2 X operator, driver Carries Wireless set No 11 Provides accommodation for Brigadier and Staff Officers. 3 X Tank Battalion Section -8cwt truck Warrant Officer Class III, serjeant, driver -3 ton lorry 1 corporal instrument mechanic, 3 X instrument mechanic, relief operator, driver IC Technical workshop 3 ton lorry 2 corporal electrician, 2 X electrician, 2 relief operator, driver IC Carries charging sets, spare batteries. Note: Two operators are carried in tanks of battalion headquarters. Mike
ARMY TANK BRIGADE ARMY TANK BRIGADE COMPANY RASC. War Establishment. WE/III/1931/39A/2. All RASC War Establishment tables are complex documents reflecting the working of these units. In this case the company is divided in several ways -There are separate sections for different commodities. There is a section each for ammunition, petrol and supplies, plus a workshop section and a company headquarters. -There are two echelons for each commodity section. One echelon collects commodities from railhead and transports them to the fighting zone. The other echelon delivers commodities to the units. -There are lines, 1st line, 2nd line and 3rd line. 1st line transport is for the units own use. 2nd line corresponds to the forward echelon and 3rd line to the rear echelon. -The forward echelon is further divided in that it has a number of 6 X 4 3ton lorries to deliver ammunition right up to the fighting tanks. -There are in each section a number of sub sections of various size to handle commodities in each line. In practice columns would be formed from all sections each day, and may well be combined with sections from other units. It was a rule that petrol and ammunition should not be mixed. Personnel. Major 2 X Captain 5 X Subaltern Mechanist Serjeant Major Company Serjeant Major company quartermaster serjeant mechanist staff serjeant serjeant clerk 2 X serjeant artificer 5 X serjeant 19 X corporal 2 X corporal clerk 2 X corporal artificer corporal MT clerk corporal cook corporal butcher 143 X driver IC for vehicles 119 X driver 2 X clerk 3 X MT clerk 27 X artificer butcher 6 X issuer storeman RAOC Trades 2 X blacksmith 2 X carpenter and joiner 2 X coppersmith coach trimmer 12 X driver mechanic 6 X electrician 12 X motor mechanic 2 X turner 4 X clerk, MT 2 X butcher 4 X clerk, supply 2 X administrative duties 12 X corporal in charge of sections 131 X driver IC for vehicles 10 X motorcyclist 6 X issuer 119 drivers for duty as 3 X batman 5 X batman driver 9 X cook 2 X clerk 15 X lmg detachments 69 X loader officer’s mess servant orderly 3 X police 2 X sanitary duties storeman 4 X water duties Vehicles. 29 X motorcycle 5 X car 2 seater 3 X car 4 seater 5 X 1 ton lorry 8 X 30cwt lorry 63 X 3ton lorry 3 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 2 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry Breakdown 2 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry Stores 2 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry Workshop 4 X 15cwt water trailer 38 X .38” pistol 311 X .303” rifle 5 X Bren lmg 5 X AT rifle Headquarters 6 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X car 4 seater 2 X 1 ton lorry for AA/AT detachments 1 X 30cwt lorry for cooks 1 X 30cwt lorry for baggage 1 X 30cwt lorry for anti gas reserves 1 X 3ton lorry for petrol 2 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry Breakdown 1 X 15cwt water trailer A Section (Ammunition) Section HQ 6 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X 1ton lorry for AA/AT detachment 1 X 30cwt lorry for cooks and baggage 1 X 3ton lorry (spare) 1 X 15cwt water trailer Sub sections 1 and 2 2 X motorcycle 2 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry for 2pdr ammunition 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry for small arms ammunition 3 X 3ton lorry for 2pdr ammunition 4 X 3ton lorry for small arms ammunition. Sub sections 3 and 4 2 X motorcycle 5 X 3ton lorry for 2pdr ammunition 5 X 3ton lorry for small arms ammunition B Section (Petrol) Section HQ 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X car 4 seater 1 X 1ton lorry for AA/AT detachment 1 X 30cwt lorry for cooks and baggage 1 X 30cwt lorry for technical equipment 1 X 3ton lorry (spare) 1 X 15cwt water trailer Sub section 5 1 X motorcycle 6 X 3ton lorry for petrol (2nd line) Sub section 6 1 X motorcycle 5 X 3ton lorry for petrol (2nd line) Sub section 7 1 X motorcycle 6 X 3ton lorry for petrol (3rd line) Sub section 8 1 X motorcycle 2 X 3ton lorry for anti gas reserves (2nd line) 2 X 3ton lorry for anti gas reserves (3rd line) C Section (Supplies) Section HQ 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X car 4 seater 1 X 1ton lorry for AA/AT detachment 1 X 30cwt lorry for cooks and baggage 1 X 30cwt lorry for technical equipment 1 X 3ton lorry (spare) 1 X 15cwt water trailer Sub section 9 and 10 2 X motorcycle 3 X 3ton lorry for Army Tank Battalions 2 X 3ton lorry for RAOC stores 1 X 3ton lorry for Brigade HQ 1 X 3ton lorry for Brigade Company RASC 1 X 3ton lorry for Brigade Workshop Sub section 11 and 12 2 X motorcycle 3 X 3ton lorry for Army Tank Battalions 2 X 3ton lorry for RAOC stores 1 X 3ton lorry for Brigade HQ 1 X 3ton lorry for Brigade Company RASC 1 X 3ton lorry for Brigade Workshop Note: All supply sub sections are shown as being in 3rd line. In fact they run alternate days from railhead to the units (one day moving forward loaded and the next returning empty). The amount of supplies required was constant and could be predicted within narrow limits. Demands for petrol and ammunition varied greatly and the vehicles in these sections only returned when empty. ARMY TANK BRIGADE FIELD AMBULANCE War Establishment. WE/III/1931/46/2. Personnel. Lieutenant Colonel 8 X Major, Captain or Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Quartermaster serjeant 2 X staff serjeant 10 X serjeant 11 X corporal 140 X private Attached Major, Captain or Subaltern RADC dental clerk orderly RADC Subaltern RASC Company Serjeant Major RASC Serjeant RASC 2 X corporal RASC electrician RASC 3 X fitter RASC 45 X driver IC RASC 5 X motorcyclist RASC Chaplain and batman driver may be attached from brigade headquarters. Trades. carpenter and joiner 6 X clerk 2 X dispenser 4 X hospital cook 28 X nursing orderly 7 X batman barber 3 X cook 6 X general duties pack store man 3 X regimental duties 3 X sanitary duties 3 X stores stewards 82 X stretcher bearer 12 X ambulance orderly 3 X water duties Transport 5 X motorcycle 5 X car 2 seater 3 X car 4 seater 8 X 30cwt lorry for technical stores and equipment 1 X 30cwt lorry for officers mess 1 X 30cwt lorry for artificers personnel and tools 3 X 30 cwt lorry for cooks 1 X 30cwt lorry for blankets and baggage 3 X 3ton lorries for personnel 1 X 12 cwt van for Dental Officer 8 X 6 X 4 ambulance 3 X 15cwt water trailer Note: The three lorries for personnel are intended to carry half of the personnel not already carried in MT. It was usual for non tactical units to move in two lifts. ARMY TANK BRIGADE WORKSHOP War Establishment. WE/III/1931/52A/1. REME was not formed yet. Recovery and repair was the responsibility of the RAOC. Personnel. Major (OME 2nd Class) 4 X Captain or Subaltern (OME 3rd or 4th Class) Ordnance Executive Officer 2nd Class Warrant Officer Class1 Armament Artificer 3 X Warrant Officer Class II Armament Artificer 11 X Staff Serjeant Artificer 2 X Warrant Officer Artisan 9 X serjeant artisan 7 X corporal artisan 89 X artisan Staff Serjeant Armourer 2 X Warrant Officer Clerk 2 X serjeant clerk 5 X clerk serjeant storeman 8 X storeman 2 X serjeant 43 X rank and file Two men will be trained in first aid. At least one officer and twelve men will be trained in anti gas and decontamination work. Note: At this time RAOC OME officers were not line officers and could not discipline men or command them in action, hence the Executive Officer who was a line officer. Transport 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 1 X 15cwt water 3 X 15cwt GS 2 X 8cwt GS 2 X 28 seater bus 1 X 30cwt lorry with shelter 1 X 30cwt lorry for cooks 3 X 30cwt 6 X 4lorry workshop 3 X 3ton lorry for spares 4 X 3ton lorry for tools and equipment 6 X 3ton lorry for stores 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 breakdown lorry 7 X 3ton 6 X 4 machinery lorry 3 X Heavy Breakdown Tractor 1 X Heavy 10 wheeled transporter 3 X 4 wheeled recovery trailer 3 X Light Aid Detachment. One per tank battalion. Each Captain or Subaltern (OME 3rd or 4th Class) Warrant Officer Armament Artificer 6 X artisan storeman 2 X motorcycle 1 X 8cwt S 2 X 15cwt GS 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry breakdown 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry stores 8 X non tradesman Mike.
ARMY TANK BATTALION War Establishment III/1931/33A/3 The War Establishment in force in the BEF was introduced on 22 March 1940. It remained in force until 7 April 1941. It was preceded by War Establishment III/1931/33A/2 and succeeded by War Establishment III/1931/33A/4 on 25 May 1942. This suggests that there was no radical change. Army Tank Battalions operated Infantry Tanks which continued the original function of WWI tanks, that of supporting the infantry in an assault. For this task they were well armoured but were slow, their task did not require speed. The Infantry Tanks were operated by the Royal Tank Corps, the operators of the original WW1 tanks. They also used infantry terminology of battalion and company rather than regiment and squadron. This War Establishment assumes that the battalion is using the A12, Matilda II, Infantry Tank. In fact only 7 Royal Tank Regiment used this tank. 4 Royal Tank Regiment used the A11, Matilda I. Personnel. Lieutenant Colonel 4 X major Captain Adjutant Captain Transport and Liaison Officer 6 X Captain 13 X Subaltern Quartermaster Technical Officer (Captain or Subaltern) Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant Technical Quartermaster Serjeant Mechanist Quartermaster Serjeant 3 X Company Serjeant Major 3 X Warrant Officer Class III 3 X company quartermaster serjeant 5 X serjeant serjeant clerk 3 X mechanist serjeant 36 X serjeant, tank crew intelligence corporal 55 X corporal tank crew 2 X corporal 2 X clerk 288 X trooper 142 X tank crew Attached Medical Officer RAMC Armourer Staff Serjeant RAOC Trades carpenter and joiner 5 X clerk 80 X driver mechanic 116 X driver operator 4 X electrician 10 X fitter 15 X motor mechanic 6 X storeman technical 30 X batman butcher 8 X cook 4 X clerk officer’s mess cook 2 X officer’s mess servant 103 X driver IC for tanks 47 X drivers IC for transport 8 X driver IC for Carriers 4 X intelligence duties medical officers orderly 29 X motorcyclist postman 5 X sanitary dutyman 5 X storeman 4 X water duties Transport 30 X motorcycle 3 X motorcycle combination 4 X car 4 seater 4 X 8cwt truck GS 1 X 8cwt truck wireless 6 X 15cwt truck GS 1 X 15cwt truck office 4 X 15cwt truck water 9 X 30cwt lorry GS 14 X 3ton lorry GS 4 X 3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS 8 X carrier tracked 50 X infantry tank 7 X light tank Organisation Battalion Headquarters No 1 Group (Fighting) -Motorcycle 1 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 2 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 3 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 4 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 5 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 6 motorcyclist -Car 4 seater Lieutenant Colonel, Adjutant, driver IC -8cwt truck 1 Major second in command, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 2 Regimental Serjeant Major, intelligence corporal, driver IC -8cwt truck 3 serjeant clerk, 2 X clerk, driver IC For use as office -8cwt truck 4 Liaison Officer, batman, operator RS, 2 X driver IC Carries a Wireless set No11 For attachment to infantry brigade. -Carrier 1 corporal driver, 5 X driver Carries relief drivers -Carrier 2 corporal driver, 6 X driver Carries relief drivers -Light Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver, driver Carries Wireless set No11 High Power -Light Tank 2 serjeant, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 High Power -Light Tank 3 corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 High Power -Infantry Tank 1 serjeant, 3 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank 2 serjeant, operator RS, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 High Power Battalion Headquarters No 2 Group (Administrative) -Motorcycle 1 provost serjeant -Motorcycle 2 provost corporal -Motorcycle 3 provost -Motorcycle 4 provost -Motorcycle 5 provost -Motorcycle 6 provost -8cwt truck GS 1 Quartermaster, Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, clerk, driver IC -8cwt truck GS 2 Technical Officer, mechanist quartermaster serjeant, fitter, electrician, driver IC -15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 officers mess serjeant, 2 X officers mess servants, batman, cook, driver IC Carries officers baggage and rations -30cwt lorry GS 2 serjeant cook, 2 X cook, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries cooking set. -30cwt lorry GS 3 serjeant technical storeman, 2 X technical storeman, driver IC Carries petrol -30cwt lorry GS 4 motor mechanic, storeman, batman, driver IC Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle Fitted with a Motley mount at the front of the body -30cwt lorry GS 5 storeman, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries baggage and blankets -30cwt lorry GS 6 Medical Officer, medical orderly, batman, driver Carries medical stores -30cwt 6 X 4 lorry technical quartermaster serjeant, technical storeman, 2 X motor mechanic, driver Carries stores and fitters tools Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the front of the body -3ton lorry GS 1 transport serjeant, 2 X driver IC Carries anti gas stores and reserve clothing -3ton lorry GS 2 2 X driver IC Fitted with Coulter towing attachment -3ton lorry GS 3 2 X driver IC Fitted with Coulter towing attachment -3ton lorry GS 4 2 X driver IC Fitted with Coulter towing attachment -3ton lorry GS 5 2 X driver IC Fitted with Coulter towing attachment -3ton lorry GS 6 2 X driver IC Fitted with Coulter towing attachment -3ton lorry GS 7 2 X driver IC Fitted with Coulter towing attachment -3ton lorry GS 8 armourer staff serjeant RAOC, carpenter, butcher, postman, 2 X sanitary dutyman, 2 X driver IC Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body Company Headquarters -Motorcycle 1 Subaltern -Motorcycle 2 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 3 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 4 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 5 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 6 motorcyclist -Motorcycle Combination Captain, motorcyclist -Car 4 seater Major, Company Serjeant Major, intelligence private, driver IC -15cwt truck 1 4 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess and baggage -15cwt truck 2 2 X cook, 2 X batman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking set -15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS company quartermaster serjeant, 2 X clerk, batman, motor mechanic, driver IC Carries baggage and blankets -3ton lorry GS 1 motor mechanic, electrician, fitter, 2 X driver IC Carries petrol -3ton lorry GS 2 storeman, 2 X motor mechanic, 2 X driver IC Carries Bren lmg and AT rifle Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the front of the body -3ton 6 X 4 lorry GS mechanist serjeant, 2 X fitter, technical storeman, 2 X driver IC Carries stores and fitters tools Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -Carrier 1 2 X corporal driver, 7 X driver Carries relief drivers -Carrier 2 2 X corporal driver, 7 X driver Carries relief drivers -Light Tank corporal driver, 2 X driver -Carries Wireless set No11 High Power -Infantry Tank serjeant, 3 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 Note: Two corporal drivers and sixteen drivers of each company are carried in the battalion administrative transport. Section 1 -Infantry Tank Captain, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, 3 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 Section 2 -Infantry Tank Subaltern, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, 3 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 Section 3 -Infantry Tank Subaltern, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, 3 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 Section 4 -Infantry Tank Subaltern, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, 3 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Section 5 -Infantry Tank Warrant Officer Class III, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, corporal driver, 2 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 -Infantry Tank serjeant, 3 X driver Carries Wireless set No11 Note: Returns show that there were more officers on strength than shown on the establishment, but not enough to replace all Warrant Officers Class III. The Infantry Tanks. In 1934 the Inspector General of the Royal Tank Corps presented a paper to the General Staff outlining the requirements for a tank to cooperate with infantry. This envisaged a small, heavily armoured vehicle armed with a machine gun and moving at a walking pace. Eventually Vickers persuaded the Master General of the Ordnance that they could build a serviceable tank based on the original specification with armour capable of surviving shots from any known anti tank gun. The A11 or Matilda 1 used a readily available Ford V8 engine and the suspension from the Vickers Dragon gun tractors. Maximum armour: 60mm. Armament: 1 X .5” machine gun and 1X .303” machine gun. Maximum speed on road: 8mph. Maximum cross country speed: 5mph. 140 were built and issued to battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment. It was realised that the A11, Matilda I, had shortcomings and the A12, Matilda II was designed. The specification called for: A 2pdr gun and a machine gun. A four man crew, commander, gunner, loader and driver. Weight: 14 tons to meet bridging restrictions. This was exceeded. Speed: 15mph on roads. 8mph across country. Armoured side skirts to protect the suspension. Only used by 7 Royal Tank Regiment in the BEF. They used it successfully at the Battle of Arras. Wireless Set No 11. Wireless Set No11 was a general purpose set for communication over short distances. It was the standard set for armoured fighting vehicles and their support vehicles. Range varied depending on whether it was low power or high power, morse or speech, vehicle or ground mounted. Here we are only concerned with vehicles using a 6 foot aerial. Low power, morse-6 miles. Low power, speech-3 miles. High power, morse-16 miles. High power speech-8 miles. Greater range was available for ground stations using a 9 foot aerial. A useful, and unusual for the time, feature was that setting the frequency control for the receiver automatically set the frequency for the transmitter. Useful in a tank in action. A complete set was a combined transmitter/receiver plus a power unit. A high power set used an extra power unit. A complete low power station weighed 180lb. A complete high power station weighed 216lb. The complete station was fitted into a standard, adjustable rack. In a truck all three units could be fitted horizontally in a frame. For use in tanks the power unit was mounted above the transmitter/receiver. A11. Matilda I. Model from Mikes collection. Make unknown. White square is the recognition sign. A12. Matilda II. Model from Mikes collection. Make unknown. Mike
HEADQUARTERS of an ARMOURED RECONNAISSANCE BRIGADE. War Establishment. WE/I/1931/2F/1. The War Establishment for the Headquarters of an Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade was approved on 20 March 1940. The headquarters of 1 Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade was actually formed on 30 March 1940. It was at that time a small headquarters intended to plan the organisation of the proposed brigades. Based on the establishment for a light armoured brigade (WE/I/1931/2C/1) it was intended to control the armoured reconnaissance regiments from the infantry divisions of the BEF. As the BEF grew in size there were not enough reconnaissance regiments to give one to each division. It was also intended that the as the BEF grew in size it would be divided to give two armies, 1st and 2nd. Each army would then have an Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade of three regiments. The campaign started before the re organisation could be completed. On 10th May the situation was as follows: 1st Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade contained -1st East Riding Yeomanry -1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry -HQ. This only arrived in France on 10th May and had no signal section, RASC section or LAD. 2nd Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade should have contained -5th Dragoon Guards -15/19th Hussars -HQ In fact the regiments were still with their divisions and the headquarters was incomplete. It also lacked a signal section, a RASC section and a LAD. However this brigade was formed during the campaign, although still incomplete. Like 1 Armoured Division the brigades were supposed to complete their training in France but events overtook them. PERSONNEL Brigadier, Commander Colonel, second in command Staff Brigade Major Staff Captain Services Captain RASC corporal clerk RASC clerk RASC 3 X chaplain Warrant Officer Class I Clerk, RAOC orderly orderly motorcyclist 2 X batman 2 X driver IC Miscellaneous appointments Major, commanding brigade transport Captain, Intelligence Officer 3 X Subaltern Liaison Officer Subaltern commanding protective troop Squadron Serjeant Major squadron quartermaster serjeant 2 X serjeant clerk RASC 5 X serjeant 15 X corporal 112 X trooper 3 X private RASC Trades include 3 X clerk RASC 20 X driver mechanic electrician 3 X fitter 4 X motor mechanic technical storeman Non tradesman include 13 X batman 3 X cook officers mess cook 66 X driver IC 10 X motor cycle orderly officers mess corporal storeman 2 X sanitary dutyman water dutyman Transport 14 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 4 X car 4 seater 1 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt office 1 X 15cwt water 4 X 30cwt GS 4 X 3ton GS 1 X 28 seat coach 7 X light tank 6 X scout car Weapons (including those in light tanks and scout cars) 144 X .38” pistol 28 X .303” rifle 7 X .5” machine gun (in light tanks) 18 X .303” bren lmg 13 X smoke discharger 5 X AT rifle Fighting Group Brigadier, Commander Colonel, second in command Brigade Major Captain, Intelligence Officer 3 X Subaltern Liaison Officer Subaltern commanding protective troop 3 X serjeant 10 X corporal 31 X trooper 12 X driver mechanic 29 X driver IC Transport 7 X light tank 6 X scout car Weapons (including those in light tanks and scout cars) 52 X .38” pistol 6 X .303” rifle 7 X .5” machine gun (in light tanks) 13 X .303” bren lmg 13 X smoke discharger This gives every man a pistol. Other weapons are with the vehicles. Office and Reconnaissance Group Staff Captain serjeant clerk RASC serjeant 1 X corporal 9 X trooper 3 X private RASC Trades include 3 X clerk RASC driver mechanic 5 X driver IC 4 X motor cycle orderly Transport 6 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X car 4 seater 1 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt office Weapons 12 X .38” pistol 8 X .303” rifle 1 X .303” bren lmg 1 X AT rifle Administrative Group Major, commanding brigade transport Squadron Serjeant Major squadron quartermaster serjeant serjeant clerk RASC serjeant 4 X corporal 72 X trooper Trades include 7 X driver mechanic electrician 3 X fitter 4 X motor mechanic technical storeman 13 X batman 3 X cook officers mess cook 32 X driver IC 6 X motor cycle orderly officers mess corporal storeman 2 X sanitary dutyman water dutyman Captain RASC corporal clerk RASC clerk RASC 3 X chaplain Warrant Officer Class I Clerk, RAOC orderly orderly motorcyclist 2 X batman 2 X driver IC Transport 8 X motorcycle 3 X car 4 seater 1 X 15cwt water 4 X 30cwt GS 4 X 3ton GS 1 X 28 seat coach Weapons 80 X .38” pistol 14 X .303” rifle 4 X .303” bren lmg 4 X AT rifle Mike.
CAVALRY LIGHT TANK REGIMENT War Establishment 1/1931/6/2. Divisional Reconnaissance. In the early 1920s the cavalry on Home Establishment consisted of 1st Cavalry Division -1 Cavalry Brigade -2 Cavalry Brigade Five divisional cavalry regiments. All the cavalry regiments were organised identically and could rotate their roles. Motor transport was limited to a small number of administrative trucks, cars and motorcycles. However when he cavalry regiments were mechanised some became divisional light tank regiments equipped with a mixture of light tanks and troop carrying vehicles while the cavalry regiments of the cavalry brigades were to be equipped with light tanks throughout. Cruiser tanks were the responsibility of the Royal Tank Corp. In 1939 there were four regular regiments organised as Mechanised Divisional Cavalry, one for each of the four first line regular divisions. 13th/18th Royal Hussars………………….1 Division 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards…………...2 Division 15th/19th The Kings Royal Hussars……..3 Division 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards….4 Division There were originally seven Yeomanry regiments organised as Mechanised Divisional Cavalry but some were converted to other roles and only three actually served in the role. It became obvious that it would not be possible to equip sufficient regiments to provide a regiment per division, and form armoured divisions as well. 1st Lothians and Border Horse…………...48 Division 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry…………….51 Division 1st East Riding Yeomanry…………………GHQ In the BEF there was a recognition that the Divisional Cavalry could be better employed if it were formed into brigades and controlled centrally. At this time they were the only armour in the BEF except for one Tank Battalion. In October 1939 a Brigade was formed but later disbanded. In late March 1940 the War Office approved the setting up of 1st and 2nd Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigades. When the Germans attacked in May 1940 the two brigades were still unformed and the Divisional Cavalry operated with their divisions in the advance into Belgium. 2nd Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade was later formed briefly, although with only two regiments and a skeleton brigade headquarters. Total personnel 1 X Lieutenant colonel 1 X Major, second in command 3 X Major 4 X Captain 10 X Subaltern 1 X Quartermaster 1 X Regimental Serjeant Major 1 X Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 1 X Quartermaster Serjeant, technical 4 X Squadron Serjeant Major 16 X WO III 4 X squadron quartermaster serjeant 1 X provost serjeant 1 X signal serjeant 1 X transport serjeant 1 X serjeant cook 18 X serjeant 65 X corporal 325 X trooper Total 454 Plus 1 X Medical Officer RAMC 2 X armourer RAOC 1 X electrician RAOC 1 X armament artificer RAOC 1 X fitter RAOC Trades included 1 X carpenter and joiner 1 X clerk 39 X driver mechanic 66 X driver operator 1 X equipment repairer 5 X storeman (technical) 7 X motor mechanics 23 X batman 1 X butchery dutyman 6 X clerk 8 X cook 155 X driver IC 4 X driver IC, intelligence 1 X medical orderly 2 X regimental policeman 36 X motorcyclist 1 X postman 3 X sanitary dutyman 4 X storeman 2 X water dutyman 1 X officers mess cook 1 X officers mess servant 4 X lmg detachment 18 X anti tank detachment Total vehicles 41 X motorcycle 5 X 8cwt 15 X 15cwt GS 20 X 30cwt 6 X 4GS 58 X light tank 5 X scout carrier 5 X light dragon 1 X water trailer Weapons carried Pistols .38 inch. 578 carried which was one for every officer and man including one for the medical officer. Each man carried 12 rounds of ammunition and the transport carried a reserve of 3,468 rounds. These figures give six rounds loaded in the pistol, six rounds carried on the man and six rounds per pistol in reserve. Rifles .303 inch. 61 carried. One per B vehicle and one per scout car plus one for each of the two RAOC personnel attached. Fifty rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 4000 rounds. Bren lmg .303. 11 carried. 1000 rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 5,500. There were also ten Bren lmg carried in scout cars each with 700 rounds on the vehicle and there was a reserve of 5000 rounds. AT rifle .55 inch. 11 carried. 200 rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 440 rounds. Note that Bren guns and AT rifles were carried together in the same vehicles. However there were not sufficient AT rifles to fill the establishments. In addition transport carried ammunition for the armoured vehicles 2pdr ammunition – 1,656 rounds 7.92 BESA ammunition (or equivalent .303 inch where relevant) – 105,300 rounds. 2 inch mortar rounds – 1,380 rounds. 3.7 inch howitzer rounds – 480 rounds. Each tank carried a signal pistol and twenty rounds, five each white, red, blue, green. All the above figures should be adjusted to correspond with the actual fighting vehicles and weapons on establishment. Organisation. Regimental Headquarters. This was the tactical headquarters of the regiment in action. It was administered by the headquarters squadron -8cwt truck driver operator, driver IC -Light Tank 1 Lieutenant Colonel, serjeant, corporal driver operator. Carries a wireless set on the regimental net -Light Tank 2 Major, operator RS, corporal driver mechanic. Carries a wireless set on the rear link net -Light Tank 3 Adjutant, driver operator, corporal driver IC Carries a wireless set on the regimental net -Light Tank 4 Signal Officer, driver operator, driver IC Carries a spare wireless set -Scout Carrier 1 Intelligence Officer, intelligence corporal, trooper, driver IC Carries a wireless set on the regimental net -Scout Carrier 2 Regimental Serjeant Major, driver operator, driver IC Carries a wireless set on the regimental rear link (to B Echelon) net Note: - the Signal Officer and the Intelligence Officer can change places. - the spare set in tank 4 is intended to be assigned to whichever net best suits the operational needs at a particular time. - the rear link set in tank 2 is for reporting back to divisional headquarters when operating as a divisional reconnaissance unit, or to brigade headquarters when the unit is assigned to a reconnaissance brigade. A signal serjeant, a driver mechanic and four drivers IC were provided as reliefs. They travelled in the Administrative Troop transport. Regimental headquarters personnel. Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer Major, second in command Captain, adjutant Subaltern, Intelligence Officer Subaltern, headquarters tank commander Regimental Serjeant Major 2 X serjeant corporal, intelligence duties 2 X corporal driver IC 3 X driver operator 2 X driver IC signalman Royal Signals All personnel carry revolvers. A rifle is carried in the truck. Headquarters Squadron. This provided administrative and supply services for the regiment. In action the administrative vehicles were divided into echelons. F echelon contained those vehicles likely to be needed in the front line. These would include the medical vehicles, recovery and maintenance vehicles plus some 30cwt lorries for ammunition and petrol. All vehicles not needed in the front line were held at B echelon under the control of the second in command. Often the B echelon also contained the vehicles from the squadrons that were not needed by them in the front line. Personnel. Captain Quartermaster 2 X subaltern Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant Quartermaster Serjeant, technical Squadron Serjeant Major squadron quartermaster serjeant transport serjeant serjeant cook provost serjeant 1 X carpenter and joiner 1 X clerk 1 X driver operator 1 X equipment repairer 2 X storeman (technical) 1 X motor mechanics 11 X batman 1 X butchery dutyman 3 |X clerk 2 X cook 18 X driver IC 1 X medical orderly 2 X regimental policeman 36 X motorcyclist 1 X postman 3 X sanitary dutyman 1 X storeman 2 X water dutyman 1 X officers mess cook 1 X officers mess servant Note that the list of personnel is identical to that of the Divisional Cavalry Regiment. Squadron headquarters. -8cwt truck Captain, Squadron Serjeant Major, Squadron Quartermaster Serjeant, clerk, driver IC All personnel carried a revolver. The vehicle carried a rifle. Motorcycle troop For administrative and maintenance convenience the following group were shown on the war establishment as part of the motorcycle troop Transport Section The Transport Officer was a Subaltern and was responsible for all the transport of the regiment, but not the fighting vehicles. The transport serjeant was his assistant. Both would normally travel with the administrative troop. -Motorcycle 1 Transport Officer -Motorcycle 2 transport Serjeant Provost section The provost section were the regimental police and were the responsibility of the Regimental Serjeant Major. On long moves they were used for marking routes and maintaining convoy discipline. -Motorcycle 3 provost serjeant -Motorcycle 4 provost corporal -Motorcycle 5 provost corporal Despatch Rider Group. The corporal motorcyclist seems to be in charge of the motorcycle despatch riders although it seems a great responsibility for the rank. -Motorcycle 6 corporal motorcyclist The five sections of motorcyclists were intended to be dispersed in action. According to operational needs at the time they could be allocated -one section per squadron with two sections remaining as a regimental reserve. -squadrons could use individual motorcyclists as despatch riders to maintain communications with each troop when there were insufficient wireless sets, or when wireless silence was being maintained. -squadrons could place a thin screen of motorcyclists across the squadron front to give advanced warning of an enemy. -regimental headquarters could place a section on a route or sector not covered by other units. Note that motorcyclists were armed only with a revolver and could not hold a position or assault a position. They were only for carrying messages or forming picquets. Despatch rider section 1 -Motorcycle 7 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 8 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 9 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 10 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 11 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 12 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 13 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 2 -Motorcycle 14 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 15 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 16 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 17 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 18 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 19 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 20 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 3 -Motorcycle 21 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 22 motorcyclist -Motorcycle23 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 24 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 25 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 26 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 27 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 4 -Motorcycle 28 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 29 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 30 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 31 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 32 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 33 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 34 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 5 -Motorcycle 35 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 36 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 37 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 38 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 39 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 40 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 41 motorcyclist All motorcyclists were armed with a revolver. Administrative troop. -8cwt truck 1 Quartermaster, driver operator, electrician RS, driver IC Carries a wireless set linked to the RSM’s carrier. -8cwt truck 2 Technical Officer, technical quartermaster, serjeant, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 3 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, serjeant, 2 X batman, driver IC -15cwt truck GS 1 corporal clerk, 2 X clerk, postman driver IC Carries office equipment and stores. -15cwt truck GS 2 Medical Officer, medical orderly, batman, driver IC Carries medical stores -15cwt truck GS 3 officers mess servant, officers mess cook, 3 X batman, driver IC Carries Officers Mess equipment and baggage -15cwt truck GS 4 serjeant cook, 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking equipment and rations -15cwt truck GS 5 technical storeman, driver IC Carries petrol Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition. AT rifle with 500 rounds of ammunition. Carries a Motley AA mount at the front of the body -15cwt truck GS 6 6 X trooper, signalman RS, driver IC Relief personnel for headquarters. Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition. AT rifle with 500 rounds of ammunition. Carries a Motley AA mount at the front of the body -30cwt lorry GS 1 storeman, driver IC Carries baggage Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -30cwt lorry GS 2 armament artificer, fitter, 2 X armourer, electrician, carpenter and joiner, equipment repairer, driver IC Carries technical stores and tools. -30cwt lorry GS 3 technical storeman, driver IC Carries technical stores -30cwt lorry GS 4 (this is listed as 6 X 4) batman, 2 X water dutyman, butcher, driver IC Carries officers baggage and rations. Tows a water trailer. -30cwt lorry GS 5 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition -30cwt lorry GS 6 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition -30cwt lorry GS 7 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition -30cwt lorry GS 8 3 X sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries ammunition. Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body Anti Tank Troop WOIII serjeant 3 X corporal driver mechanic 5 X driver IC 16 X trooper -Dragon 1 WOIII, driver mechanic, driver IC -Dragon 2 Serjeant, 4 X trooper, driver IC Tows 2pdr Anti tank gun -Dragon 3 Corporal, 4 X trooper, driver IC Tows 2pdr Anti tank gun -Dragon 4 Corporal, 4 X trooper, driver IC Tows 2pdr Anti tank gun -Dragon 5 Corporal, 4 X trooper, driver IC Tows 2pdr Anti tank gun Squadron The three fighting squadrons were identical. Squadron Headquarters. This was divided into A - fighting portion B - administrative portion Fighting portion Personnel Major Captain Squadron Serjeant major 1 X driver mechanic 3 X driver operator 1 X clerk 3 X driver IC 1 X intelligence trooper plus 1 X relief driver mechanic, 2 X relief driver operator and one relief driver IC carried in administrative transport. All carry revolvers -Light Tank 1 Major, driver operator, corporal driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 Captain, corporal driver operator, driver IC Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 Squadron Serjeant Major, driver operator, corporal driver IC Carries wireless set -Scout Carrier clerk. Intelligence trooper, driver IC Administrative portion Personnel squadron quartermaster serjeant 2 X motor mechanic 1 X technical storeman 4 X batman 7 X driver IC 1 X storeman 1 X LMG gunner 2 X cook plus 1 X fitter RAOC 1 X signaller electrician RS 3 X relief personnel for squadron headquarters 20 X relief personnel for troops -15cwt truck GS 1 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking equipment and rations. -15cwt truck GS 2 motor mechanic, trooper, driver IC Carries Petrol Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the front of the body -15cwt truck GS 3 2 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess equipment -30cwt lorry GS 1 Squadron Quartermaster Serjeant, fitter, 2 X batman, storeman, driver IC Carries baggage and blankets -30cwt lorry GS 2 electrician RS, motor mechanic, driver IC Carries technical stores -30cwt lorry GS 3 11 X relief troopers, driver IC Carries 4 X relief troopers for SHQ and 8 X relief troopers for troops 2 and 4. -30cwt lorry GS 4 12 X relief troopers, driver IC Carries 12 X relief troopers for troops 1, 3 and 5. Troops Light tank troop 1 -Light Tank 1 Subaltern, driver operator, corporal driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 serjeant, corporal driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 -corporal driver 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 2 -Light Tank 1 WOIII, driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 corporal driver IC, corporal driver operator, driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 serjeant. 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 3 -Light Tank 1 Subaltern, driver operator, corporal driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 serjeant, corporal driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 corporal driver 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 4 -Light Tank 1 WOIII, driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 corporal driver IC, corporal driver operator, driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 serjeant. 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 5 -Light Tank 1 WOIII, driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 corporal driver IC, corporal driver operator, driver IC Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 serjeant. 2 X driver IC. ATTACHED Royal Signals. The attached Royal Signals section was small. -15cwt truck GS -3ton lorry GS 6 X 4 11 X personnel. Some of the personnel are listed above -2 at regimental headquarters -6 with the administrative troop -1 with each squadron headquarters. The two at regimental headquarters are signallers to operate the rear link set. One is in Light Tank 2 and one in 15cwt truck 6 with relief crews. The administrative troop has a sergeant in charge of the section, a driver IC for the 15cwt truck and the 3ton lorry, one signalman electrician and two signalmen. The main task of the Signals section is to maintain, charge and deliver batteries for the wireless sets. The 3ton lorry 6 X 4 is a machinery type I which is equipped for battery charging and maintenance. The 15 cwt was for delivering batteries. Early wireless sets used a lot of power. Each squadron has one signalman electrician in 30cwt lorry 2. RAOC LIGHT AID DETACHMENT 13 X personnel 1 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 Breakdown lorry 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 Stores lorry There were also 2 X armourer 1 X electrician 1 X armament artificer 1 X fitter attached to the regiment but not part of the Light Aid detachment RASC There were 2 X 3ton 4 X 2 lorries with 4 X driver IC assigned to carry supplies for the regiment. It did not normally travel with the regiment. Light Tank MkVIB. These equipped the Cavalry Light Tank Regiments and were armed only with machine guns. This tank will be described more fully in a later post. Model from Mikes collection. Make unknown. Pity about the transfer/decal carrier film. It is not noticeable in real life. Mike.
The Armoured Regiments of 1 Armoured Division. This will be posted in three sections: -The armoured regiment. Cruiser tanks. Posted below. -The Light Tank Regiment. -Reorganisation. ARMOURED REGIMENT. War Establishment 1/1931/5E/1 The armoured regiment as employed in France in May 1940 is difficult to research. There is a very detailed War Establishment, I/1931/5E/1 which was notified in ACIs (Army Council Instructions) for 22 May 1940. However by that time the armoured regiments of the BEF were in France and the equipment to fill this establishment did not exist. The sending of an armoured division to France was planned in the original schedule of September 1939. However it was not a priority since it was intended to be a pursuit formation which would follow and harass a retreating German Army. In fact 1 Armoured Division did not go to France as a complete unit. Some of its components were sent to reinforce the Channel ports while the rest went to hold the Somme. During the period when 1 Armoured Divisions regiments were training in the UK they had formed two brigades. One was a light brigade with light tanks and the other a heavy brigade with cruiser tanks and light tanks. The regiments of 3 Heavy Armoured Brigade were on War Establishment I/1931/5C while the regiments of the 2 Light Armoured Brigade were on War Establishment 1/1931/8F/1 with an effective date of May 1938. In March 1940 it was decided that all regiments should be organised identically. In order to achieve this all new production of cruiser tanks was to go to 2 Armoured Brigade. There was also some re distribution of tanks since the history of 9 Lancers says that many of their tanks were in poor condition having been transferred from other units. In some cases we have a good idea of the tanks which regiments actually held when going to France because the regimental War Diaries record these facts. In other cases no details have survived. As far as can be discovered the War Establishment of 22 May 1940 was the new ideal organisation. All future planning was to be based on this. 2 Armoured Division in the UK was to be equipped and manned according to these tables, as was the armoured division in Egypt, later to become 7 Armoured Division. However there was neither the time nor the equipment to complete the re organisation in 1 Armoured Division. The best one can do in is to describe the armoured regiment as it was planned to be and then to show how it differed from it. (This will be done in a later post.) If one compares this organisation with that of an armoured regiment in 1945 one can see that it changed very little. The later organisation has a reconnaissance troop of light tanks, and has many more three ton lorries to carry the greater weight of ammunition and petrol required. Total personnel Lieutenant Colonel Major, second in command Major Captain, adjutant Technical Officer 7 X Captain 15 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant Quartermaster Serjeant, technical Mechanist Quartermaster Serjeant Squadron Serjeant Major 4 X squadron quartermaster serjeant 3 X serjeant mechanist orderly room serjeant clerk provost serjeant signal serjeant transport serjeant serjeant technical storeman officers mess serjeant serjeant 57 X corporal 444 X trooper Total 577 Plus Medical Officer RAMC 2 X armourer Trades included carpenter and joiner 7 X clerk 80 X driver mechanics 104 X driver operator 4 X electrician equipment repairer 10 X fitter 6 X storeman (technical) 17 X motor mechanics 33 X batman butchery dutyman 6 X clerk 16 X cook 178 X driver IC 4 X driver IC, intelligence medical orderly 14 X motorcyclist postman 5 X sanitary dutyman 5 X storeman 4 X water dutyman Note the apparently excessive number of batmen. At this time every officer had one, plus the regimental serjeant major and the medical officer. Later some officers would have driver/batman and junior officers shared a batman. Some trades appear twice since there were both tradesman and non tradesman grades. Tradesmen were paid more. War Establishments 1/1931/8F and I/1931/5E give one Warrant Officer III to command two troops in each heavy squadron and three troops in each light squadron. It is believed that these were replaced by commissioned officers before going overseas. In common with most units it is laid down that at least one officer and twelve men shall be trained in anti gas and de contamination duties. Gas was a real threat and anti gas training and anti gas stores were considered to be essential. At this time it was an offence not to carry a gas mask. The following personnel are on the strength of the regiment but not actively with it Detail left at base – orderly room serjeant First reinforcements 6 X Officer WO II 4 X serjeant 6 X corporal 45 X trooper including- 10 X driver mechanic 13 X driver operator 2 X fitter Total vehicles 12 X motorcycle 3 X motorcycle combination 1 X Car 4 seater 4 X Car 2 seater 2 X 8cwt 12 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt water 1 X 15cwt FFW 1 X 15cwt Office 11 X 30cwt GS 22 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS 4 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS 10 X scout car 6 X close support tank 46 X tank This vehicle establishment obviously varies from the reality in that there were only three tanks at regimental headquarters half of the tanks in fighting troops were light tanks the number of 30cwt and 3ton lorries would be smaller since there was less fuel and ammunition to be carried. Weapons carried Pistols .38 inch. 578 carried which was one for every officer and man including one for the medical officer. Each man carried 12 rounds of ammunition and the transport carried a reserve of 3,468 rounds. These figures give six rounds loaded in the pistol, six rounds carried on the man and six rounds per pistol in reserve. Rifles .303 inch. 61 carried. One per B vehicle and one per scout car plus one for each of the two RAOC personnel attached. Fifty rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 4000 rounds. Bren lmg .303. 11 carried. 1000 rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 5,500. There were also ten Bren lmg carried in scout cars each with 700 rounds on the vehicle and there was a reserve of 5000 rounds. AT rifle .55 inch. 11 carried. 200 rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 440 rounds. Note that Bren guns and AT rifles were carried together in the same vehicles. However there were not sufficient AT rifles to fill the establishments. In addition transport carried ammunition for the armoured vehicles 2pdr ammunition – 1,656 rounds 7.92 BESA ammunition (or equivalent .303 inch where relevant) – 105,300 rounds. 2 inch mortar rounds – 1,380 rounds. 3.7 inch howitzer rounds – 480 rounds. Each tank carried a signal pistol and twenty rounds, five each white, red, blue, green. All the above figures should be adjusted to correspond with the actual fighting vehicles and weapons on establishment. Organisation. Regimental Headquarters. This was the tactical headquarters of the regiment in action. It was administered by the headquarters squadron -Car 4 seater corporal driver IC, driver IC -Cruiser Tank 1 Lieutenant Colonel, Adjutant, serjeant, driver operator. -Cruiser Tank 2 Major, Regimental Serjeant Major, operator RS, corporal driver IC -Cruiser Tank 3 Subaltern, serjeant, driver mechanic, driver operator, driver IC -Cruiser Tank 4 Intelligence Officer, intelligence corporal, driver operator, driver IC 8 X driver IC were provided as relief personnel for Regimental Headquarters. They travelled in the Administrative Troop transport. Note The second in command would not normally be here in action. His action post was at rear headquarters. The subaltern commands the headquarters tanks. All the Regimental headquarters tanks carried a Wireless set No9 and a Wireless set No14. The car was for the use of the Commanding officer when travelling or away from the headquarters. Total personnel in the Regimental Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer Major, second in command Captain, adjutant Subaltern, Intelligence Officer Subaltern, headquarters tank commander Regimental Serjeant Major 2 X serjeant corporal, intelligence duties 2 X corporal driver IC 3 X driver operator 2 X driver IC signalman Royal Signals All personnel carry revolvers. A rifle is carried in the car. Headquarters Squadron. This provided administrative and supply services for the regiment. In action the administrative vehicles were divided into echelons. F echelon contained those vehicles likely to be needed in the front line. These would include the medical vehicles, recovery and maintenance vehicles plus some 3ton lorries for ammunition and petrol. All vehicles not needed in the front line were held at B echelon under the control of the second in command. Often the B echelon also contained the vehicles from the squadrons that were not needed by them in the front line. Squadron headquarters. -Car 2 seater Major (squadron commander), driver IC -15cwt Captain (squadron second in command), Squadron Serjeant Major, driver operator, driver IC Carries a Wireless set No9. The War establishment table notes that this vehicle was due to be replaced by an 8cwt truck. This was complete by May 1940. Squadron headquarters personnel Major, officer commanding Captain, second in commnd Squadron Serjeant Major driver operator 2 X driver IC All personnel carried a revolver. Each vehicle carried a rifle. Intercommunication troop -Scout Car 1 serjeant, driver operator -Scout Car 2 2 X driver IC -Scout Car 3 2 X driver IC -Scout car 4 corporal driver IC, driver IC -Scout car 5 2 X driver IC -Scout car 6 2 X driver IC -Scout Car 7 corporal driver IC, driver IC -Scout Car 8 2 X driver IC -Scout Car 9 2 X driver IC -Scout Car 10 driver IC. For the use of the Medical Officer. Total personnel in the Intercommunication troop Serjeant 2 X corporal driver IC 16 X driver IC All personnel carry a revolver. Each scout car carries a rifle. Administrative troop Personnel Technical Officer Quartermaster Subaltern Regimental Quartermaster serjeant provost serjeant signal serjeant transport serjeant serjeant clerk serjeant, officers mess serjeant technical storeman carpenter and joiner 4 X clerk 5 X driver mechanic 4 X driver operator electrician fitter 2 X motor mechanic equipment repairer 3 X technical storeman 12 X batman butcher 3 X clerk 3 X cook officers cook 24 X driver IC 11 X motorcyclist 3 X officers mess servants postman 2 X sanitary dutyman water dutyman 2 X storeman Medical Office 2 X armourer RAOC -Motorcycle 1 provost serjeant -Motorcycle 2 corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 3 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 4 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 5 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 6 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 7 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 8 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 9 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 10 motorcyclist -15cwt truck GS 1 squadron quartermaster serjeant, 2 X clerk, 2 X batman, driver IC -15cwt truck GS 2 Technical Officer, mechanist quarter master serjeant, corporal mechanic, batman, driver IC -15cwt truck GS 3 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, 2 X clerk, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -15cwt truck GS 4 Quarter Master Serjeant (Technical), serjeant technical storeman, clerk, batman, driver IC Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -15cwt truck GS 5 officers mess serjeant, officers mess cook, officers mess servant, driver I Carries officers mess equipment -15cwt truck GS 6 corporal cook, 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking equipment and rations. -15cwt truck Office Signal Officer, signal serjeant, serjeant clerk, corporal clerk, driver IC Carries office equipment. -15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC -8cwt truck 1 Quartermaster, batman, clerk, corporal driver IC -8cwt truck 2 Medical Officer, medical orderly, batman, driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 transport serjeant, butcher, 2 X officers mess servants, driver IC Carries officers baggage and rations for truck 5 -30cwt lorry GS 2 armourer staff serjeant RAOC, armourer RAOC, carpenter, technical storeman, driver IC Carries armourers and carpenters tools. -30cwt lorry GS 3 equipment repairer, 8 X relief drivers, driver IC Carries Bren lmg + 1000 rounds AT rifle + 200 rounds Vehicle fitted with a Motley mount at the front of the body -30cwt lorry GS 4 postman, storeman, batman, driver IC Carries Bren lmg + 1000 rounds AT rifle + 200 rounds Vehicle fitted with a Motley mount at the front of the body -30cwt lorry GS 5 sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries medical stores -3ton lorry GS 1 technical storeman, corporal motor mechanic, 2 X driver IC Carries stores and fitters tools Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -3ton lorry GS 2 sanitary dutyman, lance serjeant fitter, 2 X driver IC Carries petrol. -3ton lorry GS 3 storeman, electrician, 2 X driver IC Carries ammunition -3ton lorry GS 4 technical storeman, batman, 2 X driver IC -3ton lorry GS 5 2 X batman, 2 X driver IC anti gas stores and greatcoats. All personnel, except RAOC attached, carry a revolver. RAOC personnel carry rifles. Each vehicle carries a rifle. Squadron X 3 The three fighting squadrons were identical. Squadron Headquarters. This was divided into A - fighting portion B - administrative portion Fighting portion -Cruiser Tank, Close Support 1 Major, serjeant, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank, Close Support 2 Squadron Serjeant Major, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 1 Captain 2ic, serjeant, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC -Cruiser Tank 2 Captain, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC Personnel Major 2 X Captain Squadron Serjeant Major 2 X serjeant 2 X corporal driver 4 X driver operator 4 X driver IC All carry revolvers Note: The War Establishment envisaged A13 Cruiser tanks. In reality in France two of the headquarters tanks were A9 Close Support versions which had a nominal crew of six to man the two auxiliary machine gun turrets. There is some evidence that the two machine gunners were not always carried in order to provide more space. Administrative portion Personnel 2 X serjeant mechanist serjeant 2 X corporal driver IC corporal technical storeman corporal fitter corporal cook 6 X batman 3 X cook 2 X clerk driver for intelligence duties 46 X driver IC electrician 2 X fitter 5 X motor mechanic sanitary dutyman storeman water dutyman -15cwt truck GS 1 motor mechanic, 2 X clerk, driver IC intelligence, driver IC -15cwt truck GS 2 cook, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries Officers mess equipment. Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the front of the body -3ton lorry GS 1 corporal technical storeman, mechanist serjeant, fitter, motor mechanic, 2 X driver IC Carries stores and fitters tools -3ton lorry GS 2 sanitary dutyman, batman, 2 X driver IC Carries ammunition -3ton lorry GS 3 corporal fitter, motor mechanic, 2 X driver IC Carries ammunition -3ton lorry GS 4 fitter, electrician, motor mechanic, 2 X driver IC Carries petrol Carries Bren lmg + 1000 rounds and an AT rifle + 200 rounds Vehicle fitted with a Motley mount at the rear of the body -3ton lorry GS 5 motor mechanic, batman, 2 X driver IC Carries petrol -3ton lorry GS 6 serjeant, corporal driver IC, 14 X driver IC (relief), 2 X driver IC -3ton lorry GS 7 serjeant, corporal driver IC, 14 X driver IC relief, 2 X driver IC -30cwt lorry GS 1 storeman, water dutyman, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries baggage and blankets -30cwt lorry GS 2 corporal cook, 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking set. Troops Troop 1 -Cruiser Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 3 corporal driver IC, driver operator, 2 X driver IC Troop 2 -Cruiser Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 3 corporal driver IC, driver operator, 2 X driver IC Troop 3 -Cruiser Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 3 corporal driver IC, driver operator, 2 X driver IC Troop 4 -Cruiser Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 3 corporal driver IC, driver operator, 2 X driver IC Total personnel each troop 12. All personnel carry a revolver. Mike
LIGHT TANK REGIMENT War Establishment 1/1831/8F/1. In the early 1920s the cavalry on Home Establishment consisted of 1st Cavalry Division -No 1 Cavalry Brigade -No 2 Cavalry Brigade Five divisional cavalry regiments. All the cavalry regiments were organised identically and could rotate their roles. Motor transport was limited to a small number of administrative trucks, cars and motorcycles. However when he cavalry regiments were mechanised some became divisional light tank regiments equipped with a mixture of light tanks and troop carrying vehicles while the cavalry regiments of the cavalry brigades were to be equipped with light tanks throughout. Cruiser tanks were the responsibility of the Royal Tank Corp. When 1 Armoured Division was formed it had two brigades, one of cruiser tanks and one of light tanks. 2 Light Armoured Brigade contained three cavalry light tank regiments which were on War Establishment 1/1931/8F/1 with an effective date of May 1938. The armoured division was intended to be a pursuit formation which would follow and harass a retreating German army. Direct assaults were the task of the infantry with infantry tank and artillery support. The intention was that light tanks of 2 Light Armoured Brigade would rush into any breach in the enemy front and find the weakest spaces and the best routes for the cruiser tanks which followed. It was not their role to fight but to keep moving as fast and as far as possible. If enemy strong points needed neutralising or key points needed holding then the motor battalions were following close behind to carry out these tasks. 1 Armoured Division did not go to France as a complete unit. Some of its components were sent to reinforce the Channel ports while the rest went to hold the Somme. The motor battalions did not serve with the armoured brigades. In March 1940 it was decided that all regiments should be organised identically. In order to achieve this all new production of cruiser tanks was to go to 2 Armoured Brigade (now no longer a ‘light’ armoured brigade). Total personnel 1 X Lieutenant colonel 1 X Major, second in command 3 X Major 4 X Captain 10 X Subaltern 1 X Quartermaster 1 X Regimental Serjeant Major 1 X Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 1 X Quartermaster Serjeant, technical 4 X Squadron Serjeant Major 16 X WO III 4 X squadron quartermaster serjeant 1 X provost serjeant 1 X signal serjeant 1 X transport serjeant 1 X serjeant cook 18 X serjeant 65 X corporal 325 X trooper Total 454 Plus 1 X Medical Officer RAMC 2 X armourer RAOC 1 X electrician RAOC 1 X armament artificer RAOC 1 X fitter RAOC Trades included 1 X carpenter and joiner 1 X clerk 39 X driver mechanics 66 X driver operator 1 X equipment repairer 5 X storeman (technical) 7 X motor mechanics 23 X batman 1 X butchery dutyman 6 X clerk 8 X cook 155 X driver IC 4 X driver IC, intelligence 1 X medical orderly 2 X regimental policeman 36 X motorcyclist 1 X postman 3 X sanitary dutyman 4 X storeman 2 X water dutyman 1 X officers mess cook 1 X officers mess servant 4 X lmg detachment Total vehicles 41 X motorcycle 5 X 8cwt 15 X 15cwt GS 20 X 30cwt 6 X 4GS 58 X light tank 5 X scout carrier 1 X water trailer Weapons carried Pistols .38 inch. 578 carried which was one for every officer and man including one for the medical officer. Each man carried 12 rounds of ammunition and the transport carried a reserve of 3,468 rounds. These figures give six rounds loaded in the pistol, six rounds carried on the man and six rounds per pistol in reserve. Rifles .303 inch. 61 carried. One per B vehicle and one per scout car plus one for each of the two RAOC personnel attached. Fifty rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 4000 rounds. Bren lmg .303. 11 carried. 1000 rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 5,500. There were also ten Bren lmg carried in scout cars each with 700 rounds on the vehicle and there was a reserve of 5000 rounds. AT rifle .55 inch. 11 carried. 200 rounds were carried with the weapon and there was a reserve of 440 rounds. Note that Bren guns and AT rifles were carried together in the same vehicles. However there were not sufficient AT rifles to fill the establishments. In addition transport carried ammunition for the armoured vehicles 7.92 BESA ammunition (or equivalent .303 inch where relevant) – 105,300 rounds. 2 inch mortar rounds – 1,380 rounds. 3.7 inch howitzer rounds – 480 rounds. Each tank carried a signal pistol and twenty rounds, five each white, red, blue, green. All the above figures should be adjusted to correspond with the actual fighting vehicles and weapons on establishment. Organisation. Regimental Headquarters. This was the tactical headquarters of the regiment in action. It was administered by the headquarters squadron -8cwt truck driver operator, driver IC -Light Tank 1 Lieutenant Colonel, serjeant, corporal driver operator. Carries a wireless set on the regimental net -Light Tank 2 Major, operator RS, corporal driver mechanic. Carries a wireless set on the rear link net -Light Tank 3 Adjutant, driver operator, corporal driver IC Carries a wireless set on the regimental net -Light Tank 4 Signal Officer, driver operator, driver IC Carries a spare wireless set -Scout Carrier 1 Intelligence Officer, intelligence corporal, trooper, driver IC Carries a wireless set on the regimental net -Scout Carrier 2 Regimental Serjeant Major, driver operator, driver IC Carries a wireless set on the regimental rear link (to B Echelon) net Note: - the Signal Officer and the Intelligence Officer can change places. - the spare set in tank 4 is intended to be assigned to whichever net best suits the operational needs at a particular time. - the rear link set in tank 2 is for reporting back to divisional headquarters. A signal serjeant, a driver mechanic and four drivers IC were provided as reliefs. They travelled in the Administrative Troop transport. Regimental headquarters personnel. Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer Major, second in command Captain, adjutant Subaltern, Intelligence Officer Subaltern, headquarters tank commander Regimental Serjeant Major 2 X serjeant corporal, intelligence duties 2 X corporal driver IC 3 X driver operator 2 X driver IC signalman Royal Signals All personnel carry revolvers. Headquarters Squadron. This provided administrative and supply services for the regiment. In action the administrative vehicles were divided into echelons. F echelon contained those vehicles likely to be needed in the front line. These would include the medical vehicles, recovery and maintenance vehicles plus some 30cwt lorries for ammunition and petrol. All vehicles not needed in the front line were held at B echelon under the control of the second in command. Often the B echelon also contained the vehicles from the squadrons that were not needed by them in the front line. Personnel. Captain Quartermaster 2 X subaltern Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant Quartermaster Serjeant, technical Squadron Serjeant Major squadron quartermaster serjeant transport serjeant serjeant cook provost serjeant 1 X carpenter and joiner 1 X clerk 1 X driver operator 1 X equipment repairer 2 X storeman (technical) 1 X motor mechanic 11 X batman 1 X butchery dutyman 3 |X clerk 2 X cook 18 X driver IC 1 X medical orderly 2 X regimental policeman 36 X motorcyclist 1 X postman 3 X sanitary dutyman 1 X storeman 2 X water dutyman 1 X officers mess cook 1 X officers mess servant Squadron headquarters. -8cwt truck Captain, Squadron Serjeant Major, Squadron Quartermaster Serjeant, clerk, driver IC All personnel carried a revolver. The vehicle carried a rifle. Motorcycle troop For administrative and maintenance convenience the following group were shown on the war establishment as part of the motorcycle troop Transport Section The Transport Officer was a Subaltern and was responsible for all the transport of the regiment, but not the fighting vehicles. The transport serjeant was his assistant. Both would normally travel with the administrative troop. -Motorcycle 1 Transport Officer -Motorcycle 2 transport Serjeant Provost section The provost section were the regimental police and were the responsibility of the Regimental Serjeant Major. On long moves they were used for marking routes and maintaining convoy discipline. -Motorcycle 3 provost serjeant -Motorcycle 4 provost corporal -Motorcycle 5 provost corporal Despatch Rider Group. The corporal motorcyclist seems to be in charge of the motorcycle despatch riders although it seems a great responsibility for the rank. -Motorcycle 6 corporal motorcyclist The five sections of motorcyclists were intended to be dispersed in action. According to operational needs at the time they could be allocated -one section per squadron with two sections remaining as a regimental reserve. -squadrons could use individual motorcyclists as despatch riders to maintain communications with each troop when there were insufficient wireless sets, or when wireless silence was being maintained. -squadrons could place a thin screen of motorcyclists across the squadron front to give advanced warning of an enemy. -regimental headquarters could place a section on a route or sector not covered by other units. Note that motorcyclists were armed only with a revolver and could not hold a position or assault a position. They were only for carrying messages or forming picquets. Despatch rider section 1 -Motorcycle 7 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 8 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 9 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 10 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 11 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 12 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 13 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 2 -Motorcycle 14 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 15 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 16 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 17 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 18 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 19 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 20 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 3 -Motorcycle 21 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 22 motorcyclist -Motorcycle23 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 24 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 25 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 26 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 27 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 4 -Motorcycle 28 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 29 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 30 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 31 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 32 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 33 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 34 motorcyclist Despatch rider section 5 -Motorcycle 35 lance corporal motorcyclist -Motorcycle 36 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 37 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 38 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 39 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 40 motorcyclist -Motorcycle 41 motorcyclist All motorcyclists were armed with a revolver. Administrative troop. -8cwt truck 1 Quartermaster, driver operator, electrician RS, driver IC Carries a wireless set linked to the RSM’s carrier. -8cwt truck 2 Technical Officer, technical quartermaster, serjeant, batman, driver IC -8cwt truck 3 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, serjeant, 2 X batman, driver IC -15cwt truck GS 1 corporal clerk, 2 X clerk, postman driver IC Carries office equipment and stores. -15cwt truck GS 2 Medical Officer, medical orderly, batman, driver IC Carries medical stores -15cwt truck GS 3 officers mess servant, officers mess cook, 3 X batman, driver IC Carries Officers Mess equipment and baggage -15cwt truck GS 4 serjeant cook, 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking equipment and rations -15cwt truck GS 5 technical storeman, driver IC Carries petrol Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition. AT rifle with 500 rounds of ammunition. Carries a Motley AA mount at the front of the body -15cwt truck GS 6 6 X trooper, signalman RS, driver IC Relief personnel for headquarters. Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition. AT rifle with 500 rounds of ammunition. Carries a Motley AA mount at the front of the body -30cwt lorry GS 1 storeman, driver IC Carries baggage Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body -30cwt lorry GS 2 armament artificer, fitter, 2 X armourer, electrician, carpenter and joiner, equipment repairer, driver IC Carries technical stores and tools. -30cwt lorry GS 3 technical storeman, driver IC Carries technical stores -30cwt lorry GS 4 (this is listed as 6 X 4) batman, 2 X water dutyman, butcher, driver IC Carries officers baggage and rations. Tows a water trailer. -30cwt lorry GS 5 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition -30cwt lorry GS 6 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition -30cwt lorry GS 7 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition -30cwt lorry GS 8 3 X sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries ammunition. Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the rear of the body Anti Tank Troop. This troop was shown on the 1938 War Establishment but was later removed. Reasons for its removal included -difficulties of training and organising a troop which differed considerably from the rest of the regiment. -shortage of 2pdr anti tank guns -the introduction of the 15mm gun in Light Tank MkVIC In fact it was intended that the divisional antitank/anti aircraft regiment would provide anti tank troops as required. In the event light tanks were mixed with cruiser tanks which were armed with 2pdr guns. Squadron The three fighting squadrons were identical. Squadron Headquarters. This was divided into A - fighting portion B - administrative portion Fighting portion Personnel Major Captain Squadron Serjeant major 1 X driver mechanic 3 X driver operator 1 X clerk 3 X driver IC 1 X intelligence trooper plus 1 X relief driver mechanic, 2 X relief driver operator and one relief driver IC carried in administrative transport. All carry revolvers -Light Tank 1 Major, driver operator, corporal driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 Captain, corporal driver operator, driver IC Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 Squadron Serjeant Major, driver operator, corporal driver IC Carries wireless set -Scout Carrier clerk. Intelligence trooper, driver IC Administrative portion Personnel squadron quartermaster serjeant 2 X motor mechanic 1 X technical storeman 4 X batman 7 X driver IC 1 X storeman 1 X LMG gunner 2 X cook plus 1 X fitter RAOC 1 X signaller electrician RS 3 X relief personnel for squadron headquarters 20 X relief personnel for troops Transport. -15cwt truck GS 1 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking equipment and rations. -15cwt truck GS 2 motor mechanic, trooper, driver IC Carries Petrol Carries Bren lmg with 1000 rounds of ammunition, AT rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition Fitted with Motley AA mount at the front of the body -15cwt truck GS 3 2 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess equipment -30cwt lorry GS 1 Squadron Quartermaster Serjeant, fitter, 2 X batman, storeman, driver IC Carries baggage and blankets -30cwt lorry GS 2 electrician RS, motor mechanic, driver IC Carries technical stores -30cwt lorry GS 3 11 X relief troopers, driver IC Carries 4 X relief troopers for SHQ and 8 X relief troopers for troops 2 and 4. -30cwt lorry GS 4 12 X relief troopers, driver IC Carries 12 X relief troopers for troops 1, 3 and 5. Troops Light tank troop 1 -Light Tank 1 Subaltern, driver operator, corporal driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 serjeant, corporal driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 -corporal driver 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 2 -Light Tank 1 WOIII, driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 corporal driver IC, corporal driver operator, driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 serjeant. 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 3 -Light Tank 1 Subaltern, driver operator, corporal driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 serjeant, corporal driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 corporal driver 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 4 -Light Tank 1 WOIII, driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 corporal driver IC, corporal driver operator, driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 serjeant. 2 X driver IC. Light tank troop 5 -Light Tank 1 WOIII, driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 2 corporal driver IC, corporal driver operator, driver IC. Carries wireless set -Light Tank 3 serjeant. 2 X driver IC. ATTACHED Royal Signals. The attached Royal Signals section was small. -15cwt truck GS -3ton lorry GS 6 X 4 11 X personnel. Some of the personnel are listed above -2 at regimental headquarters -6 with the administrative troop -1 with each squadron headquarters. The two at regimental headquarters are signallers to operate the rear link set. One is in Light Tank 2 and one in 15cwt truck 6 with relief crews. The administrative troop has a sergeant in charge of the section, a driver IC for the 15cwt truck and the 3ton lorry, one signalman electrician and two signalmen. The main task of the Signals section is to maintain, charge and deliver batteries for the wireless sets. The 3ton lorry 6 X 4 is a machinery type I which is equipped for battery charging and maintenance. The 15 cwt was for delivering batteries. Early wireless sets used a lot of power. Each squadron has one signalman electrician in 30cwt lorry 2 RAOC LIGHT AID DETACHMENT 13 X personnel 1 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 Breakdown lorry 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 Stores lorry There were also 2 X armourer 1 X electrician 1 X armament artificer 1 X fitter attached to the regiment but not part of the Light Aid detachment RASC There were 2 X 3ton 4 X 2 lorries with 4 X driver IC assigned to carry supplies for the regiment. It did not normally travel with the regiment. COLOURS and MARKINGS. In 1939 the War Office issued Military Training Pamphlet 20 ‘Disruptive Painting’. This laid down that vehicles would be painted in shade G3, khaki green No 3 which was a dull mid green. This as to be over painted with broad bands of shade G4, a dark green. G4 was supplied to units as a paste and ws to be applied by hand by unit personnel. It was not intended that patterns should be identical but were to be - diagonal rather than vertical - have undulating edges - have hard edges - have more G4 dark green than G3 mid green on top surfaces. G5, a lighter green, was also authorised but there seems to be no record of its use. The vehicles of 2 Light Armoured Brigade of 1 Armoured Division carried the following markings - All carried the divisional sign of a white rhinoceros in a white oval outline. This was usually painted directly onto the bodywork of armoured vehicles and appeared on the left hand side. - All carried an arm of service square and number on the right hand side. - All carried squadron signs centre front and rear and on the turret sides. Arm of Service signs were as follows Queens Bays Red square Number 4 in white 9 Lancers Red square Number 5 in white 10 Hussars Red square Number 6 in white Squadron signs for all armoured units were Regimental Headquarters Hollow Diamond A Squadron Hollow Triangle B Squadron Hollow Square C Squadron Hollow Circle These signs were officially painted in different colours for each regiment. They were in order of seniority, red, yellow and blue which would give Queens Bays Red 9 Lancers Yellow 10 Hussars Blue The squadron sign often had the troop number inside it but in some cases only the troop leader carried it and in others it was not used. Flags were authorised and photographs show these in use. They were attached to the wireless aerial rod. Regimental Commanders flew a rectangular flag in regimental colours. Squadron Commanders flew a swallow tailed pennant in regimental colours Troop Commanders flew a triangular flag in regimental colours. Most tanks had names and usually the light tank regiments preferred to have A squadron with names beginning with A, B squadron beginning with B and C squadron beginning with C. The old. Mounted cavalry and an Austin 7 radio car. The new. Light Tank MkVIC. Mike
REORGANISATION In 1939 2 Armoured Brigade was designated as a Light Armoured Brigade and its three regiments were equipped with light tanks. All the regiments were cavalry regiments, The Queens Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards), 9th Lancers and 10th Hussars. They were converted from horsed cavalry to armour in the late 1930s. 3 Armoured Brigade was designated as a Heavy Armoured Brigade. Its three regiments were equipped with a mixture of cruiser tanks and light tanks. All three regiments were in fact battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment, 2 RTR, 3RTR and 5RTR. The Royal Tank Regiment had only recently been downgraded, in their view, from a corps to a regiment and combined with the cavalry regiments to form the Royal Armoured Corp. In March 1940 it was decided that the regiments of 1 Armoured Division would all be organised identically. Eventually they would be equipped throughout with cruiser tanks as described in War Establishment 1/1931/5E of May 1940. In the meantime they were to be reorganised so that all regiments were in fact equipped as were the regiments of 3 Heavy Armoured Brigade. The words ‘as far as production allows ’appear’ in the document indicating that the cruiser tanks were not yet available but that new production would go to 1 Armoured Division to provide all regiments with two troops of cruiser tanks per squadron. At the same time new light tanks, the Mk VIC, were being produced and issued. The most detailed list of equipment is to be found in the history of the Queens Bays. This lists all the tanks in the regiment at the time of embarkation (16 May). Regimental Headquarters 3 X A10 Cruiser tank A Squadron Headquarters. 2 X A9 Cruiser Tank. 2 X A13 Cruiser Tank. 1 troop. 3 X A13 Cruiser Tank 2 troop. 3 X A13 Cruiser Tank 3 troop. 3 X VIC Light Tank 4 troop. 3 X VIC Light Tank B Squadron Headquarters. 2 X A9 Cruiser Tank. 2 X A13 Cruiser Tank 1 troop. 3 X A13 Cruiser Tank 2 troop. 3 X A13 Cruiser Tank 3 troop. 3 X VIC Light Tank 4 troop. 3 X VIC Light Tank C Squadron Headquarters. 3 X A13 Cruiser Tank 1 troop. 3 X A13 Cruiser Tank 2 troop. 3 X VIC Light Tank 3 troop. 3 X VIC Light Tank 4 troop. 3 X VIC Light Tank Total 4 X A9 Cruiser Tank 3 X A10 Cruiser tank 22 X A13 Cruiser Tank 21 X VIC Light Tank Such complete details are not available for the other regiments of 2 Armoured Brigade but the facts that are available suggest that their equipment and organisation were very similar if not identical. The histories of regiments in 2 Armoured Brigade show that even on embarkation many vehicles were not fully equipped or armed. Many lacked ammunition and most lacked tools and spare parts. Crews had little training or experience in driving cruiser tanks and few had had the chance to fire either the 2pdr gun of the cruiser tank or the 15mm of the VIC Light tank. Maintenance personnel had no experience in maintaining the new equipment. Of course it was intended that the regiments should train on arrival in France but their arrival coincided with the arrival of the Germans in Belgium so little time was available. The regiments of 3 Armoured Brigade were similar in organisation to their original organisation. They were broadly the same as for 2 Armoured Brigade but there were some differences. 2 RTR had the following on embarkation. 18 X A13 Cruiser Tank 1 X A10 Cruiser Tank 8 X A9 Cruiser tank 21 X VIB This gives the same overall numbers as for 2 Armoured Brigade. It is thought that the only difference lies with the fact that since the Queens Bays had newer equipment some of their A13 Cruiser Tanks were in fact Close Support versions whereas 2RTR had the older A9 Close Support Cruiser tank. Another obvious difference is that the regiments of 3 Armoured Brigade had the older MkVIB Light Tanks. There were some advantages in having the older equipment. None of it was actually elderly or obsolete. It was in fact just nicely run in. Above all it was complete and the crews were used to their vehicles and weapons A typical squadron in the BEF would look something like this. Squadron Headquarters -Cruiser Tank, Close Support 1 Major, serjeant, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank, Close Support 2 Squadron Serjeant Major, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 1 Captain 2ic, serjeant, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC -Cruiser Tank 2 Captain, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC When the Close Support tank was an A9 the crew should have been six men, including two to man the machine gun turrets. In fact it is doubtful if the machine gunners were carried. They would serve little purpose and would take valuable space. Troop 1 -Cruiser Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 3 corporal driver IC, driver operator, 2 X driver IC Troop 2 -Cruiser Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator, driver IC. -Cruiser Tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, 2 X driver IC -Cruiser Tank 3 corporal driver IC, driver operator, 2 X driver IC Troop 3 -Light Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator. -Light Tank 2 serjeant, driver mechanic, corporal driver operator. -Light Tank 3 corporal driver IC, 2 X driver IC Troop 4 -Light Tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver operator. -Light Tank 2 serjeant, driver mechanic, corporal driver operator. -Light Tank 3 corporal driver IC, 2 X driver IC THE TANKS Between the wars British tank designers had produced a variety of types of tank, each designed for a single function. -Light tanks were intended as reconnaissance vehicles for mechanised cavalry. They were to be lightly armoured, fast, small, manoeuvrable and have a machine gun armament and a wireless set. -Cruiser tanks were cavalry tanks intended to exploit weaknesses found by the light tanks and then to breakthrough enemy positions. They were light and fast and were intended to keep moving. They were armed with an anti tank gun to fight enemy armour if necessary but their role was to avoid confrontation if possible and keep moving. -Heavy cruisers were designed to back up the cruisers. They had the same armament but had heavier armour. It was decided before May 1940 that all cruisers should be armoured to heavy cruiser standard and most existing tanks were being up armoured. -Infantry tanks were heavily armoured but slow moving. They were armed only with machine guns and had no place in the armoured division. British tank design was influenced by several factors, some military and some not. Tank designers were limited by the following -The engines that were available. Britain had not developed large engines and so the weight of tanks was severely limited. -The military bridges available. Tank designers were limited by the capacity of military bridges. Prewar the heaviest bridges were Class 16 which could take a twenty ton tank. By the declaration of war bridges had been uprated to Class 24 although this was more to take heavy guns and tractors rather than tanks. -Railway gauges. In Britain tanks had to travel by rail since there were no road transporters for them. British railways had narrow tunnels and bridges etc which limited the width of tanks. Cruiser tank design was also limited by the tactical doctrines. -Tanks were intended to fight other tanks so they had an anti tank armament. This was the 2pdr. It had been a superb gun when introduced in 1936 and was still a good weapon in 1940. However it could only fire an armour piercing round and tanks designed for it had small turrets and narrow hulls which could not be re armed with more powerful guns. -Tanks were to fire on the move. This was a British doctrine which required a turret crew of three and also required a gun which could be shoulder aimed. -Close support tanks were intended to fire high explosive shell against anti tank guns, troops, motor transport etc. In action in fact the 3.7” howitzer was used mostly for firing smoke since it had a short range and was seldom well placed to carry out its intended tasks. -Since the main armament fired only anti tank rounds machine guns were relied on to suppress infantry. The policy was for there to be one co axial machine gun in the turret and a second machine gun to be mounted in a small turret on the hull front. The A9 had two turrets. Since cruiser tanks were intended for the breakthrough and pursuit phase of a campaign they were not a priority in the build up of the BEF. CRUISER TANKS British Cruiser tanks were identified both by a War Office type number A9, A10 etc. This system continued throughout the war although it was little used in later years. They were also identified by Mark numbers, Cruiser MkI, MII etc. Names were not given to tanks of this era. A9. Cruiser Tank MkI This was produced from 1936 and was the first of the cruiser tanks. 125 were built. It had a Carden suspension which was sometimes prone to shed its tracks at speed. It had a reliable AEC 9.64litre petrol engine which lacked power, normally being used for London buses. It had only thin armour, a maximum of 14mm. The lower hull was boat shaped which gave good sloped surfaces but reduced the internal space. It had a drivers position in the centre of the hull front and a machine gun turret on either side of it. These turrets were small and each had a Vickers .303” machine gun. These turrets increased the crew to six and were of little value in action since the fumes incapacitated the gunner, who anyway could see little. Normal armament in the turret was a 2pdr and a co axial Vickers .303” machine gun. However only the close support version was used in the BEF and these were to be found at Regimental or squadron headquarters where their inadequacies were less noticeable. The Close Support weapon was the 3.7” howitzer which could fire either high explosive against anti tank guns and defensive positions, or smoke. The turret had power traverse. A10. Cruiser MkII. This was conceived as an infantry tank and was an improved A9 with increased armour, 30mm on the front. The extra thickness of armour was achieved by simply bolting extra armour plates to the basic A9 hull and turret. Before it could enter service however it was re classified as a heavy cruiser tank since it did not have sufficient armour for its intended role. The machine gun turrets were dispensed with and a Besa machine gun was added to the hull front. The turret had a 2pdr and a co axial Besa machine gun. Since the weight was considerably increased the maximum speed was reduced to 16mph, and the cross country speed was only 8mph. This was slow for the cruiser role. 175 A10 were ordered and all were delivered by September 1940. The first 13 vehicles were fitted with Vickers co axial and hull front machine guns, although they were fitted with Besa hull machine guns in early 1940. 100 rounds of 2pdr ammunition were carried plus 4,050 machine gun rounds. There was also a close support version, Cruiser MkIIA CS. This carried a 3.7” howitzer in the turret. Only twenty of these were built. A13. Cruiser MkIII. This was a different design with Christie suspension. This allowed a greater cross country speed of 14mph without fear of losing tracks. On roads the top speed was governed to 30mph since the original top speed of 35mph caused mechanical problems. A more powerful, 340bhp, Liberty engine was used. Armour was only 14mm. The turret was similar to the A9 and mounted a 2pdr gun plus a co axial Vickers .303” machine gun. There was no hull machine gun. 87 rounds of 2pdr ammunition were carried plus 3,750 machine gun rounds. A13 MkII. Cruiser MkIV. This was still an A13 but had extra armour. This was bolted on to the hull and turret front. Spaced armour was added to the turret sides. Speed was not affected by the extra weight. Armament, ammunition stowage etc were as for the A13. Production started in 1938 and 655 A13MkII were built. MkIVA was similar except that it carried a Besa machine gun instead of a Vickers. There was a Close Support version which carried the 3.7” howitzer instead of a 2pdr. Some of the older A13 Cruiser MkIV were rebuilt to the later A13 Cruiser MkIVA standard and could only be recognised by the earlier, and smaller, mantlet. The mantlet must have caused problems since MkVIA appeared with an armoured cover on the mantlet, or even an armoured extension to the turret front which completely concealed the mantlet LIGHT TANKS All light tanks in 1 Armoured Division were from the MkVI series. There were a few older MkVIA still in service but the majority were MkVIB. A few MkVIC were just coming into service. MkV Light Tanks were designed with a turret large enough to have a wireless set installed at the rear. All MkVI versions had a meadows 88bhp engine which gave a to road speed of 35mph and a cross country speed of 25mph. Maximum armour thickness was 14mm but the minimum was only 4mm. Suspension was the well tested Vickers Carden Loyd type as widely used on light tanks and carriers. The crew was three which was adequate since the armament was limited to machine guns and did not require a loader. Light Tank MkVIA This was built in relatively small numbers and was armed with a .5” Vickers machine gun and a .303” Vickers machine gun. These were mounted co axially in the turret and in theory the heavy machine gun was for use against enemy light armour. This Mark had a two piece louvre over the radiator and a faceted cupola on the turret. Light Tank MkVIB This was almost identical but had a one piece louvre over the radiator and a plain circular cupola. This was the most numerous version. Light Tank MkVIC This was a MkVI improved by having three carburettors to improve performance and had wider bogies. The main difference however was in the armament. Instead of the two Vickers machine guns a Besa 15mm machine gun and a 7.92 Besa machine gun were mounted. The 15mm had a long barrel and had considerably more hitting power. COLOURS and MARKINGS. In the immediate prewar days all vehicles had gradually been painted in matt finished green paint. On mobilisation it was laid down that vehicles would be painted in shade G3, khaki green No 3 which was a dull mid green. This was to be over painted with broad bands of shade G4, a dark green. G4 was supplied to units as a paste and was to be applied by hand by unit personnel. It was not intended that patterns should be identical but there were guidelines and a handbook. Patterns were to be: - diagonal rather than vertical - have undulating edges - have hard edges - have more G4 dark green than G3 mid green on top surfaces. G5, a lighter green, was also authorised but there seems to be no record of its use. The vehicles of 1 Armoured Division carried the following markings - All carried the divisional sign of a white rhinoceros in a white oval outline. This was usually painted directly onto the bodywork of armoured vehicles and appeared on the left hand side. - All carried an arm of service square and number on the right hand side. - All carried squadron signs centre front and rear and on the turret sides. Arm of Service signs were as follows Headquarters 2 Armoured Brigade. Red square. Number 3 in white Queens Bays. Red square. Number 4 in white. 9 Lancers. Red square. Number 5 in white. 10 Hussars. Red square. Number 6 in white. Headquarters 3 Armoured Brigade. Green square. Number 7 in white. 2 RTR. Green square. Number 8 in white. 3 RTR. Green square. Number 9 in white. 5 RTR. Green square. Number 10 in white. Squadron signs for all armoured units were: Regimental Headquarters-Hollow Diamond. A Squadron-Hollow Triangle. B Squadron-Hollow Square. C Squadron-Hollow Circle. These signs were officially painted in different colours for each regiment. They were in order of seniority, red, yellow and blue which would give: Queens Bays. Red. 9 Lancers. Yellow. 10 Hussars. Blue. 2 RTR. Red. 3 RTR. Yellow. 5 RTR. Blue. However 5 RTR appear to have actually used purple. There were many examples of regimental eccentricities. The squadron sign often had the troop number inside it but in some cases only the troop leader carried it and in others it was not used. Most armoured vehicles carried names. In the RTR it was traditional for 1 RTR have names beginning with A, 2 RTR to have names beginning with B etc. Flags were authorised and photographs show these in use. They were attached to the wireless aerial rod. Regimental Commanders flew a rectangular flag in regimental colours. Squadron Commanders flew a swallow tailed pennant in regimental colours Troop Commanders flew a triangular flag in regimental colours. WIRELESS SETS Wireless set No 9. Wireless set No 9 was designed as a medium range set for use in armoured vehicles. It had to be easy to use since in light tanks there was no specialist operator. The set could be tuned to two different frequencies and channels could then be selected by a two way switch. This allowed a squadron commander or troop commander to communicate upwards on one frequency and downwards on the other. It was first introduced in 1937 and was a well designed and well built set. Range was - on the move with a 6foot rod aerial………20 miles Morse……..10 miles voice - stationary or on the ground………………..35 miles Morse……..15 miles voice Aerials for armoured vehicles were of type D rod which was supplied in 6 foot and 3 foot lengths. For normal armoured vehicle use a 6 foot rod was used. Stationary vehicles could use rods up to 24 foot. Two 6 volt accumulator batteries were needed and these were recharged from the vehicle generator. Royal Signals provided replacement batteries. Wireless set No 14. This was a command set for armoured units and was used in conjunction with a Wireless set no9. It was a short range intercommunication set which used voice only and had a range of I mile. There were four basic components which could be used in a variety of combinations but in command tanks at regimental headquarters they were limited to a transmitter and receiver mounted in Carrier No 2. The headquarters tanks were all on the same frequency on the No 14 set but on different frequencies on the No 9 set. Aerial was a 6 foot rod. Eventually, from 1941, the two sets were replaced by Wireless set No 19 which filled both roles, having two sets in one. Mike There will now be another short break while I assemble the Royal Engineers. I suppose that they are off building a bridge, or blowing one up. In the meantime if anyone has anything to add, particularly about the armoured units of 1 Armoured Division, now is a good time. BEF enthusiasts will know that Keith (aka Morrisc8) has a thread with a huge number of photographs of BEF vehicles. Anyone with models of BEF vehicles and equipment are welcome, indeed encouraged, to share photos.
ROYAL ENGINEERS. Although not as old as the ‘teeth’ arms of infantry, cavalry and artillery, the Royal Engineers have long being recognised as a fighting arm rather than a service. Officers of engineers can command troops from the fighting arms and can be promoted to brigadier and general and command field formations. Officers of services cannot do either and can only be promoted within their service. ROYAL ENGINEERS in an INFANTRY DIVISION Headquarters Divisional Engineers. War Establishment II/1931/4/3 Divisional Chemical Warfare Section. War Establishment II/1931/9A/1 Field Company. War Establishment II/1931/10A/2 Field Park Company. War Establishment II/1931/9/4 In the infantry division the Royal Engineers are commanded by a Commander Royal Engineers (a lieutenant colonel) and consist of: Headquarters: Three field companies One field park company. HEADQUARTERS DIVISIONAL ENGINEERS WE II/1931/4/3 Lieutenant Colonel, Commander Royal Engineers Captain, Adjutant 3 X Subaltern Regimental Serjeant Major serjeant clerk RE transport corporal 9 X sapper 16 X driver Attached Medical Officer RAMC Trades architectural draughtsman topographical draughtsman 2 X clerk pioneer as medical officers orderly 3 X pioneer as motorcyclist orderly pioneer as cook 7 X batman 8 X driver IC sanitary dutyman 1 X bicycle 4 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 2 X 8cwt truck 4 X 15cwt truck GS 1 X 15cwt truck office 11 X pistol 23 X rifle 1 X Bren lmg 1 X AT rifle Notes: Batmen include one for MO and one for RSM Two subalterns are field engineers, one is for intelligence and staff duties. One sapper will be a lance corporal. One driver will be a lance corporal. At least four men will be trained in anti gas duties and decontamination work. Three men will be trained in the use of the lmg This headquarters is not self mobile. When moving it will require transport for personnel. Supplies and petrol will be obtained from the RASC transport assigned to divisional headquarters. DIVISIONAL CHEMICAL WARFARE SECTION. WE II/1931/9A/1 corporal 4 X sapper driver 1 X 15cwt truck GS 6 X rifle All personnel are trained in the use of meteorological instruments. The personnel received the basic engineer training plus training in the handling of smoke and poisonous gases. FIELD COMPANY WE II/1931/10A/2 Note that WE III/1931/14A/1 an Army Field Company is identical An Infantry Division has three identical Field Companies. They are trained and equipped to carry out those engineer tasks likely to be in regular demand. They may call on corps engineers for larger tasks or those needing special skills and equipment. Personnel may be used more flexibly than the table suggests. No matter what their particular trade they may be called on to dig, build bridges, lay or clear mines etc. Particular trades from several sections may be called on to work together on a suitable task. Personnel Major Captain 3 X Subaltern Company Serjeant Major company quartermaster serjeant transport serjeant 6 X lance serjeant 11 X corporal 14 X lance corporal 153 X sapper 3 X corporal driver IC 4 X lance corporal driver IC 39 X driver IC Total 242 all ranks Trades 7 X blacksmith 9 X bricklayer 32 X carpenter and joiner 5 X clerk 6 X concretor 1 X architectural draughtsman 5 X electrician 13 X engine artificer 7 X fitter 3 X mason 7 X painter and decorator 4 X plumber and pipefitter 1 X engineering surveyor 3 X tinsmith and whitesmith 6 X engine hands IC 64 X pioneer 3 X stoker, stationary engine 38 X driver for vehicle 5 X driver for duty as batman 1 X officers mess servant 1 X sanitary dutyman 1 X water dutyman Note: One man will be trained as a trumpeter Two men will be trained in first aid One man will be trained in water duties The driver of the water truck will be trained in water duties One man will be trained as a cobbler as a part time employment One man will be trained in sanitary duties as part time employment Vehicles 1 X bicycle 13 X motorcycle 5 X 8cwt truck 8 X 15cwt truck GS 3 X 15cwt truck compressor 1 X 15cwt water tank 6 X 30cwt lorry 12 X 30cwt 6 X 4 lorry with winch Weapons and ammunition 18 X Pistol .38” plus 12 runs per gun with man. 224 X rifle .303” plus 50 rounds per gun with man or gun. 4 X anti tank rifle .55” plus 200 rounds with gun 4 X lmg .303” plus 1000 rounds with gun Company HQ Personnel Major Captain second in command Company Serjeant Major company quartermaster serjeant serjeant transport serjeant 2 X corporal 2 X lance corporal 21 X sapper 1 X lance corporal driver IC 15 X driver IC Total 65 all ranks Trades 1 X blacksmith 2 X carpenter and joiner 2 X clerk 1 X architectural draughtsman 2 X electrician 3 X engine artificer 1 X fitter 1 X painter and decorator 1 X plumber and pipefitter 1 X engineering surveyor 10 X pioneer 11 X driver for vehicle 2 X driver for duty as batman 1 X officers mess servant 1 X sanitary dutyman 1 X water dutyman Vehicles 1 X bicycle 4 X motorcycle 2 X 8cwt truck 2 X 15cwt truck GS 1 X 15cwt water tank 6 X 30cwt lorry Organisation -Motorcycle 1 transport serjeant -Motorcycle 2 sapper motorcyclist -Motorcycle 3 sapper motorcyclist -Motorcycle 4 sapper motorcyclist -8cwt truck 1 Major, 2 X sapper, driver IC -8cwt truck 2 Captain, 2 X sapper, driver IC -15cwt truck GS 1 Company Serjeant Major, corporal, 2 X sapper, driver IC Carries office equipment and stores -15cwt truck GS 2 officers mess servant, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries Officers Mess equipment and baggage -15cwt water tank water dutyman, driver IC Note: The driver IC is also trained in water duties. -30cwt lorry GS 1 company quartermaster serjeant, sapper storeman, driver IC Carries stores and baggage plus the squadron HQ reserve of SAA ammunition -30cwt lorry GS 2 corporal, 2 X sapper, driver IC Carries technical stores Carries a Bren lmg Fitted with a Motley AA mount -30cwt lorry GS 3 serjeant fitter, 2 X sapper, driver IC Carries water supply stores -30cwt lorry GS 4 6 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking sets and stores -30cwt lorry GS 5 2 X sapper, driver Carries baggage Carries AT rifle -30cwt lorry GS 6 storeman, sanitary dutyman, driver Carries MT stores and anti gas stores 3 X Section each Personnel. Subaltern serjeant 2 X lance serjeant 3 X corporal 4 X lance corporal 44 X sapper 1 X lance corporal driver IC 8 X driver IC Trades 2 X blacksmith 3 X bricklayer 10 X carpenter and joiner 1 X clerk 2 X concretor 1 X electrician 4 X engine artificer 2 X fitter 1 X mason 1 X miner 2 X painter and decorator 1 X plumber and pipefitter 1 X tinsmith and whitesmith 2 X engine hands IC 18 X pioneer including -5 X cook -2 X storeman -3 X motorcyclist 9 X driver for vehicle 1 X driver for duty as batman -Motorcycle 1 serjeant -Motorcycle 2 transport corporal -Motorcycle 3 sapper motorcyclist -8cwt truck Subaltern, lance serjeant, batman, driver IC -15cwt truck GS 1 sapper, driver IC Carries tools and stores Carries Bren lmg -15cwt truck GS 2 sapper, driver IC Carries tools and stores Carries Bren lmg -15cwt compressor sapper, driver IC Carries compressor and power tools -30cwt lorry 6 X 4 with winch lance serjeant, 11 X sapper, driver IC -30cwt lorry 6 X 4 with winch corporal, 11 X sapper, driver IC -30cwt lorry 6 X 4 with winch corporal, 11 X sapper, driver IC -30cwt lorry 6 X 4 with winch corporal, 11 X sapper, driver IC Explosives per section Gun Cotton primers, in boxes of 60……….240 Gun cotton slabs, in boxes of 14lbs……….224lb Detonators……………………………………200 Safety fuse in 48 foot lengths………………384 foot Instantaneous fuse…………………………..800 foot Safety matches………………………………40 boxes Electric firing heads…………………………100 Mike
