SUPER HEAVY REGIMENT (ROAD) 21ARMY GROUP Headquarters Super Heavy Group. War Establishment III/328/1 Super Heavy Regiment (Road). War Establishment XIV/523/1. August 1944. Super Heavy Battery (Rail) 18” Howitzer, Cadre. War Establishment XIV/524/1 August 1944. Coast Observation Detachment. War Establishment III/313/1. March 1944. HEADQUARTERS SUPER HEAVY GROUP RA. War Establishment III/328/1 Brigadier Brigade Major 2 X Staff Captain 3 X batman 4 X batman driver Warrant Officer Class I clerk, RA clerks section Staff Serjeant Clerk, RA clerks section serjeant clerk, RA clerks section clerk duty serjeant 6 X driver IC 4 X motorcycle orderly bombardier QM and MT dutyman sanitary dutyman 5 X signaller vehicle mechanic Attached 2 X Chaplain RAChD Warrant Officer Class 1, Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer RAOC Deputy Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineers, REME officers mess cook ACC 2 X cook ACC Transport 5 X motorcycle 4 X car 2 seater 2 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 1 X 15cwt truck GS fitted with hand cable layer 3 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS 1 X water trailer 180 gallon 2 X Bren lmg Organisation Motorcycle 1 orderly Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 orderly Motorcycle 5 signaller Car 2 seater 1 Chaplain, batman driver Car 2 seater 2 Chaplain, batman driver Car 2 seater 3 Deputy Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineers, vehicle mechanic, batman driver Car 2 seater 4 WO1 Brigade Ordnance Officer, driver IC Car 4 seater 4 X 4 1 Brigadier, batman driver Car 4 seater 4 X 4 2 Brigade Major, 2 X Staff Captain, driver IC 15cwt truck GS 4 X signaller, driver IC Fitted with hand cable layer Carries signal stores 3ton 4 X 4 GS 1 3 X clerk (RA clerks section), clerk, driver IC For use as office 3ton 4 X 4 GS 2 3 X cook, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations 3ton 4 X 4 GS 3 duty serjeant, QM and MT dutyman, sanitary dutyman, batman, driver IC Carries QM and MT stores Tows water trailer SUPER HEAVY REGIMENT (ROAD) War Establishment XIV/523/1. August 1944. Personnel Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding Major, Second in Command 3 X Major Captain, Adjutant 3 X Captain 14 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 3 X Battery Serjeant Major 3 X battery quartermaster serjeant 3 X signalling serjeant survey serjeant duty serjeant 12 X serjeant 7 X lance serjeant 27 X bombardier 37 X lance bombardier 244 X gunner Total 471 Plus attached serjeant nursing orderly RAMC armourer serjeant REME 3 X staff serjeant armament artificer (field) REME 4 X officers mess cooks ACC 3 X corporal cook ACC 11 X cook ACC Tradesmen 6 X artificer RA or gun fitter 8 X battery surveyor serjeant clerk, RA clerks section 6 X clerk 28 X driver mechanic 18 X driver mechanic AFV 32 X driver operator 3 X equipment repairer serjeant technical storeman 4 X technical storeman 7 X vehicle mechanic Non Tradesmen 24 X ammunition number 17 X batman 7 X batman driver butchery dutyman 75 X driver IC 6 X gun position officer’s assistant 96 X gun number 16 X lmg numbers medical officers orderly 15 X motorcycle orderly 12 X observation post assistants 39 X signaller 4 X sanitary dutyman 4 X storeman 4 X water dutyman Notes: Repair tradesmen may be allotted the following additional ranks and appointments staff serjeant serjeant lance serjeant 2 X bombardier 3 X lance bombardier Left at base. serjeant clerk (RA clerks section) First reinforcements. 3 X subaltern serjeant 2 X bombardier 3 X lance bombardier 30 X gunner Total vehicles 12 X motorcycle 18 X jeep 2 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 7 X truck 15cwt GS 1 X truck 15cwt office 4 X truck 15cwt water 20 X truck 15cwt halftrack FFW 16 X lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 18 X lorry 6ton 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 18 X Heavy Tractor High Speed M6 6 X armoured observation post 3 X truck mounted crane 3 X 1 ton trailer 3 X trailer, clamshell Note: If 15cwt halftracks FFW are not available 15cwt 4 X 4 personnel or 4 X 2 FFW may be issued in lieu. In addition two trucks in each battery will be fitted with hand cable layers. Attached Independent Regiment RA Signal Section RS Light Aid Detachment Type A (Modified) REME Regimental Headquarters Personnel Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding Major, Second in Command Captain, Adjutant 2 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant survey serjeant duty serjeant 4 X bombardier 26 X gunner Total 55 Plus attached medical orderly RAMC armourer serjeant REME officers mess cook ACC 2 X cook ACC Tradesmen 8 X battery surveyor serjeant clerk, RA clerks section 3 X clerk 2 X driver operator serjeant technical storeman technical storeman vehicle mechanic Non Tradesmen 5 X batman batman driver butchery dutyman 12 X driver IC 4 X lmg numbers medical orderly 3 X motorcycle orderly sanitary dutyman storeman water dutyman Organisation Motorcycle 1 orderly. Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly 4 seater car 4 X 4 1 Commanding Officer, subaltern, driver IC 4 seater car 4 X 4 2 Second in Command, operator RS, driver IC Carries a Wireless set 5 cwt car 4 X 4 1 Subaltern, battery surveyor 5 cwt car 4X 4 2 survey serjeant, battery surveyor 5 cwt car 4 X 4 3 2 X battery surveyor 5cwt car 4 X 4 4 2 X battery surveyor 5cwt car 4 X 4 5 nursing orderly, driver IC 5 cwt car 4 X 4 6 duty serjeant, vehicle mechanic 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 1 quartermaster serjeant, storeman technical, batman driver 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 2 2 X battery surveyors Carried survey stores 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 3 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carried 2 X Bren gun 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 4 medical orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carried medical stores 15cwt truck Office Regimental Serjeant Major, 2 X clerks, driver IC 15cwt truck halftrack FFW Adjutant, serjeant clerk, 2 X lmg number, driver IC Carries office stores Carries 2 X Bren lmg and a PIAT Carries Wireless set 15cwt truck halftrack FFW 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set (Artillery/R) 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 storeman, 5 X batman, driver IC Carries MT stores 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 3 X cook, butchery dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, clerk, driver IC Carries Quartermaster stores. Carries Bren lmg 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 storeman technical, driver IC [/list] Carries petrol Battery X 3 Headquarters Personnel Major Captain 4 X Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant signalling serjeant 4 X bombardier 41 X gunner Plus attached Armament artificer REME officers mess cooks ACC 2 X cook ACC Tradesmen 2 X artificer RA or gun fitter clerk 3 X driver mechanic 2 X driver mechanic AFV 10 X driver operator equipment repairer technical storeman Non Tradesmen 4 X batman 2 X batman driver 11 X driver IC 2 X gun position officers assistant 4 X lmg numbers 3 X motorcycle orderly 3 X observation post assistants 13 X signaller sanitary dutyman storeman water dutyman Organisation Motorcycle 1 orderly Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly 5cwt car 4 X 4 1 Subaltern (Battery Leader), batman driver, driver operator Carries wireless set 5cwt car 4 X 4 2 Battery Serjeant Major, gunfitter 5cwt car 4 X 4 3 signal serjeant, signaller 5cwt car 4 X 4 4 signaller, batman driver Battery Commanders Car 15cwt truck GS 4 X batman, cook, driver IC For cooked food distribution. 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 1 Subaltern Gun Position Officer, gun position officer’s assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 2 Subaltern Assistant Gun Position Officer, gun position officer’s assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 3 clerk, 2 X signaller, driver operator Carries a PIAT Carries Wireless for Artillery R 15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 4 Captain, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck Halftrack 5 4 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries Bren lmg Carries a mechanical cable layer and cable reels. 15cwt truck Halftrack 6 5 X signaller, driver IC Carries a hand cable layer and cable reels. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 battery quartermaster serjeant, electrician RS, sanitary dutyman, storeman, driver IC Carries quartermaster stores and charging set Tows a 1 ton trailer 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 storeman (technical), driver IC Carries petrol 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 2 X lmg number, equipment repairer, fitter, armament artificer, driver IC Carries MT stores Carries a Bren lmg and a PIAT 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 4 X cooks, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Tractor Heavy High Speed M6 1 driver mechanic, driver IC Spare vehicle Tractor Heavy High Speed M6 2 driver mechanic, driver IC Spare vehicle Armoured Observation Post Carrier 1 Major, observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set No19 Armoured Observation Post Carrier Subaltern, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 Truck Mounted Crane lance serjeant driver IC (crane operator), driver mechanic Tows a trailer with clamshell Note: A Carrier, Observation Post was used initially but these may have been replaced by an Observation Post Tank later. Section X 2 Personnel 2 X serjeant 3 X corporal 41 X gunner 2 X driver mechanic 2 X driver mechanic AFV vehicle mechanic 4 X ammunition number 4 X driver IC driver IC as crane operator 16 X gun number 6ton lorry 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 1 gun numbers 9 to 14, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 15 rounds of ammunition Carries a PIAT 6ton lorry 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 2 serjeant gun number 18, gun numbers 15 to 17, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 15 rounds of ammunition Carries a Bren lmg 6ton lorry 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 3 4 X ammunition number, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 15 round of ammunition Carries a Bren lmg Tractor Heavy High Speed M6 serjeant gun number 1, gun numbers 2 to 4, driver mechanic ARV, driver IC Tows gun transport trailer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition Tractor Heavy High Speed M6 Gun numbers 5 to 8, driver mechanic AFV, driver IC Tows carriage transport trailer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition There were two Super Heavy Regiments in 21 Army Group 3 Super Heavy Regiment with five batteries 61 Super Heavy Regiment with three batteries. These two regiments formed a Super Heavy Artillery Group which acted as a holding unit. They were assigned to Army Group Royal Artillery as required. The 240mm howitzer. These large howitzers were well thought of but were relatively little used. This was partly because there was little opportunity to deploy siege artillery and partly because tactical air power did the job better. It fired a 360lb shell Maximum range was 25,225 yards. A reduced charge was available which gave a maximum range of 8,450 yards. Maximum elevation was 65 degrees Traverse was 20 degrees either side The 8” gun Very few of these big guns were made and issued. They were not very accurate and the wear on the barrel was excessive. It fired a 240lb shell Maximum range was 30,315 yards using Normal Charge 35,635 yards using Super Charge 8,450 yards using Reduced Charge Maximum elevation was 50 degrees Traverse was 20 degrees either side The 8” gun and the 240mm howitzer used the same carriage. Both guns were so heavy that it had to be broken into two loads, each with its own transporter. The barrel and recoil system were carried on one carriage and the trail on the second. Each was towed by a M6 38ton fully tracked tractor. Fully loaded each carriage weighed some 50,000 lbs. The tractor was the Tractor, High Speed, 38ton M6. In fact the high speed was to distinguish it from agricultural and construction type tractors. Maximum speed was 21 mph. It was however a powerful tractor, using two Waukesha 6 cylinder petrol engines of 817 cubic inches capacity each. Fuel consumption was o.3 miles per gallon. It carried a crew of eleven and fourteen rounds of ammunition. Further ammunition was carried on the three 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Tractors per gun. These were Scammell Pioneer (6 X 4), Albion CX22 (6 X 4) or Mack NM (6 X 6). The mobile crane was Crane, Truck Mounted, M2 (Lorraine 6 X 6) which towed a trailer carrying the clamshell excavator. As a crane it lifted the carriage and barrel loads from the transporter and emplaced them. As a clamshell excavator it dug the pit which was needed to allow the breech to recoil at high elevation, and to accommodate the recoil spades. Guns could be emplaced without the crane by using the winches on the various tractors plus a lot of manpower. This required at least eight hours hard work against two hours with the crane.
SUPER HEAVY BATTERY RA 21 Army Group 18” Howitzer, cadre. War Establishment XIV/524/1 August 1944. This establishment is for a cadre only. More personnel would be required if and when the battery became operational. The table is a 21 Army Group document and the battery was earmarked for service in NW Europe if required. In the event there was no demand for it and the battery remained in the UK until disbanded at the end of 1944. Consisting of a Headquarters and two sections each with one 18” howitzer on railway mounting. Major Captain 2 X Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant 2 X serjeant 2 X bombardier 4 X lance bombardier 12 X gunner Trades 2 X artificer RA 2 X battery surveyor clerk 2 X gun fitter batman batman driver driver IC storeman 2 X gun position officer’s assistants 12 X gun numbers Attached electrician (diesel electric locomotive) RE fitter (locomotive, diesel) RE lance serjeant railway engine driver RE lance corporal railway engine driver RE 2 X railway engine driver RE staff serjeant traffic operator RE carriage and wagon repairer RE 2 X Warrant Officer Class II armament artificer REME 2 X cook ACC Transport 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2 1 X 15cwt GS 2 X diesel electric locomotive 2 X 18” howitzer mounting 2 X 18” howitzer shell truck 4 X cartridge van 2 X gun store and artificers shop van 7 X mens sleeping vans Headquarters Major Captain Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant clerk batman batman driver driver IC storeman Attached electrician (diesel electric locomotive) RE fitter (locomotive, diesel) RE staff serjeant traffic operator RE carriage and wagon repairer RE 2 X cook ACC Transport 1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2 1 X 15cwt GS 1 X mens sleeping vans 2 X Section each Subaltern serjeant bombardier lance bombardier 6 X gunner Trades artificer RA battery surveyor gun fitter gun position officer’s assistants 6 X gun numbers (one to act as batman) Attached 4 X railway engine driver RE Warrant Officer Class II armament artificer REME Transport 1 X motorcycle 1 X diesel electric locomotive 1 X 18” howitzer mounting 1 X 18” howitzer shell truck 2 X cartridge van 1 X gun store and artificers shop van 3 X mens sleeping vans