M - Census Numbers for 1st and 53rd Airlanding Light Regiments

Hello - can anyone advise on the vehicle establishment of these two regiments? I am particularly interested in the census numbers across each Battery, although this breakdown may not be possible.

Thanks

 

If you navigate to the Trux area of the forum you'll find transcripts of the various war establishment tables. In summary the vehicles authorised were;

HQ, Air Landing Light Regt, RA (ref I/165/2, dated 26th April 1944)

Airborne transport;
Motorcycle, solo - 8
Car, 2-seater, 4x2 - 1
Car, 5-cwt, 4x4 - 7
Trailer, lightweight - 5

Non-airborne transport;
Car, 2-seater, 4x2 - 1
Car, 4-seater, 4x2 - 1
Truck, 15-cwt, GS - 1
Lorry, 3-ton, GS - 3
Trailer, water - 1

Air Landing Light Bty, RA (ref I/163/3, dated 26th April 1944)

Airborne transport;
Motorcycle, solo - 17
Motorcycle, lightweight - 11
Car, 5-cwt, 4x4 - 38
Trailer, lightweight - 32
Tank, light - 1

Non-airborne transport;
Car, 2-seater, 4x2 - 1
Truck, 15-cwt, GS - 3
Truck, 15-cwt, water - 1
Lorry, 3-ton, GS - 4

Air Landing Light Regt, RA (ref I/167/1, dated 12th January 1945)

RHQ;
Motorcycle, solo - 8
Car, 2-seater, 4x2 - 1
Car, 4-seater, 4x2 - 2
Car, 5-cwt, 4x4 - 9
Lorry, 3-ton, GS - 4
Trailer, lightweight - 9
Trailer, water - 1

Each Light Bty;
Motorcycle, solo - 28 (up to 16 may be lightweight)
Car, 2-seater, 4x2 - 1
Car, 5-cwt, 4x4 - 38
Trailer, lightweight - 38
Truck, 15-cwt, water - 1
Lorry, 3-ton, GS - 6

Gary

 

Gary,

Many thanks for the post. Are you able to assist with the Census "M" Numbers of the gun towing vehicles in 2Bty, 1st A/L Regt and 211Bty, 53rd A/L Regt?

I understand each gun detachment had a gun tower (jeep), trailer and gun, and a limber (jeep) and 2 x trailers. There are very few pictures of these combinations, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Neil

 

I'm afraid census numbers are well beyond my area so I can't be of any assistance there. The arrangement you describe for the Jeeps and trailers is outlined in the April 44 A/L Light Bty WE also, with one Jeep for the Section Subaltern, two Jeeps each pulling a pair of trailers and two Jeeps each with one trailer and one pack howitzer. The January 1945 version has the Section with five Jeeps and five trailers, with one trailer per Jeep, and two of those Jeeps also towing a howitzer.

Gary

 

If you come across this detail, please let me know.

Regarding the Gun Sections, I understood the 8 Gun Battery was split into 2 Sections of 4 Guns per Section. Do I take it from your note, the Battery was broken down into 4 Gun Sections of 2 Guns per Section?

Many thanks for your support here... I am still in early stages of my research.

Neil

 

The overall organization was a Battery HQ commanding two Troops, each Troop with a Troop HQ and two Sections, each Section with two howitzers, total eight howitzers in a Battery.

Gary