Headquarters commander royal artillery.

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  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    HEADQUARTERS COMMANDER ROYAL ARTILLERY.

    Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Infantry Division.War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
    Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Infantry Division. War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945
    Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Armoured Division.War Establishment II/104/2. December 1943
    Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Armoured Division. War Establishment II/104/3. March 1945
    Headquarters Army Group Royal Artillery. War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
    Headquarters Army Group Royal Artillery. War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945


    ROYAL ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS – INFANTRY DIVISION.
    War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
    War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945

    The Royal Artillery Headquarters was the equivalent of a Brigade Headquarters. It coordinated the artillery units of the division plus any units allocated from higher formations. The Commander Royal Artillery was a Brigadier and had a comparatively small staff, to which was added a Royal Signals detachment. The Royal Artillery Headquarters would be near to the Divisional Headquarters with the command vehicle at least being parked alongside those of the divisional staff.

    The Commander Royal Artillery advised the Divisional Commander on artillery matters, and since this involved almost all operations in the all arms battle the Commander Royal Artillery worked very closely with the Divisional Commander, accompanying him on his rounds, attending order groups etc. Thus the Commander Royal Artillery came to perform the role of divisional second in command. The Commander Royal Artillery and his staff were also responsible for implementing plans for the divisional artillery and attached artillery units, and for coordinating with Corps artillery and that of neighbouring divisions. Other units which might be attached to the division included

    • Medium artillery units from the supporting Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA). In an advance it was common for two medium regiments to be placed directly under the command of a forward division.
    • Heavy artillery units form the supporting AGRA could be attached for specific operations and counter battery work.
    • Heavy Anti Aircraft units could be attached later in the campaign when they had little anti aircraft work to do.
    • Counter Mortar units were added later in the campaign.
    • Detachments from the Corp Survey Regiment were usually deployed across the divisional area.

    The Lorry Command Vehicle was the nerve centre of the headquarters and was always manned by the Brigade Major, the Staff Captain or the Intelligence Officer and the situation map was kept up to date. When at Headquarters the Commander Royal Artillery could use the Lorry Command Vehicle but he could also use the Staghound armoured car as a command post when away from divisional headquarters.

    The CRA also had a 4 X 4 Humber Heavy Utility which could be used as transport, mobile office or sleeping accommodation. Later in the campaign it was usual for officers of Brigadier rank to have a Command caravan. These were caravan bodies on a Bedford QL chassis. They had sleeping quarters at the front and an office at the rear.

    Royal Artillery Headquarters vehicles
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 (Humber FWD)
    1 X jeep
    3 X motorcycle
    2 X 15cwt office (Ford WOT2H)
    2 X 15cwt FFW
    2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X water trailer
    2 X car 2 seater for chaplains

    Royal Signals vehicles
    1 X motorcycle
    1 X jeep
    1 X 15cwt Wireless House
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Lorry Command Vehicle Low Power
    1 X Staghound Armoured Car

    Personnel
    Brigadier
    Brigade Major
    Staff Captain
    Captain, Intelligence Officer
    Warrant Officer
    3 X NCO
    23 X gunners
    2 X Chaplain
    plus three serjeant clerks from field regiments.

    Subaltern RS
    3 X NCO RS
    12 X privates RS

    Subaltern RAF
    NCO RAF
    Aircraftsman RAF

    Captain REME

    Organisation.

    4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)


    Commander Royal Artillery (Brigadier), batman, driver IC
    [/list]

    Carries Wireless set No22
    [/list]

    Armoured car (Staghound) Royal Signals
    [/list]
    operator, driver operator

    Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set HP
    4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)

    Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Captain Intelligence Officer, driver IC
    Motorcycle
    orderly
    Motorcycle
    orderly
    Motorcycle
    orderly

    5cwt car 4 X 4
    Captain REME, batman driver
    5cwt car 4 X 4
    Subaltern, batman driver
    Motorcycle
    serjeant

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 Command LP Royal Signals
    corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver operator

    15cwt truck FFW
    orderly serjeant, 2 X driver operator, signaller
    Carries wireless set No22
    15cwt truck FFW
    2 X driver operator, signaller
    Carries wireless set No22

    Truck 15cwt Wireless House Royal Signals
    corporal operator, operator, driver operator
    Carries wireless set No22

    15cwt office truck
    WOI clerk, staff serjeant, clerk, driver IC
    Carries 3 X serjeant clerk from Field regiments.
    15cwt office truck
    Flying Officer RAF, corporal RAF, leading aircraftman RAF, driver IC
    Carries RAF Meteorological Section. Vehicle and driver provided by Royal
    Artillery.

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    2 X cook, 3 X batman, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and supplies.
    Tows a water trailer.
    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS


    sanitary dutyman, quartermaster and motor transport bombardier, vehicle mechanic, driver mechanic
    [/list]

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS Royal Signals
    [/list]

    instrument mechanic, operator (spare), electrician, driver mechanic

    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver
    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver


    [/list]

    Counter Battery Section, from Corps (if attached)
    [/list]

    15cwt truck
    [/list]

    Captain, clerk, batman driver
    [/list]

    15cwt Office truck
    [/list]

    clerk, driver IC
    [/list]

    motorcycle
    [/list]

    orderly


    [/list] H section (Commander Royal Artillery) Royal Signals
    Motorcycle 1
    serjeant
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 2
    Subaltern, batman driver
    15cwt wireless house
    corporal operator, operator, driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set No22
    This vehicle for A echelon
    3ton lorry GS
    instrument mechanic, relief operator, electrician, driver mechanic
    Carries 6KW charging set
    Carries Bren lmg and PIAT
    Lorry Command Vehicle LP
    Corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver mechanic
    Carries Bren lmg
    Carries Wireless set No 19 and Wireless set No19 HP
    This vehicle for CRA and staff. Provides rear link and forward control.
    Armoured car
    operator, driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No19 HP

    A wireless set No22 is carried in the CRA’s car.

    Note:
    By 1945 the following had been added
    Motorcycle 2
    Radio mechanic
    3ton GS 1 now tows a 6Kw generator trailer
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 2
    3 X operator, 1 X relief operator, driver IC
    For use as Signal Office
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    ROYAL ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS – ARMOURED DIVISION.
    War Establishment II/104/2. December 1943
    War establishment II/104/3. March 1945

    The Headquarters CRA in an Armoured Division was similar in role and composition to that of the Infantry Division.

    Royal Artillery Headquarters vehicles
    2 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 (Humber FWD)
    1 X jeep
    4 X motorcycle
    2 X 15cwt office (Ford WOT2H)
    2 X 15cwt FFW
    2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    4 X scout car
    1 X water trailer
    3 X car 2 seater for chaplains

    Royal Signals vehicles
    1 X motorcycle
    1 X jeep
    1 X 15cwt Wireless House
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Armoured Command Vehicle Low Power
    1 X Staghound Armoured Car

    Personnel
    Brigadier
    Brigade Major
    Staff Captain
    2 X Captain
    3 X Subaltern
    Warrant Officer
    6 X NCO
    31 X gunners
    3 X chaplain
    plus two serjeant clerks from field regiments.

    Royal Signals
    Subaltern
    5 X NCO
    11 X privates

    RAF
    Subaltern
    NCO
    aircraftsman


    Organisation.

    4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)


    Commander Royal Artillery (Brigadier), batman, driver IC
    [/list]

    Carries Wireless set No22
    [/list]

    Armoured car (Staghound) Royal Signals
    [/list]
    operator, driver operator

    Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set HP
    Tank Control
    The tank and the crew were Royal Armoured Corp and provided by one of the
    armoured regiments of the division.
    Carries 2 X Wireless set No19
    4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)

    Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Captain Intelligence Officer, driver IC

    Motorcycle
    orderly serjeant
    Motorcycle
    orderly
    Motorcycle
    orderly
    Motorcycle
    Orderly

    Scout Car
    Captain Liason Officer, driver operator
    Scout Car
    Liason Officer, driver operator
    Scout Car
    Liason Officer, driver operator
    Scout Car
    Liason Officer, driver operator

    5cwt car 4 X 4
    Subaltern, batman driver
    Motorcycle
    serjeant

    Armoured Command Vehicle 4 X 4 LP Royal Signals
    corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver operator

    15cwt truck FFW
    orderly serjeant, 2 X driver operator, signaller
    Carries wireless set No22
    15cwt truck FFW
    2 X driver operator, signaller
    Carries wireless set No22

    Truck 15cwt Wireless House Royal Signals
    corporal operator, operator, driver operator
    Carries wireless set No22
    15cwt office truck
    WOI clerk, staff serjeant clerk, clerk, driver IC
    Carries 3 X serjeant clerk from Field regiments.
    15cwt office truck
    Flying Officer RAF, corporal RAF, leading aircraftman RAF, driver IC
    Carries RAF Meteorological Section. Vehicle and driver provided by Royal
    Artillery.

    5cwt 4 X 4
    Quartermaster and mechanical transport bombardier.

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    3 X cook, 3 X batman, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and supplies.
    Tows a water trailer.
    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS


    sanitary dutyman, vehicle mechanic, driver mechanic
    [/list]

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS Royal Signals
    [/list]

    instrument mechanic, operator (spare), electrician, 2 X driver mechanic

    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver
    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver
    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver


    [/list] H troop (Commander Royal Artillery) Royal Signals
    Motorcycle
    serjeant
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
    Subaltern, batman driver
    15cwt wireless house
    corporal operator, operator, driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set No22
    This vehicle for A echelon
    3ton lorry GS
    corporal instrument mechanic, operator, electrician, relief driver mechanic,
    driver mechanic
    Carries 6KW charging set
    Carries Bren lmg and PIAT
    Armoured Command Vehicle LP
    Corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver mechanic
    Carries Bren lmg
    Carries Wireless set No 19 and Wireless set No19 HP
    This vehicle for CRA and staff.
    Armoured Car
    Lance corporal operator,
    Driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No19 HP

    A wireless set No22 is carried in the CRA’s car.




    HEADQUARTERS ARMY GROUP ROYAL ARTILLERY
    War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
    War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945


    The Army Group Royal Artillery Headquarters held, administered and controlled a number of heavy and medium artillery units. It was almost identical to the Headquarters of Infantry Divisional Artillery. The Commander Officer was a Brigadier and had a comparatively small staff, to which was added a Royal Signals detachment. The AGRA Headquarters would be near to the Headquarters of the Corp to which it was assigned.

    Each AGRA normally had

    • 1 X Field Regiment
    • 4 X Medium Regiment
    • 1 X Heavy Regiment
    • 1 X signal company
    • 1 X RASC ammunition platoon per regiment

    Normally one AGRA supported each Corp but for particular operations they could be used flexibly. If a unit transferred to another AGRA it took a signal section and an ammunition platoon with it. There were also unattached units which could be attached to an AGRA for a particular operation. These spare units were held by 9 AGRA between attachments. When an AGRA had so many attached units that it became unwieldly there were two spare AGRA Headquarters which could be used. Spare AGRA Headquarters could also undertake separate independent tasks.

    The Lorry Command Vehicle was the nerve centre of the headquarters and was always manned by the Brigade Major, the Staff Captain or the Intelligence Officer and the situation map was kept up to date. When at Headquarters the Commanding Officer could use the Lorry Command Vehicle but he could also use the Staghound armoured car as a command post when away from headquarters.

    The CRA also had a 4 X 4 Humber Heavy Utility which could be used as transport, mobile office or sleeping accommodation. Later in the campaign it was usual for officers of Brigadier rank to have a Command caravan. These were caravan bodies on a Bedford QL chassis. They had sleeping quarters at the front and an office at the rear.

    Royal Artillery Headquarters vehicles
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 (Humber FWD)
    1 X jeep
    3 X motorcycle
    2 X 15cwt office (Ford WOT2H)
    2 X 15cwt FFW
    2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X water trailer
    4 X car 2 seater for chaplains

    Royal Signals vehicles
    1 X motorcycle
    1 X jeep
    1 X 15cwt Wireless House
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Lorry Command Vehicle Low Power
    1 X Staghound Armoured Car

    Personnel
    Brigadier
    Brigade Major
    Staff Captain
    Captain, Intelligence Officer
    Warrant Officer
    3 X NCO
    23 X gunners
    plus one clerk from each regiment in the AGRA to form the RA clerks section.

    Royal Signals
    Subaltern
    3 X NCO
    12 X privates

    RAF
    Subaltern
    NCO
    aircraftsman

    REME
    Captain

    RAOC
    clerk
     
  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Organisation.


    4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)


    Brigadier, batman, driver IC
    [/list]

    Carries Wireless set No22
    [/list]

    Armoured car (Staghound) Royal Signals
    [/list]
    operator, driver operator

    Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set HP
    4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)

    Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Captain Intelligence Officer, driver IC

    Motorcycle
    orderly
    Motorcycle
    orderly
    Motorcycle
    orderly

    5cwt car 4 X 4
    Captain REME, batman driver
    5cwt car 4 X 4
    Subaltern, batman driver

    Motorcycle
    serjeant

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 Command LP Royal Signals
    corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver operator
    15cwt truck FFW
    orderly serjeant, 2 X driver operator, signaller
    Carries wireless set No22
    15cwt truck FFW
    2 X driver operator, signaller
    Carries wireless set No22
    Truck 15cwt Wireless House Royal Signals
    corporal operator, operator, driver operator
    Carries wireless set No22
    15cwt office truck
    WOI clerk, staff serjeant, clerk, driver IC
    Carries 3 X serjeant clerk from Field regiments.
    15cwt office truck
    Flying Officer RAF, corporal RAF, leading aircraftman RAF, driver IC

    Carries RAF Meteorological Section. Vehicle and driver provided by Royal

    Artillery.

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    2 X cook, 3 X batman, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and supplies.
    Tows a water trailer.
    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS


    sanitary dutyman, quartermaster and motor transport bombardier, vehicle mechanic, driver mechanic
    [/list]

    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS Royal Signals
    [/list]

    instrument mechanic, operator (spare), electrician, driver mechanic

    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver
    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver
    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver
    [/list]

    Car 2 seater
    [/list]

    Chaplain, batman driver



    [/list] HEADQUARTERS ARMY GROUP ROYAL ARTILLERY, SIGNAL SECTION.

    Subaltern
    serjeant

    lance serjeant
    3 X corporal
    9 X lance corporal
    42 X private

    6 X despatch rider
    electrician
    14 X lineman
    23 X operator
    5 X driver mechanic
    driver IC as batman
    5 X driver IC

    Total 57

    Plus attached 2 X cook ACC

    11 X motor cycle
    3 X 15cwt GS
    3 X 15cwt wireless house
    4 X 4 X 4 3ton GS

    1 X pistol .38”
    38 X rifle .303”
    20 X Sten gun


    Command and Administrative Detachment

    Motorcycle 1
    Subaltern
    Motorcycle 2
    serjeant
    Motorcycle 3
    electrician
    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 1


    batman, 2 X cook, driver IC
    [/list]

    Carries stores and cable

    [/list] Cable Detachment
    Motorcycle 4
    lineman
    Motorcycle 5
    Lineman
    15cwt GS 1
    2 X lineman, driver IC
    15cwt GS 2
    2 X lineman, driver IC
    Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 2


    4 X lineman, driver mechanic
    [/list]

    Carries a mechanical cable layer
    [/list] Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 3


    4 X lineman, driver mechanic
    [/list]

    Carries a mechanical cable layer

    [/list] Signal Office Detachment
    Motorcycle 6
    despatch rider
    Motorcycle 7
    despatch rider
    Motorcycle 8
    despatch rider
    Motorcycle 9
    despatch rider
    Motorcycle 10
    despatch rider
    Motorcycle 11
    despatch rider

    15cwt GS 3


    driver IC
    [/list] Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 4


    driver IC
    [/list] These two vehicles also carry 14 X operator


    Wireless Detachment
    Truck 15cwt Wireless House 1
    3 X operator, driver mechanic
    Carries wireless set No22
    Truck 15cwt Wireless House 2
    3 X operator, driver mechanic
    Carries wireless set No22
    Truck 15cwt Wireless House 3
    3 X operator, driver mechanic
    Carries wireless set No22
     
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