Hello As per the subject line was the LADC of an armored regiment considered A echelon? Also what is the difference between B1 and B2 echelons within an armored regiment? I know it held reserves of rations, forage, fuel, other equipment, baggage and workshops but but which held what? Thanks in advance Chris.....
Chris The LAD's were attached to each squadron for immediate recovery and repairs while still in Battle - A echelon brought supplies up to the squadrons from B Echelon who brought them up from Div etc - RASC brought the supplies from Docks etc to Div HQ - B2 held all kit bags and personal gear Cheers
Thanks Tom So was a LADC attached to each squadron (or) were its personnel divided among the squadrons? Have never been clear on this. Chris.....
LADC each squadron had a REME Sgt or Corporal and two fitters plus one signaller - they swanned around at the back of each squadron in Battle until they had a call to go forward to recover or fix a disabled Tank -they then tore off in their AVRE to attend the problem - sometimes under fire - out of battle the spent their time making fancy cigarette cases - lighters - anything they could flog for extra cigarettes..we had a good bunch with us as they insisted on Driver maintenance in order that we had few breakdowns,,I can only recall one which was electrical UNDER the engine - took a day to fix that Cheers
Thanks for your first hand perspective Tom. Would you say this was reasonably typical of most British armoured regiments in Italy? Were break downs in North Africa as infrequent? Chris.......
LADC That LAD detachment seemed to be the war establishment for armoured units - MOST breakdowns were caused by the crew's inefficiency - the more experienced had less breakdowns - some Tanks - like the crusader had built in breakdowns at the factory where they were made - like poor track pins which broke when you hit a bump - the Churchill took a lot of beating to knock out or breakdown - took five 88mm shots to get ours to burn Cheers
Thanks Tom More specifically I was curious if the four man LAD detachment you described earlier was typical of the squadrons in your regiment and other commonwealth armoured regiments you may have come across in Italy. Chris......
Hey Tom You may have missed my last post. I'm still curious to know if the four man LAD detachment you described earlier was typical of the squadrons in your regiment and other commonwealth armoured regiments you may have come across in Italy. Chris.....
Chris, Tom As the proud son of RTC/RTR Vehicle Mechanic who was nearly fatally burnt alive whilst serving as the Squadron Fitter Sergeant C Squadron 7RTR in Belgium in early May 1940 and the tank he was ordered to immobilise suddenly exploded I read your input with considerable interest. Chris I think what you were describing would have been have been called a Squadron Fitter Section.. The term LAD was used to describe the entire Regimental Repair Subunit, commanded by a REME Captain (post 1942.). Apart from the Sabre Squadron Fitter Sections the majority of the remainder would have been deployed forward as part of HQ Squadron A Echelon to provide specialist repair and maintenance expertise (eg welders, gunner fitters, radio repair). Tom Wholeheartedly endorse your remarks regarding the link between vehicle reliabllty and crew maintenance. It applied the, applied in the 1960s when I commanded a REME LAD and still applies today. In latter years of WW2 Fitter Sections were mounted in American White Half Tracks with a simple jib at the back. There were a few still in use in the late 60s. My LAD had one, The owners reconned they could beat any of the newly issued FV 434s cross country, there was no question as to who was the faster on tarmac. The majority of the wartime LADs wuld have been manned by Regimental Fitters. REME came into being in 1942 but only the Key Post and other selected Specialist Tradesmen Appointments would have been by REME capbadged personnel It is a pity Grimmy has signed off, his father was a Regimental Fitter with the 23rd Hussars throughout the NW Europe Campaign, he might have been able to provide some very interesting additional information.
Bluebell I guess we were a bit old fashioned in those days as we depended on our four fitters to do the repairs when needed without bothering what cap badges they wore - someone had mentioned earlier how their fitters had taken over the fighting in NWE as Tank crews but I recall putting that down to an upsurge in Casualties - probably just semantics but our three fitters and one signalman were our squadron LAD fitters - we had no time to worry about who else was around as we were fully engaged in our longevity ... Cheers
Thanks Bluebell That is the first time I've heard the term 'Squadron Fitter Section' applied to the LAD. Very defiantly Polish armoured regiments in Italy followed British organization and method, most certainly their LAD's followed suit. I am trying to learn if the LAD of my uncle's tank regiment at Monte Cassino was using White Scout Cars? There are four listed in the regiment's inventory for April 1944 (one was defiantly an ambulance) just not sure if they were for the LAD or served some other purpose. Were Whites the vehicle designated for LAD's of all armoured regiments (foreign as well) under British command in Italy? Chris.....
