Thanks Clive, I think that is the best Ack-Ack film I've seen so far, and gives me a better understanding of what my dad did (played darts, chess, maybe the piano & drank beer). In fact he was stationed both sides of the Thames (in Essex & Kent) during his early years with the 59th HAA, and had moved to Benfleet in Essex even before he was demobbed. By the way, its bloody good to have you back on this forum...I'm sure you were missed by [almost] everyone!
Thanks Steve you might have seen this still in situ at Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs QF 3.7-inch Anti Aircraft Gun and Emplacement,Mudchute Farm,Isle of Dogs regards Clive
I haven't been there...yet. But I remember seeing your fab photos of this gun in your original post. As your will see from the photo at the bottom of the page of this post: Sergeant ACK-ACK: In the beginning... ...my son Matt & I managed to get some hands-on experience of the QF 3.7" when we tried to take-out a few BMWs that just happened to be driving past Fort Amherst (Chatham) at the time. How you been here on your travels?
Gentlemen, forgive me, but I hope one of you might help. I have been trying for over an hour to discover the manning level of a HAA four gun battery of a typical site in Britain. Has anybody got a number they can give me? I promise I looked. I lack Baldrick's cunning.
The number of men per gun may depend upon the type of gun and the type of enemy engagement. For a QF 3.7" gun I recon they had 9 men/gun when firing at high rate, but could manage with maybe 7 or 8 at lower rate, as Numbers 7, 8 & 9 were the ammo men. A 4 gun site was half a battery, also known as a Troop. So my dad was in Troop B of 164 Battery. I don't think the whole 8 gun battery were located on the same site very often. The battery was supported by many others, including those at the battery HQ. So I can't give you a full head count. I have a bit more detail here: Sergeant ACK-ACK: The 59th Regiment ...and here: Sergeant ACK-ACK: Moving out of Essex in 1941 I hope this is of some help.
Hi Steve, Tim, thanks for these. I did look at Trux but got lost in it as it did not seem to answer my question. I also thought there might be differences between 21st AG manning for mobility and home defence static. I was thinking a troop (and thanks for pointing it out, I forgot) might be about 50.Sgt Ack Ack site was one I did not find.
