"RD" & "TLD" Sherman Tanks

Can anybody cast any light on what these acronyms are? They are taken from a diagram showing the equipment positions on the Essex Yeomanry's "D" Troop LCT going across to Normandy and beaching at H+60 mins (See attached). The Troop had Sexton SP Guns and tanks for the Commanders

 

The RA had a very complex marking system for roles within a regiment that went down to individual vehicles.

Only one battery is shown in the diagram. RD and TLD were from the second/junior troop of the second/middle battery, so the fourth troop in the regiment hence the D suffix. As I said - complex. Then there were probably slight variations between towed and SP regiments...

 

As idler says the D stands for D Troop, 2nd troop of the 2nd battery. Starting from the top, M1 is a signals vehicle, GD Gun Position Officer and Y is the survey party. M2/M3 are signals vehicles (don't know what the L? is), D1 & D2 are guns. Towed units used a single letter for the guns A, B, C etc. SP units used the troop letter and either a letter or number for each gun e.g. D1 or DA. RD is the troop commander (Captain). He is also the Forward Observation Officer. TLD is the Troop Leader either a subaltern or the Troop Sergeant Major.
The M14 between them is a bit of a mystery, M is a signals vehicle but they are usually only numbered up to 5. D3 & D4 are two more guns. An archieved copy of my site still exists which explains the tac marking system, see RA 39-45 Markings

Derek

 

M14 were Halftracks. Originally AA Halftracks with .5" guns. All were supplied to UK and had the armament removed. They were used as ammunition vehicles in SP units.

Mike.

 

Six LCT IV carry vehicles of the Field Artillery Regiments.

2140 is an LCT IV carrying
2 Carrier Universal from 147 Field Regiment RA
2 M14 Halftracks from 147 Field Regiment RA
4 Ram SP 25pr from 147 Field Regiment RA
2 Sherman OP tanks from 147 Field Regiment RA
1 Jeep from 147 Field Regiment RA
5 Motorcycle from 147 Field Regiment RA
63 men from 147 Field Regiment RA. Includes 3 Officers.
2 men from 1 Royal Marine SP Regiment
1 Jeep with 2 crew from Forward Observation Bombardment Party. For 1 Dorset Regiment.
4 men and an airborne trailer from 4 Survey Regiment
1 man from 69 Field Company RE


Serial 2141 is an LCT IV carrying
2 Carrier Universal from 147 Field Regiment RA
2 M14 Halftracks from 147 Field Regiment RA
4 Ram SP 25pr from 147 Field Regiment RA
1 Sherman OP tanks from 147 Field Regiment RA
1 Jeep from 147 Field Regiment RA
5 Motorcycle from 147 Field Regiment RA
60 men from 147 Field Regiment RA. Includes 4 Officers.
1 Jeep and trailer with 4 crew from 147 Field Regiment Signals RS
4 men and an airborne trailer from 4 Survey Regiment
1 Sherman tank with 5 crew from Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry
1 man from 69 Field Company RE

Serial 2142 is an LCT IV carrying
2 Carrier Universal from 147 Field Regiment RA
2 M14 Halftracks from 147 Field Regiment RA
4 Ram SP 25pr from 147 Field Regiment RA
2 Sherman OP tanks from 147 Field Regiment RA
1 Jeep from 147 Field Regiment RA
3 Motorcycle from 147 Field Regiment RA
64 men from 147 Field Regiment RA. Includes 7 Officers.
1 Jeep and trailer with 3 crew from 147 Field Regiment Signals RS
6 men and an airborne trailer from 4 Survey Regiment
1 man from 69 Field Company RE
1 man from Headquarters CRE 104 Beach Sub Area.

Mike

 

Is L for Liason? for RAF Air Forward Controller, or whatever his title/ Just a wild guess

 

Thank you all for your replies. The D-Day loading diagram is taken from General Tony Richardson's collection. He was the GPO of "D" Troop 147 Regiment "Essex Yeomanry" at the time. I can confirm from other sources that LCT2142 was "C" Troop so from a process of elimination from Trux's information (i.e. having 2 x OP Shermans) my diagram ("D" Troop) must be LCT 2140.
Can anybody clarify why a Troop Commander's tank always had the preface "R"?