52nd Infantry Division (Airportable) ?

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by 312, Apr 17, 2021.

  1. 312

    312 Member

    Hi, I read recently that 52nd ID (British) was an airportable unit. So I'm asking if the battalions had a different organization, if the division was transported by gliders or transport planes (which ones) and the organization of the reconnaissance regiment (I read that it was mainly equipped with Daimler Dingo unlike the other divisions)

    Thank you and see you soon !!
     
  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    When you say "transported" do you mean theoretically? It was never transported by air into battle.
     
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  3. 312

    312 Member

    Just another question. Did the 54th Anti-tank Regiment, AT unit of the 52nd ID, have less heavy equipment (only 6-pdr because of the size of the 17-pdr) ?

    Thanks
     
  4. 312

    312 Member

    Yes it is in theory because all operational deployments by air of the division have been canceled
     
  5. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    The Recce Regt had been formed on a special War Establishment for a Mountain Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment. That actually had the same overall organisation as a normal Recce Regt, the primary difference being that instead of two light recce cars and three armoured cars per Recce Troop there were five scout cars. The Troop still had seven Universal carriers, each Squadron also maintained the usual Assault Troop and HQ Squadron included two Anti-tank Troop (each four 6-pdr guns) and a Mortar Troop (six 3-in mortars). There was also to be an attached Tank Squadron, with 16 tanks; I cannot recall what type tanks may have been issued but the crew is down as three per tank. This does not appear to have gone overseas. I remain unconvinced you could get that lot up a mountain...

    I don't think there was a separate set of WE tables for an Air Transportable Division, if there were they've eluded me at least. In the preface to 'With the Jocks' Dakotas are detailed as the transport aircraft, and mention is made of loading tables for personnel and equipment showing what each aircraft was to carry. There were few specialised mountain role WEs, the Inf Bns were formed on the standard organisation with a few changes covered in notes. There was a WE for Mountain Regiment, RA, several of which were attached to the Div while in the UK. There does appear to be a lost WE for the Mountain Regt being re-organised with motor transport before they went overseas with the Div in late 1944.

    Re the Atk Regt, they had 32x 6-pdr and 16x 17-pdr guns in a return for Feb45, so I suspect they had come over on the WE used outside of 21AG.

    Chris - it was the other way around, mountain role from May 1942 to June 1944, airlanding in Aug/Sep 1944, then back to standard Inf Div, with a few carryovers like the scout cars and light guns.

    Gary
     
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  6. 312

    312 Member

    Thank you for this information. The tanks of the Recce regiment are surely Tetrarchs as for the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment of the 6th Airborne Division.
     
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian


    32 6-pdr and 16 17-pr suggests they perhaps initially had each battery with two troops of 4 6-pounders and one troop of 4 17-pounders?

    There is corresponding mention of both 6 and 17 pounders in January in the WD, and in early February they began conversion to the new WEs with only 17-pounders and Archers.

    PS it would be interesting to know if their recon unit also changed its gear at that time.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
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  8. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    As they were Home Forces in the UK, rather than being in 21AG and getting their preparations, I imagine they were on the Atk Bty WE of two Tps 6-pdr and one Tp 17-pdr. I'm pretty sure 52nd Recce Regt kept its Daimler scout cars, my old notes don't mention if they acquired armoured cars during 1945 or not. I'll have to have a dig to see if there's an indication in the AFV returns.

    Gary
     
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  9. 312

    312 Member

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