FIELD REGIMENT RA. Field Regiment. War Establishment II/190B/1. December 1943 Field Battery, Self Propelled, 105mm. War Establishment II/189/1. August 1943. Field Regiment SP 25pdr RAM. War Establishment II/190A/2. May 1944 Field Regiment SP 25pdr RAM. War Establishment XIV/540/1. March 1945. FIELD REGIMENT RA War Establishment II/190B/1. December 1943 Note: This establishment table covers field regiments in both infantry divisions and armoured divisions. Previously there were two separate tables. In early 1945 additional vehicles were authorised as follows Regimental Headquarters 1 X jeep added to give the Commanding Officer greater mobility Each battery Headquarters 1 X jeep added for the Battery Commander to carry additional Observation Post staff and wireless. [/list] 1 X 15cwt for additional signallers Each troop 1 X jeep added for the Troop Commander to carry additional Observation Post staff and wireless. [/list] If the Field Artillery Regiment was operating with an armoured brigade or a tank brigade it could draw on the pool of eight Observation Post tanks held at Brigade Headquarters. These were for the use of Commanding officers and observers as required. They were tanks of the type used by the brigade. Drivers were RAC and the main armament was retained although ammunition stowage was reduced to make more space for extra wireless sets, mapboards etc. Personnel Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding Major, Second in Command 3 X Major, Battery Commanders Captain, Adjutant 9 X Captain 20 X subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 9 X Battery Serjeant Major 3 X battery quartermaster serjeant duty serjeant 3 X signalling serjeant survey serjeant 24 X serjeant, No 1 of guns 15 X lance serjeant 48 X bombardier 33 X lance bombardier 325 X gunners 150 X Tradesman (see below) Total 656 Plus attached Medical Officer RAMC armourer serjeant REME 4 X officers mess cooks ACC 3 X corporal cook ACC 14 X cook ACC Total 673 Tradesmen 7 X Artificer RA or gun fitter 8 X battery surveyor serjeant clerk, RA clerks section 9 X clerk 42 X driver mechanic 3 X driver mechanic AFV 54 X driver operator 3 X equipment repairer 5 X technical storeman (including a serjeant at regimental headquarters) 18 X vehicle mechanics Non tradesmen 15 X ammunition numbers 35 X batman 2 X batman driver butchery dutyman 12 X command post officer’s assistants 90 X driver IC 120 X gun number 12 X gun position officer’s assistants 28 X lmg numbers medical officers orderly 12 X motor cycle orderly 9 X observation post assistants 4 X sanitary dutyman 72 X signaller 4 X storeman 4 X water dutyman 26 X motorcycle 2 X car 4seater 4 X 4 17 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 17 X 15cwt truck GS 1 X 15cwt truck office 1 X 15cwt truck personnel 21 X 15cwt truck FFW 4 X 15cwt truck water 24 X lorry 3ton 4 X 4 36 X field artillery tractor 6 X armoured observation post 3 X tank observation post 48 X trailer, artillery (ammunition limbers) 8 X travelling platforms for 20mm guns 24 X 25pdr. ORGANISATION Motorcycle 1 survey serjeant Motorcycle 2 battery surveyor Motorcycle 3 commanding officers orderly Motorcycle 4 second in commands orderly Motorcycle 5 adjutants orderly 4 seater car 4 X 4 Commanding Officer, subaltern, driver IC 4 seater car 4 X 4 Second in Command, driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 1 Medical Officer, batman driver Car 5cwt 4 X 4 2 Subaltern (survey officer), battery surveyor Car 5cwt 4 X 4 3 2 X battery surveyor Car 5cwt 4 X 4 4 2 X battery surveyor Car 5cwt 4 X 4 5 Quartermaster, batman driver 15cwt truck GS 1 2 X battery surveyor Carries survey stores 15cwt truck GS 2 medical officers orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC 15cwt truck Office Regimental Serjeant Major, 2 X clerks, driver IC 15cwt truck personnel Adjutant, serjeant clerk, duty serjeant, 2 X lmg numbers, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 cook, 5 X batman, butchery dutyman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations Carries 2 X Bren lmg and a PIAT 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, storeman, clerk, 2 X cook, driver IC Carries Quartermaster stores. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 2 X vehicle mechanic, serjeant technical storeman, technical storeman, artificer RA, serjeant armourer REME, driver IC [/list] Carries MT stores and petrol Travelling platforms 1 and 2
The Batteries (X3) Each of the three batteries was identical and organised as follows. Command Motorcycle 1 signalling serjeant Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 orderly Motorcycle 5 command post officers assistant Car 5cwt 4 X 4 1 Battery Serjeant Major, vehicle mechanic Car 5cwt 4 X 4 2 Batman, driver IC 15cwt truck FFW 1 Command Post Officer, 2 X command post officer’s assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set Carries Command Post Officers stores 15cwt truck FFW 2 Captain, 2 X driver operator, signaller, observation post assistant Carries Wireless set 15cwt truck GS 1 Assistant Command Post Officer, command post officer’s assistant, clerk, driver IC Carries Assistant Command Post Officers Stores Either Light Tank Observation Post (Armoured Division only) Major, 2 X driver operator, driver mechanic Carries 2 X Wireless set Or Carrier Armoured Observation Post (Infantry Division only) Major, 2 X driver operator, driver mechanic Carries 3 X Wireless set Administration 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 5 X ammunition number, driver IC Carried 184 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 3 X batman, driver IC Carried 184 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 vehicle mechanic, sanitary dutyman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC. Carries 112 rounds of ammunition plus camouflage stores. Carries 2 X Bren guns and a PIAT 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries petrol 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 5 battery quartermaster serjeant, clerk, storeman, driver IC Carries quartermaster stores. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 6 storeman (technical), equipment repairer, driver IC Carries MT stores 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 7 corporal cook, 5 X cooks, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations 2 X travelling platform Troop Each battery has two troops Motorcycle 1 signaller Car 5cwt 4 X 4 Battery Serjeant Major, Artificer RA or gun fitter 15cwt truck GS 1 5 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, driver IC [/list] Carries 2 X Bren lmg and a PIAT [/list] 15cwt truck GS 2 4 X signaller, vehicle mechanic, observation post assistant, driver IC [/list] [/list] 15cwt truck FFW 1 Subaltern (gun position officer), gun position officer’s assistant, batman, 2 X driver operator [/list] Carries a Wireless set 15cwt truck FFW 2 Subaltern (troop leader), gun position officer’s assistant, batman, 2 X driver operator [/list] Carries a Wireless set Either Armoured Observation Post Carrier (Infantry Division only) Captain, 2 X driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries 2 X Wireless set Or Light Tank Observation Post (Armoured Division only) Captain (troop commander) 2 X driver operator, driver mechanic. Carries 3 X Wireless set Section1 Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery 2 X gun number 5, 2 X gun number 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows 2 X trailer with 64 rounds of ready ammunition Section2 Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery 2 X gun number 5, 2 X gun number 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows 2 X trailer with 64 rounds of ready ammunition The above organisation applied to 3 Royal Horse Artillery 7 Armoured Division 6 Field Regiment 3 AGRA 7 Field Regiment 3 Division 25 Field Regiment 8 AGRA attached to US 7 Armoured Division 10/44 33 Field Regiment 3 Division 55 Field Regiment Guards Armoured Division 61 Field Regiment 59 Division 69 Field Regiment 49 Division 70 Field Regiment 52 Division 74 Field Regiment 50 Division to 49 Division 76 Field Regiment 3 Division 79 Field Regiment 52 Division 80 Field Regiment 52 Division 81 Field Regiment 53 Division 83 Field Regiment 53 Division 86 Field Regiment 50 Division to 5 AGRA then Guards Armoured 90 Field Regiment 50 Division to 7 AGRA 91 Field Regiment 5 Division 92 Field Regiment 5 Division 94 Field Regiment 43 Division 98 Field Regiment 5 Division to 2 Army then 1 Canadian Armoured Brigade 110 Field Regiment 59 Division to 2 Army 112 Field Regiment 43 Division 115 Field Regiment 59 Division 116 Field Regiment 59 Division to 2 Army 124 Field Regiment 50 Division 126 Field Regiment 51 Division 127 Field Regiment 51 Division 128 Field Regiment 51 Division 131 Field Regiment 15 Division 133 Field Regiment 53 Division 143 Field Regiment 49 Division 147 Field Regiment 2 Army 150 Field Regiment 4 AGRA 151 Field Regiment 11 Armoured Division 156 Field Regiment 5 Division 174 Field Regiment 2 Army 179 Field Regiment 43 Division 181 Field Regiment 15 Division 185 Field Regiment 49 Division 186 Field Regiment 52 Division 190 Field Regiment 15 Division Notes: Batteries were usually lettered P, Q and R. This came about because on reorganisation in the late 1930s letters below those applied to Royal Horse Artillery batteries. Each battery contained two defence teams with Bren guns which could be mounted for Anti Aircraft defence or ground defence. Each team also had a PIAT anti tank weapon. Regimental Headquarters had two such teams. All personnel were armed. Officers and RSM carried pistols Warrant Officers, drivers, motorcyclists and Bren gun Number 2 carried Sten guns Everyone else carried a rifle. In action batteries were positioned 1000 to 2000 yards apart. Troops were positioned 200 to 400 yards apart. This was close enough to allow easy communication and ammunition supply while being sufficiently dispersed to give protection from counter battery fire. Ammunition supply was ensured by having the following. each tractor carried 24 rounds plus 8 anti tank rounds for use in emergency each limber, two per gun, carried 32 round of ready use ammunition. One limber parked alongside the gun and was the primary source of ammunition. when empty the limber was replaced by the spare and towed away for refilling. the ammunition lorries carried a total of 480 rounds which were used to replenish the limbers. At this point the ammunition was removed from boxes and placed in ready use trays. Each tray held two shells and two charges. When empty the ammunition lorry was replenished by a lorry from the ammunition platoon RASC. This operated under divisional headquarters but was permanently assigned to ammunition supply. It was a principle of ammunition supply that it should be automatically replaced as it was expended. It did not have to be indented for and unit transport did not have to go back for it. Organisation for Manoeuvre and Deployment. The following is from the Military Training Pamphlet. For tactical purposes the regiment formed a number of groups which could move separately. This organisation might be changed to suit circumstances but it was considered important that there should be standard drills at all levels.
The Regimental Headquarters Party This contained those vehicles and personnel essential to the tactical planning of the unit. If the regiment was under the orders of a brigade then the Commanding Officer (CO) would take this group forward to the Brigade Headquarters to receive his orders. He would then select a site for the regimental tactical headquarters close to Brigade Headquarters. The Commanding Officer would then establish Observation Posts and the other officers in the group would disperse to implement their part of the plan. The Second in Command (2ic) was responsible for the gun area and for the day to day running of the regiment. He would go to supervise the establishing of the gun positions. The Signal Officer would make his signal plan and then establish communications between command posts and batteries and to the observation posts. At first these would be by wireless but as soon as possible telephone lines were laid. The Survey Officer would carry out his survey and establish a zero line. Z 4 seater car 4 X 4 Commanding Officer, subaltern, driver IC S2 15cwt truck 4 X 4 Royal Signals Driver operator, operator Carries 2 X Wireless set no19. MC1 Motorcycle commanding officers orderly. S1 5cwt car 4 X 4 Royal Signals Signal Officer, batman driver * Motorcycle Royal Signals Despatch rider Z2 4 seater car 4 X 4 Second in Command, operator Royal Signals, driver IC Carries Wireless set No22 MC2 motorcycle second in commands orderly SUR1 5cwt car 4 X 4 Survey Officer, battery surveyor. Note: Orderlies were gunners attached to senior officers as messengers. Despatch riders were Royal Signals. Drivers IC were gunners trained to drive Internal Combustion engines. It was necessary originally to distinguish these from the large numbers of horse drivers that existed pre war. Batmen were officers servants. Senior officers had their own batman who might be a batman driver trained to drive small vehicles such as jeeps and staff cars. Junior officers shared batmen. Battery surveyors were gunners trained to use the survey equipment within the regiment. They were so called to distinguish them from surveyor which was the basic rank for private soldiers in the Royal Artillery Survey Regiments and from other specialist surveyors. The Adjutants Party The Adjutant was the regimental staff officer and was responsible for the Regimental Headquarters. He would be selecting a site for the regimental command post while the Commanding Officer was at Brigade Headquarters. It was a matter of policy that the command post be in the forward area. A1 15cwt truck Adjutant, serjeant clerk, duty serjeant, 2 X lmg numbers, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carried 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. MC3 Motorcycle adjutants orderly S3 15cwt truck 4 X 4 Royal Signals corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver mechanic Carried Wireless sets No 19 and No 19 HP * Motorcycle Royal Signals signal serjeant * Motorcycle Royal Signals despatch rider The Survey Party. This would be called up by the Survey Officer when he had received his orders at Brigade Headquarters. A survey would be carried out before the guns arrived as it was important to know the precise location of the observation posts and gun positions to allow indirect fire to be put down. MC4 Motorcycle survey serjeant MC5 Motorcycle battery surveyor SUR2 5 cwt car 4 X 4 2 X battery surveyor SUR3 5cwt car 4 X 4 2 X battery surveyor SUR4 15cwt truck 2 X battery surveyor Carries survey stores. The Regimental Headquarters group This was responsible for the administration of the regiment. It would normally be kept to the rear. A2 15cwt truck Office Regimental Serjeant Major, 2 X clerks, driver IC A3 5cwt car 4 X 4 Medical Officer, batman driver A4 15cwt truck medical officers orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries medical stores. S7 15cwt truck wireless house Royal Signals 2 X operators, driver operator Carries Wireless set No22 S4 5cwt car 4 X 4 Royal Signals corporal linesman, 2 X linesman, driver IC Tows 10cwt trailer S5 3ton lorry 4 X 4 Signal Office Royal Signals 2 X corporal operators, 4 X operators, 2 X linesman, driver IC S6 3ton lorry 4 X 4 Royal Signals corporal electrician, instrument mechanic, operator, cook ACC, driver mechanic S8 5cwt car 4 X 4 Royal Signals 3 X lineman S9 5cwt car Royal Signals despatch rider * Motorcycle Royal Signals despatch rider The B Echelon This provided supply and maintenance for regimental headquarters units. Batteries have their own B echelon vehicles and personnel but these, or a portion of them, might be placed under the command of regimental headquarters. Q1 5cwt car 4 X 4 Quartermaster, batman driver Q2 15cwt truck water Water dutyman, driver IC Q3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS cook, 5 X batman, butchery dutyman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations Carries 2 X bren guns and a PIAT for local defence. Q4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, storeman, clerk, 2 X cook, driver IC Carries Quartermaster stores. Q5 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X vehicle mechanics, serjeant storeman, storeman, artificer RA, serjeant armourer REME, driver IC [/list] Carries MT stores and petrol The establishment also lists two 20mm gun platforms but these were not used in NW Europe.
The Batteries. Each of the three batteries was identical and organised as follows. The Battery Commanders party. This was intended to be the tactical headquarters for the battery. Having received his orders the Battery Commander would normally establish his observation post near to the headquarters of the battalion being supported. The Command Post Officer would then go to the gun position area and lay out the command posts and gun positions. X1 Armoured Observation Post Carrier Major, 2 X driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No38 X2 5cwt car 4 X 4 observation post assistant, batman, driver MC1 Motorcycle battery commanders orderly H 15cwt truck FFW Command Post Officer, 2 X command post officers assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 M1 15cwt truck GS 4 X signaller, driver IC MC2 Motorcycle command post officers assistant MC3 Motorcycle command post officers orderly The Observation Party When the battery commander had received his orders and made his plan he would call forward the Observation Party and supervise the establishment of observation posts, and communications between them and the gun positions. When the battery was in a static position the troop officer was termed Observation Post Officer, when in a more mobile situation he was termed Forward Observation Officer. In either case he could control the fire of more than just his own troop. He could routinely control the fire of the battery and regiment. If given the authority he could order an Uncle target which would employ all guns in the division, plus any gun within range. RA Armoured Observation Post Carrier Captain (A troop commander) 2 X driver operator, driver mechanic. Carried Wireless set No19 and Wireless set no38. MC4 Motorcycle Signaller RB Armoured Observation Post Carrier Captain (B troop commander) 2 X driver operator, driver mechanic. Carried Wireless set No19 and Wireless set no38. MC5 Motorcycle signaller The G Party. This was called up by the Command Post Officer and was responsible for reconnoitring the gun position and establishing command and communications. Gun Position Officers were responsible for the actual gun position for the troop. GA 15cwt truck FFW Gun Position Officer (A troop), subaltern, gun position officers assistant, batman, 2 X driver operator. [/list] Carries Wireless set No19 [/list] JA 5cwt car 4 X 4 [/list] troop battery serjeant major, artificer RA [/list] M2 15cwt truck [/list] 4 X signaller, observation post assistant, driver IC [/list] GB 15cwt truck FFW Gun Position Officer (B troop), subaltern, gun position officers assistant, batman, 2 X driver operator. [/list] Carries Wireless set No19 [/list] JB 5cwt car 4 X 4 [/list] troop battery serjeant major, artificer RA [/list] M2 15cwt truck [/list] 4 X signaller, observation post assistant, driver IC [/list] The Battery Headquarters Party [/list] This was the administrative headquarters and provided logistic support to the battery. The Battery captain commanded this party and established a track plan for vehicles in the battery area, chose the wagon line area where vehicles would be parked and then arranged local area defence Y 15cwt truck FFW Subaltern, gun position officers assistant, clerk, driver IC MC6 Motorcycle signaller serjeant K1 15cwt truck FFW Captain, 2 X driver operator Carries wireless set No19 MC7 Motorcycle captains orderly K2 15cwt truck GS 4 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries 2 X bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. The Gun Group This group centred around the guns and their tractors. The guns were not sent for until everything was ready. The guns should be capable of opening fire immediately on arrival. Guns were positioned and the tractors withdrawn to the wagon lines. A troop TLA 15cwt truck FFW Subaltern (A troop leader), gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 M4 15cwt truck GS 5 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. Section1 A Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun B Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun AB Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 5 and 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows 2 X trailer No27 with 64 rounds of ready ammunition Section2 C Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun D Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun CD Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 5 and 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows 2 X trailer No27 with 64 rounds of ready ammunition B troop TLB 15cwt truck FFW Subaltern (B troop leader), gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 M5 15cwt truck GS 5 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. Section1 E Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun F Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun EF Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 5 and 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows 2 X trailer No27 with 64 rounds of ready ammunition Section2 G Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun H Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 4, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows trailer No27 with 32 rounds of ready ammunition Tows 25pdr gun GH Tractor 4 X 4 Field Artillery Gun numbers 5 and 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 24 rounds of ammunition plus 8 rounds anti tank Tows 2 X trailer No27 with 64 rounds of ready ammunition J 5cwt car 4 X 4 Battery serjeant major, vehicle mechanic. The Ammunition Group This normally travelled with the guns and carried a first reserve of ammunition to replenish the limbers. They were parked in the wagon lines and tractors towed full limbers up to the gun positions and returned with empty ones. In practice ammunition was often dumped at the gun position, especially if prolonged fire was expected. Amn1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 5 X ammunition number, driver IC Carried 184 rounds of ammunition Amn2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 5 X ammunition number, driver IC Carried 184 rounds of ammunition Amn3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS vehicle mechanic, sanitary dutyman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC. Carries 112 rounds of ammunition plus camouflage stores. Carries 2 X Bren guns and a PIAT for local defence. Note: If necessary a battery could form extra observation teams from gun position personnel. The B echelon This was responsible for administration and supply in the battery. It was normally kept under the control of regimental headquarters and vehicles sent forward as required. Q1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS battery quartermaster serjeant, clerk, storeman, driver IC Carries quartermaster stores. Q2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS storeman (technical), equipment repairer, electrician Royal Signals, driver IC Carries MT stores and charging set. Q3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS vehicle mechanic, driver IC Q4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS corporal cook, 5 X cooks, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Q5 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC
The Light Aid Detachment REME This was normally to be found with the regimental B echelon. LAD1 Car 4 seater 4 X 2 WO Class I armament artificer, serjeant vehicle mechanic LAD2 Motorcycle storeman LAD3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 stores storeman, fitter, driver mechanic Carries MT stores This lorry was usually an Albion fitted with bins and wire mesh security screens LAD 4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS electrician, welder, fitter, driver mechanic Carries tools and personal baggage. LAD5 3ton lorry 6 X 4 breakdown fitter, driver mechanic This was usually an Austin K6 but there were earlier 6 X 4 still in use. Some units had CMP 4 X 4 wreckers [/list] A note on the RAF Meteorological section. This section provided meteorological information which was required by field artillery in order to correct the range and bearing when firing. Wind strength and direction obviously affected the flight of shells and these winds varied at different altitudes. Air temperature and barometric pressure also affected the flight of the shells and could also affect the performance of the propellant. The RAF section received information from higher formations but was also equipped to take local readings. Barometric pressure, temperature and wind direction and strength at ground level required only basic instruments. Wind direction and strength at different altitudes was measured by releasing balloons and tracking them with theodolites. This was done at higher formations such as AGRA or Survey Regiment. Later in the campaign balloons could be tracked by redundant anti aircraft radars. Information was sent out regularly by telegram to batteries. In NW Europe there were not the dramatic changes of climate found in some theatres but data was updated regularly, every four hours if it was thought necessary. The information was not sent as raw data but in a user friendly form which could be used in conjunction with tables to work out deviations in range and bearing for the guns. - pressure was given in clear thus 3060 = 30.60 inches - temperature and pressure were sent as data relating to the time of flight and were sent in two groups thus 1535 2130 = time of flight 15 seconds, mean temperature 35 degrees, wind speed 21 feet per second, wind direction 230 degrees. This information was sufficient to form a basis for using tables. Thus if the time of flight was not 15 seconds the tables gave the adjustments. The RAF Meteorological section vehicle and driver were supplied by the Field Regiment. RAF personnel in NW Europe should have worn army khaki battledress with RAF badges. They usually kept their own headwear. In practice many RAF personnel wore RAF battledress. MARKINGS The Royal Artillery had a very comprehensive system of tactical signs which were virtually unchanged throughout the war. The list of vehicles under Organisation for Manoeuvre gives the letter and numbers generally assigned to each vehicle. These numbers and letters were shown in white on the vehicles tactical sign. These signs were squares, generally half the size of the Arm of Service sign and generally displayed above the top right hand corner of the Arm of Service Sign. Some were displayed elsewhere on the vehicles front and rear. Regimental headquarters used a square divided red over blue as for the Arm of Service sign P Battery had a blue square with the top right hand quarter in red. Q Battery had a blue square with the bottom right hand corner in red R Battery had a blue square with the bottom left hand corner in red. The letters and numbers could be placed in various styles but were consistent throughout a regiment some units placed then centrally some units placed them only in the blue portion some units placed them with the number underneath the letter at least one unit placed them only on the red part. The combination of battery square with letters and numbers ensured that every vehicle in the regiment could be identified. The Arm of Service sign was carried by all vehicles, usually on the offside. They were red over blue for artillery. The senior field regiment in an infantry division carried number 42 in white The second field regiment in an infantry division carried number 43 in white The third field regiment in an infantry division carried number 44 in white. Commander Royal Artillery and his staff carried number 40 in white. The attached Royal Signals usually carried blue and white signals Arm of Service square with the number of the artillery regiment in red. A Royal Artillery tactical sign was usually carried by signals vehicles and these were red over blue with letters/numbers S1 to S9. Some units had a blue and white tactical sign with the letters/numbers in red. The attached REME LAD usually carried a REME blue/yellow/red Arm of Service square with the artillery regiments number in white. A red over blue artillery tactical sign with the numbers/letters LAD1 etc. was usually carried but some had the tactical sign in REME colours.
This is a little misleading 1. The batteries were not lettered P Q or R. Batteries had unique field battery numbers. The terms P, Q and R were used in training manuals to refer to the senior, second and junior batteries, which might be: e.g. 9,16 and 17/43 (7 field) or 101, 109 and 113/114 (33 field) or G, K and CC (5 RHA) 2. The choice of the letters P Q & R for examples in training batteries cannot have been out of a desire to avoid reference to serving batteries. P Battery RHA and Q (Sanna's Post) Battery and R Battery RA all existed during WW2. Troops within a Regiment were always(?) lettered A to F for field regiments, and A-K for Anti tank or Light AA Regiments which had nine rather than six troops
Was 'Q' actually the designation of 'Q (Sanna's Post) Battery' rather than a number? This seems familiar to me in an anti-tank context but I can't place it.
Excellent information vP but not always the case in the Field. How many men do you need to fire a 25pdr effectively ? One photo taken at Bou Ficha Artillery Range in Tunisia shows only three crew including No1 at the rear. Most unusual I thought four was minimum. Layer, Loader, Rammer, No1. No1 must have been loading as well. This was 266 Bty 67th Field Regt Tunisia October/ November 1943. The ammunition is laid out on the ground with the cartridges in boxes, the guns are firing. From the Shepherd Family collection. The second photo was probably taken either in the Bosco Anzio but more likely during their advance to the Gothic line somewhere near Florence. The shells & cartridges are visible neatly stacked to the left of the photo. 266 Bty C Troop Sgt Allen. From the Allen Family collection.
Regarding P, Q & R Batteries. I cannot lay my hands on any specific date that this designation appeared but it was certainly used post war in the 267 Field Regt and possibly after their re-designation in 1947. Try: Home - The Royal Artillery 1939-45
Chris, Q Battery has a rather convoluted history. It was in 2 Brigade RHA but transferred to 21 Field Brigade RFA and was converted to 148 (Howitzer) Battery in May 1920. In March 1924 it was re-formed as Q Battery RFA from 108 (Howitzer) Battery still in 21 Brigade RFA. In October 1938 the Brigade was converted to Anti-Tank as 21 Anti-Tank Regiment RA including Q Battery. There was an order in December 1942 to number Q, Y & Z Batteries as 108, 109 & 110 Batteries but it was cancelled 19 days later. In November 1946, Q, Y & Z Batteries were transferred to 4 RHA. This was a paper move only as RHQ 21 A/Tk became RHQ 4 RHA. It's all a bit confusing but this is the Battery that carried the Honour Title of Sanna's Post. Derek
Hi Derek, Thanks for that. Just to add a bit more to the history. I must have run across the name when looking backward from 10th A/tk Reg't.
Q Battery also did great deeds in Normandy in Op Bluecoat where they recovered the situation after a German SS Battlegroup with Panther tanks got amongst the gun positions of 143 Leicestershire Yeomanry at Maisoncelles in early August 1944.
I'm pondering this - apparently a Sherman ARV in Asten, Netherlands, 22 Sept. 1944 (not my copyright). The most likely interpretation of the AoS is for the second, towed, Field Regt. RA. in an Armoured Div. I thought the Sherman OP's used the facilities of the unit they were attached to. The RA fitters using a 6x4 workshop truck more suited to the guns and vehicles. Could it be a rare NWE use of a turretless Sherman as replacement for an OP carrier?
Nice shot! I have never seen that one before. It certainly looks like a Sherman ARV, with the holdfasts etc on the top deck. There appear to be marks where the racks for the grouser stowage on the hull sides would have been.
The SP Field Regiment arm of service was 76 This means the the vehicle in the photo is from a SP regiment. Asten was liberated by 22 Sept. 1944 by 11th Armoured Division and the SP regiment was 13 Royal Horse Artillery. This would make more sense perhaps to have similar vehicles to the AOP tanks in the SP regiments rather than replacing the AOP Carriers in the towed regiments.