UK Small Unit Org

7/29/2019 UK Small Unit Org

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Introduction

This document deals with WW2 small-unit organisations for Britain and its Commonwealth. It is alarge file; sources on British organisations are easier to find than those for other nations, there are a

large number of small and often ad-hoc raiding force organisations, and, I suspect, there is somethingof the traditional British tendency to "muddle through". It should also be acknowledged that the

Commonwealth embraced a wide variety of different nations, and, unlike some participants, was inactive combat in every year of the war.

Infantry battalions are numbered within their regiment, for example, 3rd Battalion, the ParachuteRegiment. Infantry regiments are traditional and administrative rather than combat organisations; in

combat organisations, infantry battalions will be directly subordinate to brigades, which are numbered.A battalion number such as 1/7th Queen's indicates a Territorial battalion; during the pre-war expansion

of the Territorial Army, battalions were split to double the establishment, so for example 7th Queen'sspawned 1/7th and 2/7th Queen's. To add confusion, some regiments, especially Commonwealth

infantry, may retain their old regimental number, for example the Canadian 22me Regiment.

In RAC units, the regiment is a battalion-sized organisation, made up of squadrons rather than

companies. In the early part of the war, both the Royal Tank Regiment and Reconnaissance Corps usedthe term battalion, but changed to cavalry nomenclature later. Cavalry squadrons are numbered, and

here a divided number, such as 3rd/4th Sharpshooters, indicates that regiments have at some time beenamalgamated.

Within the battalion or regiment, companies or squadrons other than HQ are usually designated with

letters, for example D Company. A support company or troop may be designated S. In No. 3 Army

commando, troops were from 1942 on numbered in Arabic numerals; in Royal Marine Commandos,they are lettered after the fashion of naval gun turrets, for example X troop. By tradition, 7 RTR does

not use the squadron letter "C". Some battalions of foot guards use the designations "Right flankcompany" and "Left flank company".

Rifle platoons are numbered sequentially within each battalion. The first six platoons are normally

those in HQ and S companies, so A company, for example, will comprise 7, 8 and 9 platoons. Sectionsare numbered within the platoon. So, for example, Corporal Owen Cheeseman commanded No. 3

Section, 18 Platoon, D Company, 4th Somerset LI, 129 Infantry Brigade, 43 (Wessex) Division, XXXCorps.

Small ad-hoc forces were often designated by a compound of the name of the commander with the

word "force", for example, Foleyforce (commanded by Lt Foley), Layforce (commanded by Brig.Laycock), or using an arbitrary name, such as L Force and Bladeforce in Tunisia, or Scissorforce, the

ad-hoc grouping of the first 5 Independent Companies deployed to Norway in 1940.

John D Salt 13 February 1999

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Contents

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WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Army tank battalion, 1st Army Tank Brigade, BEF, 1940

[Zaloga 80]

Fighting vehicle strengths for the two battalions making up this brigade are:

Mk VI light tank Matilda I Matilda II Carrier

4th RTR 5 50 87th RTR 7 27 23 8

Comments and corrections

These two units, together with 7th and 8th battalions DLI, conducted the Arras counterattack.

Armoured regiment, 1940

[Mollo 81]

Total strength is 575 all ranks.The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 tank squadrons.

Vehicles include:

10 scout cars

52 cruiser tanks

Armoured regiment, May 1942

[Mollo 81]

The regiment has 3 squadrons.

Weapons include:55 cruiser tanks

6 CS cruiser tanks

8 AA tanks


The source says that armoured division organisation underwent two minor revisions after this date, in

April 1943, adding cruiser and AA tanks, and March 1944, reducing AA tanks but adding cruiser andOP tanks..

Armoured regiment or army tank battalion, Tunisia, 19423

[Messenger 82]

The regiment has an HQ squadron, 3 fighting squadrons and 4 AA tanks.

RHQ has 4 tanks.

Each fighting squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops.SHQ has 4 tanks.

Each troop has 3 tanks.


The above shows the organisation used in 8th Army. The source says that in 1st Army, there are 8 AAtanks, and 5 troops per squadron.

Blade Force, Tunisia, 24th November 1943

[Messenger 82]

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The force is composed of the following elements:17th/21st Lancers, 3 sqns each with 12 2-pdr Valentines, 6 6-pdr Crusaders and 2 CS Crusaders

B Sqn Derbyshire Yeomanry with armoured cars1 battery of 25-pdr field guns

1 battery of 6-pdr anti-tank guns1 troop of 40mm Bofors LAA guns

B Company 10th Rifle Brigade1 engineer troop

Also attached just before the advance towards Sidi Nsir were:1st Parachute battalion

US 175th field artillery battalion, with 25-pdrsUS 1st/1st Armor, with M3 light tanks

Armoured regiment, 1943

[C&E 75]

The regiment has an RHQ and 3 squadrons.

RHQ has 4 tanks and 10 2-man scout cars.

Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops.Each SHQ has 2 tanks and 2 CS tanks.

Each troop has 3 tanks.

Army tank battalion, 1943

[C&E 75]

The battalion has an Bn HQ, an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons.

HQ squadron has 4 cruiser tanks, 9 scout cars and 2 carriers.Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops.

Each SHQ has 1 infantry or cruiser tank and 2 CS cruiser tanks.Each troop has 3 infantry tanks.

Armoured regiment, June 1944

[Reynolds 97]

The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons.HQ squadron has 11 Stuarts and 4 AA tanks.Each squadron has 4 troops.

Each troop has 1 Firefly and 3 Shermans or Cromwells.

3rd Battalion Scots Guards, June 1944

[White 78]

The battalion has a Bn HQ, 11 scout cars, a recce troop, and 3 squadrons.Bn HQ has 4 Churchills, an ACV and 3 OP tanks.

The recce troop has 12 Stuarts.Each Squadron (Right flank, S, and Left Flank) has an SHQ and 4 troops.

Each SHQ has 4 Churchills and an ARV.Each troop has 3 Churchills.

1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment, June 1944

[White 78]

The battalion has 4 Humber scout cars, a recce troop and 3 squadrons.

The recce troop has 10 Stuarts.Each squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops.

Each SHQ has 3 Cromwells.Each troop has 3 Cromwells and 1 Sherman Firefly.

2nd Armoured Regiment, Lord Strathcona's Horse

[White 78]

The regiment has an RHQ and 3 squadrons.

RHQ has 4 Shermans.Each squadron has an HQ troop and 4 troops.

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Each HQ troop has 4 Shermans, except nos 1 and 3 troops which have 3.

91st Anti-tank Regiment Royal Artillery

[White 78]

The regiment has 2 self-propelled batteries (144 and 146), and 2 towed batteries.Each SP battery has a BHQ and 3 troops (A,B,C and G,H,I).

Each BHQ has 1 command tank.Each troop has 4 M-10s, except H troop which has 3.


It is not stated what equipment the towed batteries have, but I would guess at 3 troops each of 4 towed

17-pdrs.

Regiment, Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, 1944

[White 78]

The regiment has 2 batteries.Each battery has 4 troops.

Each troop has 1 Sherman control tank and 4 Centaur 95mm howitzer tanks.


The Royal Marine Armoured Support Group consisted of 2 regiments organised as above, plus 1independent battery (the 5th battery).

141 Regiment RAC ("The Buffs"), June 1944

[WO291/986]

The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons.

RHQ has 4 Infantry tanks.The HQ Squadron has 9 scout cars.

Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops.Each SHQ has 1 Infantry tank and 3 scout cars.

Each troop has 3 Crocodiles.


"From October '44, so that squadrons could operate in half squadron units, the number of troops persqn. was reduced to 4, 3 containing 4 Crocodiles each, and one comprising 3 Crocodiles."

Crocodile Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison

[WO232/95]

The regiment has an RHQ, 1 HQ squadron and 3 squadrons.

RHQ has 1 infantry tank.HQ squadron has 9 scout cars.

Each squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops.Each SHQ has 2 infantry tanks, 2 CS tanks and 1 scout car.

3 troops have 4 Crocodiles, 1 has 3 Crocodiles.

Flail Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison

[WO232/95]

The regiment has an RHQ and 3 squadrons.RHQ has 3 cruiser tanks (Shermans).

Each squadron has an SHQ, an adm troop and 3 flail troops.

Each SHQ has 1 cruiser and 2 CS tanks.Each flail troop has 5 flail tanks (Sherman Crab).

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Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison

[WO232/95]

The regiment has a CDL squadron and 2 or 3 Kangaroo squadrons.

Each Kangaroo squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops.Each SHQ has 5 Kangaroos.

Each troop has 12 Kangaroos.

Buffalo Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison

[WO232/95]

The regiment has 3 squadrons.Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops.

Each troop has 6 Buffaloes.

Armoured Engineer Regiment RE, 79th Armoured Divison

[WO232/95]

The regiment has a Buffalo squadron and 2 AERE squadrons.The Buffalo squadron has 25 Buffaloes.

Each AERE squadron has SHQ and 3 troops.

Each SHQ has 2 AVREs.Each troop has 6 AVREs.

Supporting armour, Walcheren, 1st November 1944

[Saunders 49]

The regiment has 2 Sherman command tanks, 4 bulldozers, 8 AVREs and 10 flail tanks.


This force, carried in 4 LSTs, participated in the attack on Walcheren. 2 command tanks, 2 bulldozers,6 AVREs and 6 flails were successfully landed. Within 24 hours, all but 2 command tanks and 2

AVREs were drowned.

Supporting armour, Walcheren, 1st November 1944

[WO291/873]

The force consist of elements from 1st Lothians, 89 Assault Squadron RE, and 509 and 510 FieldCompanies RE.

1 Lothians and 89 Assault Squadron RE together have a total strength of 181 all ranks.509 Field Coy RE have a total strngth of 158 all ranks.

510 Field Coy RE have a total strength of 186 all ranks.

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The force has the following vehicles:

1 Lothians 89 Assault Sqn RE 509 & 510

Field Coys REComd Sherman Flail AVRE D7 D7

Original strength 2 10 8 4 5Not landed 4 2 2

Drowned on

beach3 4 1 3

Drownedlater

3 1

Mined D+1 1Mined D+2 1

Mined D+4 1Mined D+6 1


D7s are armoured bulldozers.

Armoured reconnaissance regiment, June 1944

[Reynolds 97]

The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons.

HQ squadron has 11 Stuarts and 4 AA tanks.Each squadron has 19 Cromwells.

Cavalry regiment, BEF, 1940

[Zaloga 80]

The regiment has 28 Mk VI light tanks and 44 carriers.

Cavalry regiment, 1940[Mollo 81]

The regiment has 28 light tanks and 44 carriers.

Armoured car regiment, 1943

[C&E 75]

Organisation of this regiment is said to vary. One version, stated to be for use in desert, is:The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ section, and 3 squadrons.

Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 sections.RHQ has 4 armoured cars.

HQ section has 12 scout cars.Each SHQ has 3 armoured cars.

Each section has 3 armoured cars.

An alternative arrangement, for use in close country, uses 4 squadrons:

Each squadron has 5 troops.Each troop has 3 armoured cars, and a dismountable portion with 2 scout cars, 2 motorcycles, and 2

motorcycle combinations.

Infantry battalion, 1939

[F-Hockley 76]

The battalion 's HQ company has mortar, MMG and carrier platoons.

The carrier platoon has 6 (later 12) carriers.Each rifle section numbers 8 men and has 1 Bren gun.

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This is the only source to credit HQ company with MMGs. The source points out that many battalions

did not see 2-in mortars or ATRs until the war was under way.


[Ellis 93]

Total strength is 813 all ranks.Weapons include:

50 LMGs4 2-in mortars

2 3-in mortars4 ATRs


This would seem to indicate an allocation of only 1 2-in mor and 1 ATR per company.


[Mollo 81]

Total strength is 33 officers and 780 men.The battalion has an HQ company and 4 rifle companies.HQ company has a signals pl, an AA pl, a mortar pl, a carrier pl, a pioneer pl and an admin pl.

Each rifle company has a company HQ and 3 rifle platoons.


[Kamps 91]

Total strength is 780 men.Weapons include:

734 rifles50 LMGs

22 ATRs

12 2-in mortars2 3-in mortars


A note on the divisional organisation chart from which this is extracted says that "No division inMalaya ever achieved this scale of personnel or equipment".

Infantry battalion, Tunisia, 19423

[Messenger 82]

Total strength is 800 all ranks.

The battalion has an HQ company and 4 rifle companies.HQ company has a signals platoon, a pioneer platoon, an admin platoon, a carrier platoon, a mortar

platoon and an ATk platoon.The carrier platoon has 13 carriers.

The mortar platoon has 6 3-in mortars.The ATk platoon has 4 ATk guns.


The above shows the organisation used in 8th Army. The source says that in 1st Army, there are 8 ATk

guns in the ATk platoon.


[C&E 75]

Total strength is 33 officers and 753 other ranks.

The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company, and 4 rifle companies.HQ company has a company HQ and signals, AA, pioneer, mortar, admin and carrier platoons.

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Each rifle company has a company HQ and 3 rifle platoons.Each rifle platoon has a platoon HQ and 3 rifle sections.

Offr OR pistol rifle SMG Bren AAtwin

Bren

ATR 2" mor 3" mor

BnHQ

5 50 11 42 2 1

Coy

HQ

1 8 1 5

Sigs

pl

1 35 4 32 1

AA

pl

20 1 19 4 4

Pnr

pl

1 21 1 21

Mor

pl

1 45 4 42 3 6

Adm

pl

2 57 3 62 1

Carrie

r pl2 62 2 58 4 13 1 4

4 coy

HQs

2 11

12 pl

HQs

1 6 1 6 1 1

36

secs

10 7 1 1

Vehicles

1 4-seater motor car6 2-seater motor cars

1 30 cwt lorry2 15-cwt personnel trucks

32 15-cwt cargo trucks1 15-cwt water truck

13 3-ton lorries27 motorcycles

31 bicycles14 Bren gun carriers (in carrier platoon)

7 Bren carriers fitted for 3" mortar (in mortar platoon)


It is not clear why the admin platoon has apparently been issued more personal weapons that it has

people. Company HQ should presumably be issued 2 pistols and 11 rifles. Assistant Bren gunnerscarry personal weapons, so the rifle sections should show 8 rifles instead of 7. The AAMG is a twinBren. The source states that a motorised battalion (3 of which form the infantry brigade of an

armoured division) has exactly the same organisation, but is carried in motor transport.

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Infantry battalion, June 1944[Reynolds 97]

Total strength is 845 all ranks, 821 if lorried.

The battalion has a support company and 3 rifle companies.The support coy has a pioneer platoon, a carrier platoon, 6 medium mortars and 6 6-pdr ATk guns.

The carrier platoon has 12 carriers.

Each rifle company is 127 all ranks.


[Forty 98]

Total strength is 36 officers and 809 other ranks, including all RAMC, RAOC, REME and ACC

attachments.The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company, a support company, and three rifle companies.

HQ company has a company HQ and signals and admin platoons.

Support company has a company HQ and mortar, carrier, ATk and pioneer platoons.The mortar platoon has 3 trucks, a lorry, 3 M/Cs, a carrier, and 6 detachments each with 1 mortar and 1

carrier.

The carrier platoon has a pl HQ with 1 carrier, 2 trucks and 2 M/C, and 4 sections each with 3 carriers.The ATk platoon has 2 trucks, 3 M/C, a carrier, and 2 sections each with 2 ATk guns and 2 carriers.

The pioneer platoon has 2 assault sections and 1 pioneer section.Each rifle company has a company HQ and 3 rifle platoons.

Each rifle platoon has a platoon HQ and 3 rifle sections.

Offr OR pistol rifle SMG Bren ATR PIAT 2"mor

3"mor

6-pdr

BnHQ

5 45

Coy

HQ1 5

Sigspl

1 35

Admpl

2 51

SpCoyHQ

1 8

Morpl

1 45 4 42 3 6

Carri

er pl

HQ

2 10 2 4 6

4carri

ersec

12 9 3 1

ATk

pl2 53 2 26 5 3 3

Pnr

pl

1 28

3

CoyHQ

2 14 3

9 plHQ

1 6 1

27

secs10 1

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Vehicles

33 bicycles

27 motorcycles1 4-seater motor car

3 2-seater motor car8 5-cwt car

1 15-cwt office truck1 15-cwt personnel truck

26 15-cwt GS truck13 3-ton GS lorry

12 Loyd carriers27 Universal carriers

7 Carriers fitted for 3-in mor1 15-cwt 2-wheel water trailer


Battalion totals of weapons are given as 63 LMGs and 23 PIATs, so some are obviously missing here.

Forty gives his source as "Inf Trg Pt 1, The Infantry Battalion, 1944".


[Ellis 93]

Total strength is 821 all ranks.Weapons include:

49 LMGs

12 2-in mortars6 3-in mortars12 PIATs

6 6-pdr ATk guns

Infantry battalion, 21 Army Group, 1944-1945

[Lincoln 94]

Total strength is 36 officers and around 800 other ranks.The battalion has a Bn HQ, HQ company, support company and 4 rifle companies.

Bn HQ, HQ coy and support coy together number 16 officers and over 300 other ranks.HQ company has an admin platoon and a signals platoon.

Support company has a carrier platoon, a mortar platoon, an ATk platoon and a pioneer platoon.

The carrier platoon has 4 sections each of 3 carriers.The mortar platoon has 6 3-in mortars in carriers.

The ATk platoon has 3 sections each of 2 6-pdr ATk guns towed by carriers.

The pioneer platoon has 4 sections.Each rifle company has an HQ and 3 platoons.

Rifle company strength is 5 officers and about 120 men.

Vehicles

Company transport is 1 jeep, 1 carrier, and 2 or 3 15-cwt trucks.

Infantry battalion, 21 Army Group, 1944-1945

[Jary 94]

The battalion has a Bn HQ, HQ company, support company and 4 rifle companies.

Support company has a carrier platoon, a mortar platoon, an ATk platoon and a pioneer platoon.Each rifle company has an HQ and 3 platoons.

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Company, Fusiliers de Mont Royal, 15th August 1944

[Blackburn 98]

The company has 40 other ranks.


The company under Captain Noel Meilleur, with the strength shown above, was at this date the

strongest in the battalion.

Lorried infantry battalion, May 1942

[Ellis 93]

Weapons include:96 LMGs


6 2-pdr or 6-pdr ATk guns


I have no explanation for the large number of LMGs.

Lorried infantry battalion, 1944

[Ellis 93]



12 PIATs6 2-pdr or 6-pdr ATk guns

Lorried infantry battalion (1/7 Queen's), 6th June 1944[WO171/1386]

Bren Sten 2" mortar 3" mortar PIAT

Bn HQ 31 1 + 2 (RSM)HQ Coy HQ

Signals plBattle patrol 3 4

Mortar pl 7 6 3Carrier pl 13 7 4 4

Admin pl 1 39 14 R Coy HQs 1 5 1 3*

12 Rifle pls 3 4 1ATk pl 6 16 6


* = in company carrier.

This table is taken from the loading instructions prior to D-Day.The source also states that platoons were issued with No. 38 wireless sets.

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Elements of lorried infantry battalion (1/7 Queen's), 16th October 1944

[WO171/1386]

Bren 2" mortar PIAT Carriers"B" Coy 6 3 3

"D" Coy 3 3 3

ATk pl 3 3 1 secCarrier pl 3 2 1 sec


This table shows the 4 main fire groups for operations on the night of 16th Oct 1944. Obviously, the

entire battalion has not been committed.

Infantry battalion, King's African Rifles

[Mollo 81]

Total strength is 36 officers, 44 British NCOs and other ranks, and 1050 African other ranks.

The Somaliland Camel Corps, September 1939

[Mollo 81]

Total strength is 14 British officers, 1 British NCO, and 554 non-European other ranks.

Infantry battalion, Arab Legion

[Mollo 81]

Total strength is approximately 350 all ranks.

Infantry battalion, King's Own Malta Regiment

[Mollo 81]

Total strength is 22 British and Maltese officers and 610 other ranks.

The battalion has 4 companies.

Each company has 4 platoons.Each platoon has a strength of 30 all ranks.

Machine-gun battalion, 1941

[Kamps 91]

Total strength is 740 men.

Weapons include:559 rifles

18 LMGs48 MMGs


A note on the divisional organisation chart from which this is extracted says that "No division in

Malaya ever achieved this scale of personnel or equipment". I suspect that 18 LMGs is a misprint for13.

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[C&E 75]


The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company and 4 MG companies.HQ company has a company HQ and signals, AA and admin platoons.

Each MG company has a company HQ and 3 MG platoons.

Officers ORs pistol rifle Bren ATR MMG

Bn HQ 5 38 10 33Coy HQ 1 4 1 4

Sigs pl 1 31 19 13 1AA pl 20 1 19 4 1

Adm pl 2 54 3 53 1 14 Coy

HQ

2 24 5 21 2

12 MG

pl

1 39 10 30 1 4

Vehicles

1 4-seater motor car8 2-seater motor cars

1 30 cwt lorry86 15-cwt personnel trucks

8 15-cwt GS trucks5 15-cwt water truck

13 3-ton lorries49 motorcycles


Platoons are presumably subdivided into 4 sections of 10, each with 1 Vickers MMG. The source says

that MG battalions are Corps troops.


[Forty 98]

Total strength is 35 officers and 662 other ranks.The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company, a Heavy Mortar company and 3 MG companies.

The Heavy mortar company has four mortar platoons.Each mortar platoon has 4 4.2" mortars.

Each MG company has 3 MG platoons.Each MG platoon has 4 Vickers MMGs.


1 such MG battalion is assigned to an infantry division.


[Ellis 93]

Weapons include:

42 Heavy MGs16 4.2" mortars


By "Heavy MGs", Ellis certainly means Vickers MMGs. A total of 42 MGs between three MG

companies suggests 14 per company, which seems a strange number. The same source states that theMG company of a 1944 armoured division has 12 MMGs, 4 4.2" mortars and 6 flamethrowers.

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Machine-gun battalion, June 1944

[Reynolds 97]

The battalion has 40 MMGs.


The source shows 1 such MG battalion assigned to an infantry division. 40 seems a strange number.

Elsewhere, the same source shows the MMG company of an armoured division as having 22 MMGs,which seems equally odd.

Motor battalion, 1940

[Ellis 93]


Vehicles include:12 carriers

36 trucks

Comments and corrections2 such motor battalions appear in the support group of the 1940 armoured division. The Feb 1942Middle East armoured division has 1 motor bn in the armoured brigade, and 3 in the infantry brigade.

Motor battalion, May 1942

[Ellis 93]

Weapons include:

70 LMGs12 MMGs

6 3-in mortars12 2-pdr or 6-pdr ATk guns

Motor battalion, Tunisia, 19423[Messenger 82]


The battalion has an HQ company and 3 rifle companies.HQ company has a signals platoon, a pioneer platoon, an admin platoon, a carrier platoon, a mortar

platoon and an ATk platoon.The carrier platoon has 13 carriers.

The mortar platoon has 6 3-in mortars.The ATk platoon has 4 ATk guns.


The source states that the battalion is mounted in Bren carriers. The only battalions of this type were in

201 Guards Brigade, part of 8th Army's XXX Corps.


[C&E 75]

Total strength is 26 officers and 774 other ranks.The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company and 4 motor companies.

The battalion has 6 2-pdr ATk guns.Each motor company has 3 motor platoons and 1 scout platoon.

Each motor platoon has 3 sections, each with its own vehicle.Each scout platoon has 11 Bren gun carriers.


Although not specifically mentioned, I imagine that companies and platoons have HQs, and that a

mortar platoon features somewhere. The motor battalion is the infantry element of the armouredbrigade of an armoured division.

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[Ellis 93]

Weapons include:

48 LMGs8 MMGs

15 2-in mortars

6 3-in mortars3 PIATs4 6-pdr ATk guns

Motor battalion, June 1944

[Reynolds 97]

The battalion has a support company and 3 motor companies.

Support company has 8 MMGs and 12 6-pdr ATk guns.Each motor company has 175 all ranks.

Reconnaissance regiment

[Forty 98]

The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron, and 3 recce squadrons.HQ sqn has an SHQ, a signals troop, a mortar troop, an ATk battery and an admin troop.The mortar troop has 6 3-in mortars.

The ATk battery has a BHQ and 2 ATk troops.Each ATk troop has 4 6-pdr guns.

Each recce squadron has an SHQ, 3 recce troops and an assault troop.Each assault troop has a troop HQ and 4 sections.

Each section has a Cpl. LCpl, 5 soldiers and a driver in a 15-cwt truck.

Each recce troop has a recce section and two carrier sections.

Each recce section has 4 Light Recce Cars.Each carrier section has 3 carriers.


Forty gives his source as Richard Doherty's "Only the Enemy in Front", Book Club Associates, 1994,which shows the same organisation, but using infantry instead of cavalry designations (battalion instead

of regiment, company instead of squadron and platoon instead of troop). It is noted that the change ofterminology came in June 1942. It is also noted that "Towards the end of the Tunisian campaign

armoured cars were issued to the reconnaissance troops which then deployed two armoured cars and

three light reconnaissance cars each".

Reconnaissance regiment, 1943

[C&E 75]

Total strength is 40 officers and 753 other ranks.The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron, and 3 squadrons.

HQ sqn has an SHQ, an AA troop, a scout troop, a mortar troop, an ATk troop and an admin troop.Each squadron has an SHQ, 3 scout troops and an assault troop.

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Each scout troop has a troop HQ, an armoured car section, and 2 carrier sections.

Offr OR pistol rifle SMG Bren AAMG ATR 2"mor

3"mor

2-pdr

RHQ

5 26 14 17 1 2

SHQ

2 3 2 3

AAtp

18 2 16 4 4

Scttp

1 39 23 17

Mor

tp1 44 4 41 3 6

ATtp

2 46 7 1 6

Admtp

2 55 5 72 1

3SHQ

2 26 3 25 1 1

3

asslttp

1 8 3 33 5 4 1

9

scouttp

HQ

1 4 3 2 1 1

9 a/csec

1 14 1 14 5 4

18

carrier

sec

9 9 3 1 1

Vehicles

73 motorcycles5 4-seater motor cars

42 15-cwt trucks5 15-cwt wireless trucks

64 15-cwt personnel trucks

2 15-cwt water trucks52 armoured cars (5 per a/c section)

6 3-ton lorries6 30-cwt portees (AT platoon)

63 Bren carriers (3 per carrier section)7 carriers fitted for 3-in mortar (mortar platoon)


It is stated that reconnaisance regiments has "recently adopted cavalry nomenclature" in 1943. 1 such

recce battalion would be assigned to an infantry division.

Reconnaissance regiment, June 1944

[Reynolds 97]

The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 recce squadrons.HQ squadron has 6 medium mortars and 8 6-pdr ATk guns.

Each recce squadron has an assault troop and 3 scout troops.

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Patrol, 49 Recconnaissance Regiment, 3rd October 1944

[WO232/36]

The patrol consists of 1 Armd C troop, 1 Carrier troop, 1 Assault troop and a 3-in mortar detachment.

The Armd C troop has 2 heacy armoured cars and 1 light recce car.

The Carrier troop has 2 sections, 1 of 3 carriers, 1 of 2 carrier plus 1 tp leader's carrier.


This source contains an account of an action fought by this patrol in the area AerleMaerle. It

mentions the use of mounted fire from the carriers, "sousing" areas with fire, a charge by the carriertroop, and the knocking out of a 20mm flak gun by a PIAT shot from 200 yards. The report concludes

"Carrier Tp, with assiatnce of Armd C Tp, had by then accounted for two 88m and three 20mm flak

guns, taken 6 PW and killed 7 Germans, They then went on with their next job."

Patrol, Long Range Desert Group, 1941

[Swinson 68]


Weapons include:11 MGs

4 ATRs1 37mm Bofors ATk gun

11 30-cwt trucks


This is the original establishment laid down by Major Ralph Bagnold (the original name of the

formation was Long Range Patrols). Later the patrol was halved in size, with a typical strength of 1

officer and 1518 men in 5 trucks. This source mentions a patrol using 2-in mortars in action.

Patrol, Long Range Desert Group, 1942

[Popski 50]The patrol has 5 30-cwt trucks trucks, each with 5 men.

Jeep patrol, SAS, July 1942

[Hunter 85]

The patrol has 18 jeeps and 68 Vickers 'K' MGs.


This force made the "great jeep raid" on Fuka airfield.

No. 1 Demolition Squadron, 15th November 1942

[Popski 50]

The rank structure of the squadron is:1 Major

1 Captain3 Subalterns

1 Sergeant

2 Corporals15 privates

The squadron has 4 armed jeeps and 2 3-ton trucks.


No.1 Demolition Squadron was the original and short-lived name of Popski's Private Army. The above

scale is as authorised by War Establishment ME WE 866/1. In fact, the strength of the unit at this date

was one man, Popski himself.

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Patrol, Popski's Private Army, 1943

[Popski 50]

The patrol has 5 armed jeeps, 1 Bren gun, 1 3-in mortar, 2 radio sets, mines and explosives.

Each jeep mounts 1 .30cal MMG and 1 .50cal HMG, with a crew of 2 or 3 men.Each man carries a .45 pistol and a carbine or tommy-gun.


Later in the war the number of jeeps per patrol was raised to 6, but otherwise this organisation was kept

until the end of the war.

Jeep squadron, 2 SAS, August 1944

[Hunter 85]

The squadron has 20 jeeps armed with Vickers 'K' guns.At one time the squadron was organised into 3 groups of 5, 8 and 7 jeeps.


This squadron under Roy Farran conducted extremely successful operations in conjunction with the

Maquis in the Loire valley. The source mentions dismounted use of a Bren and a 3-in mortar.

11th Independent Company, 1940

[Carman 88]

The company has a total strength of 115 men.


This was the last of the Independent Companies to be formed; in late 1940 they were formed into theSpecial Service Brigade, and from March 1941 became Army Commandos.

Army commando, 1940

[Saunders 49]

The commando has 10 troops.

Each troop has 2 sections.Rank structure of the Commando is:1 Lieutenant-Colonel

1 Major

10 Captains24 Subalterns

2 WO IIs42 Sergeants

81 Corporals122 Lance-Corporals

250 Privates

Army commando, 1943

[Chappell 96]

The commando has a Cdo HQ, a heavy weapons troop, and 5 numbered rifle troops.The heavy weapons troop numbers 39 all ranks, and has a 3-in mortar section and an MMG section.

Each rifle troop has a troop HQ and 2 sections.Troop HQ has an officer and 3 other ranks.

Each section has a section HQ and 2 sub-sections.Section HQ has an officer and 2 other ranks.

Each sub-section has 14 other ranks.

Elements of No. 6 Troop, No. 3 Commando, 19th August 1942

[Saunders 49]


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The troop's weapons are:1 3-in mortar with 4 bombs

1 2-in mortar with 6 bombs1 Bren

6 Thompson SMGs9 rifles

1 M-1 Garand3 pistols


This force under Maj Peter Young attacked the Goebbels battery at Berneval during the Dieppe

landings. It was landed from LCP 16 (Lt H. T. Buckee, RNVR), the only craft of No. 3 Commando toreach the beach. All were successfully extracted, one wounded by a mine.

Royal Marine commando, Mediterranean, 1943

[vdB & H 94]

Total strength is 400 all ranks, "but this was rarely achieved".

The commando has a Cdo HQ, a heavy weapons troop, a signals platoon and 5 numbered rifle troops.

The heavy weapons troop has a 3-in mortar section and an MMG section.Each rifle troop has a strength of 65 all ranks in 3 sections.Each section has a strength of 30 all ranks in 3 sub-sections of 10.

Royal Marine commando, NW Europe, 1944

[vdB & H 94]


The commando has a Cdo HQ, a heavy weapons troop, a signals section and 5 lettered rifle troops.Each rifle troop has a strength of 60 all ranks, with a troop HQ of 5 all ranks and 2 sections.

Each section has an HQ of 5 all ranks, 2 rifle sub-sections and a support sub-section.Each assault sub-section is 11 all ranks.

Each support sub-section is 5 all ranks.


Astute readers will note that these numbers do not quite add up; 2 sections of 27 men and a troop HQof 5 give a total strength of 59, not 60.

No. 46 (Royal Marine) Commando, Normandy, 1944

[Saunders 49]

The commando has a strength of 350 all ranks.


The source says that during the course of the campaign this was reduced to 200 all ranks.

Army and Royal Marine Commandos, 1st November 1944

[WO291/873]The following are the total strengths of Commandos participating in the Westkapelle assault on

Walcheren:

41 RM Commando 420 all ranks

47 RM Commando 387 all ranks48 RM Commando 432 all ranks

Elements of 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando 189 all ranks4 Commando About 512 all ranks, incl. French troops of 10 Cdo

Army or Royal Marine Commando, 1944

[Herman 77]

The commando has an HQ troop and 6 troops.HQ troop has 90 men, and weapons include:

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8 Brens3 PIATs

2 2-in mortarsEach troop has 63 men, and weapons include:

9 Brens3 PIATs

1 2-in mortar


The source states that a half to a third of the men in each troop are equipped with Sten guns.The "wiring diagram", showing an HQ immediately subordinate to HQ, suggests that Herman has

misunderstood the traditional British distinction between a company HQ and an HQ company.

Special Force (Chindit) column, 1944

[Mollo 81]

Total strength is 369 all ranks for a Gurkha column, 306 all ranks for a British one.

Each column has an RAF section, a medical section, a signals section, a sabotage group, a support

group, a Burma Rifles platoon and an infantry company.

Air Landing battalion, June 1944

[Crook 76]


Weapons include:12 MMGs

12 3-in mortars6 6-pdr ATk guns

Air Landing battalion, August 1944

[Forty 98]

The battalion has a support company, a an AA/ATk company, and 4 rifle companies.

The AA/ATk company has 2 AA platoons and 2 ATk platoons.Each AA platoon has 6 20mm guns.

Each ATk platoon has 4 6-pdr guns.

Each rifle company has 4 rifle platoons.

D Company, 2nd Battalion Ox & Bucks LI, 5th June 1944

[Ambrose 85]

The force has a total strength of 160 all ranks carried in 6 Horsa gliders.

The company has a Coy HQ and 4 rifle platoons.

Attached are 2 rifle platoons from B Coy, 20 sappers from 249 Field Coy (Airborne), and one MedicalOfficer.

Comments and correctionsThis force, under Major John Howard, seized Pegasus Bridge during the early morning of D-Day. It ishard to reconcile the numbers given at different places in this source. Poett's operation order, quoted in

an appendix, specifies 20 sappers, 5 in each of gliders 1 to 4, with gliders 5 and 6 each carrying 5 men

from Coy HQ; but the text specifies 30 sappers. The text also states that there were 30 to 31 men perglider, suggesting that the 160 total figure does not include 20 sappers; and that each rifle platoon had

to leave 3 men behind, due to weight considerations. Weapons are not specifies, but Brens, mortars

(which must be 2-in) and PIATs are mentioned.

Air landing battalions, 1st Airborne Division, September 1944

[Middle94]

This source gives the number of men flown in for each of the following battalions:

Brigade Battalion Strength (all ranks)

1st Airlanding Brigade 7th KOSB 765

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1st Border 7882nd South Staffordshires 767

X Troop, 11th Special Air Service Battalion, 10th February 1941

[Saunders 50]



This force, under Major T.A.G. Pritchard, destroyed Tragino aqueduct in the very first Britishparachute operation. The force attempted to evade in three groups, but were all captured. Fortunato

Picchi, an interpreter, was tortured and killed by Fascist militia after capture.

X Troop, 11th Special Air Service Battalion, 10th February 1941

[HMSO 45]



This source also states that a total of 800lbs of explosives were used, despite 2 containers failing todrop.

L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, 1941

[Hunter 85]



This is the original authorised strength of the SAS as formed by David Stirling. On 17 November a

drop was conducted in thoroughly unsuitable weather with 7 officers and 45 men. No enemy contactwas made, but only 4 officers and 18 men remained after a disastrous drop and a three-day march back

to their LRDG rendezvous.

C Company, 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 27th February 1942

[Saunders 50]

Total strength is 119 all ranks.The force is divided into three parties:

'Drake', with 50 men, including a sapper section.'Nelson', with 40 men.

'Rodney', with 30 men.


This force, under Major John Frost, raided Bruneval to capture German radar equipment. The parties

dropped in the order listed. 'Drake' was divided into two parties, one under Frost to attack the villa, oneunder Lt Peter Young to attack the radar.

C Company, 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 27th February 1942

[HMSO 45]

Total strength is 6 officers and 113 other ranks, including 9 sappers, 4 signallers, and the radio engineerspecialist Flight Sergeant . E W F Cox.

Elements of 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 12th February 1943

[Saunders 50]

Total strength is 360 all ranks.The force has an HQ element, a mortar platoon, and 2 rifle companies (B and C).

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This force, under Lt-Col Pine-Coffin, seized Bne airfield in Tunisia, narrowly winning the race

against German paratroopers, who saw their drop while themselves in the air and turned back.

Elements of 1 and 3 Para, Primosole Bridge, July 14th 1943

[HMSO 45]

Total strength is 120 men from 1 Para and 2 platoons from 3 Para.Weapons include:

2 3-in mortars1 Vickers MMG

3 PIATs


The Primosole bridge was seized on the night of 13th July by Captain Rann and 50 men from 1 Para.Above is shown the force that had gathered there by dawn on the following day.

Parachute battalion, June 1944

[Crook 76]

Total strength is 600 all ranks.The battalion has an MMG platoon, a 3-in mortar platoon and a 6-pdr ATk gun platoon.


This source says that after a few days in combat, most rifle sections had acquired a German LMG to

supplement the Bren, and mention is made of a platoon HQ party having both these weapons.

9 Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 6th June 1944

[HMSO 45]

Total strength is 150 all ranks, with companies numbering about 30.

The battalion has 1 MG, 20 lengths of Bangalore torpedo, and 6 medical orderlies.

Comments and correctionsThis force, under Col Terence Otway, successfully attacked the Merville battery in the early morning ofD-Day. Its strength should have been 600 men, with 3-in mortars, 6-pounder ATk guns, jeeps and mine

detectors, none of which arrived successfully. The account cited states that the guns of the battery were

"destroyed with gammon bombs", but this was not in fact so, and the battery went back into action afterthe Paras left.

9 Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 6th June 1944

[Crook 76]

Total strength is 150 all ranks.The battalion has 1 MMG, 20 lengths of Bangalore torpedo, and 6 medical orderlies.

Initially the battalion is organised as:An advance party, 30 men of A Coy

A diversionary party from ATk pl, and "half a fire group" under the CSM30 men from B Coy with bangalores

20 men from C CoyBn HQ, MO and 6 medical orderlies.

Later, B Coy is organised into 2 breaching parties each of 15 men and 10 bangalores;A and C Coys are organised into 4 assault groups of 12 men, one per gun.

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The strength of the battalion was 110 at 02.35, an hour and a half after the drop, reaching 150 at 02.50.

This account says that the success signal was given by 2-in mortar flare, so at least 1 of these must havebeen present.

Parachute battalion, August 1944

[Forty 98]

The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company and 3 rifle companies.

HQ Company has an admin platoon, two mortar platoons and an ATk platoon.Each mortar platoon has 4 3-in mortars.

The ATk platoon has 10 PIATs.Each rifle company has 3 rifle platoons.

Parachute battalions, 1st Airborne Division, September 1944

[Middle94]

This source gives the number of men flown in for each of the following battalions:

Brigade Battalion Strength (all ranks)

1st Parachute Brigade 1st Parachute Battalion 5482nd Parachute Battalion 5253rd Parachute Battalion 588

4th Parachute Brigade 156 Parachute Battalion 479 (possibly more)10th Parachute Battalion 582

11th Parachute Battalion 571

21st Independent Parachute Coy, 1st Airborne Division, September 1944

[Middle94]

Total strength flown in was 186 all ranks.

156 Battalion the Parachute Regiment, September 1944

[Powell 76]The battalion has an HQ company, a support company, and 3 rifle companies.The support company has a mortar platoon, a machine-gun platoon and a carrier platoon.

Each rifle company has 3 platoons.Each platoon has 3 sections.


The source shows the battalion still fighting in Oosterbeek reduced to an HQ and 2 rifle platoons.

Airborne armoured recce regiment, August 1944[Forty 98]

The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron, a support squadron and 2 recce squadrons.RHQ has 2 scout cars and 3 jeeps.

HQ squadron has an intercom troop, an admin troop and a seaborne party.The seaborne party includes 8 cruiser tanks.

The support squadron has a mortar troop, an infantry support troop, and two carrier troops.The mortar troop has 4 4.2-in mortars carried in jeeps.

The infantry support troop has 18 motorcycles and a jeep.Each carrier troop has 3 carriers.

Each recce squadron has a heavy troop and three recce troops.Each heavy troop has 4 light tanks.

Each recce troop has 2 universal carriers and 2 jeeps.

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1 airborne recce battalion would be assigned to an airborne division.

Royal Engineer field company, 1943

[C&E 75]

Total strength is 5 officers and 238 other ranks.The company has a Coy HQ and 3 sections.

Coy HQ has 2 officers and 46 other ranks.Each section has 1 officer and 64 other ranks.

Vehicles

1 bicycle

12 motorcycles5 8-cwt 4-wheel trucks (5-seater)

8 15-cwt trucks 4WD GS3 15-cwt 4-wheel compressor trucks

1 15-cwt 4-wheel water truck6 30-cwt 4-wheel lorries12 30-cwt 6-wheel lorries

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Royal Engineer field park company, 1943[C&E 75]


The company has a Coy HQ, a workshop section, a bridging section and a field stores section.Coy HQ has 2 officers and 31 other ranks.

The workshop section has 1 officer and 43 other ranks.

The bridging section has 51 other ranks.The field stores section has 1 officer and 28 other ranks.An RAOC light Aid Detachment is attached, with 13 other ranks.

Vehicles

1 bicycle

8 motorcycles1 4-wheel 4-seater motor car

2 8-cwt 4-wheel trucks2 15-cwt 4-wheel compressor trucks

7 30-cwt 4-wheel GS lorries

5 30-cwt 6-wheel GS lorries11 3-ton 6-wheel GS lorries

15 3-ton 6-wheel lorries

1 15-cwt 4-wheel water trailerROAC LAD:

1 Motorcycle1 2-seater 4-wheel car

2 3-ton 6-wheel lorries


For both this and the Field Coy, the Coy commander is shown separately in the original, but I haveincluded him under Coy HQ. Divisional engineers for an infantry division would consist of 3 field

companies and 1 field park company. It is stated that the "normal working strength" of the fieldcompany is 48 men in 4 subsections.

Royal Engineer field squadron, 1943

[C&E 75]


The squadron has an SHQ and 3 troops.SHQ has 3 officers and 32 other ranks.

Each troop has 1 officer and 82 other ranks, with a troop HQ, 2 armoured sections, and 2 unarmouredsections.

Vehicles

17 motorcycles

8 scout cars5 utility motor cars

27 15-cwt 4-wheel GS trucks3 15-cwt 4-wheel compressor trucks

1 15-cwt 4-wheel water truck3 30-cwt 6-wheel GS trucks

6 armoured demolition vehicles6 armoured personnel vehicles

Royal Engineer field park squadron, 1943

[C&E 75]


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Vehicle details for the field park squadron are not given in the original.

1 field park squadron and 2 field squadrons furnish the RE component of an armoured division.

9th (Airborne) Field Company RE, September 1944

[Middle94]

This source gives the number of men flown in as 194 all ranks.

144 Company Pioneers, 1 November 1944

[WO291/873]



This pioneer company landed in the Westkappelle assault on Walcheren, and suffered casualties when a

landing craft was mined.

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References

[Ambrose 85] Stephen Ambrose, "Pegasus Bridge", Unwin, 1985.[Blackburn 98] George Blackburn, "The Guns of Normandy", Constable, 1998.

[Carman 88] William Carman, "The Distinctions of Army Commandos, 19401945", part I,Military Illustrated magazine no. 10, Dec/Jan 1988.

[C&E 75] Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis,"Handbook on the British Army, 1943", MilitaryBook Society, 1975. This is an edited reprint of the US Army manual TM30-410,

originally issued in 1943.[Chappell 96] Mike Chappell,"Army Commandos 194045", Osprey Elite series no. 64, Reed

Books, 1996.

[Crook 76] Napier Crookenden, "Dropzone Normandy", Ian Allan Ltd., 1976.

[Ellis 93] John Ellis, "The World War II Databook", Aurum Press, 1993.

[F-Hockley 76] Anthony Farrar-Hockley, "Infantry Tactics 19391945", Almark, 1976.

[Forty 98] George Forty, "British Army Handbook 1939-45", Alan Sutton, 1998.

[Herman 77] Mark Herman, "Raid! Commando Operations in the 20th Century", Strategy &Tactics magazine No. 64, 1977.

[HMSO 45] "By Air to Battle", HMSO, 1945.

[Hunter 85] Robin Hunter, "True Stories of the SAS", Virgin, 1985.[Jary 94] Sydney Jary, "18 Platoon" (3rd edn), Syndey Jary, 1994.

[Kamps 91] Charles Kamps, "Singapore: The Campaign for Malaysia 8 Dec 194115 Feb 1942",

Strategy & Tactics magazine No. 85, 1981.[Lincoln 94] John Lincoln, "Thank God and the Infantry", Alan Sutton, 1994.[Messenger 82] Charles Messenger, "The Tunisian Campaign", Ian Allan, 1982.

[Middle 94] Martin Middlebrook, "Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle", Viking, 1994.[Mollo 81] Andrew Mollo, "The Armed Forces of World War II", Orbis, 1981.

[Popski 50] Vladimir Peniakoff, "Popski's Private Army", The reprint society 1953, originallypublished by Jonathan Cap 1950.

[Powell 76] Geoffrrey Powell, "Men at Arnhem", Leo Cooper, 1976 and 1998, originallypublished under the pseudonym "Tom Angus".

[Reynolds 97] Michael Reynolds, "Steel Inferno", Spellmount, 1997.

[Saunders 49] Hilary St. George Saunders, "The Green Beret" (new edition), NEL 1971, originally

published 1949 by Michael Joseph.

[Saunders 50] Hilary St. George Saunders, "The Red Beret" (new edition), NEL 1971, originally

published 1950 by Michael Joseph.[Swinson 68] Arthur Swinson, "The Raiders: Desert Strike Force", Pan/Ballantine, 1968.

[vdB & H 94] Nick van der Bijl and Paul Hannon, "The Royal Marines 193993", Osprey Elite

series no. 57, Reed Books, 1994.

[White 78] B. T. White, "British Tank Markings and Names", Arms & Armour, 1978.[WO171/1386] PRO document WO171/1368, War Diary of 1/7 Queen's for 1944.

[WO232/36] AFV Policy.[WO232/95] 79th Armoured Divison Final Report.

[WO291/873] PRO document WO291/873, Battle study on the Westkappelle assault at Walcheren.[WO291/986] PRO document WO291/986, The operational effectiveness of the flamethrower tank

(Crocodile).[Zaloga 80] Steven Zaloga, "Blitzkrieg: Armour Camouflage and Markings, 19391940", Arms &

Armour, 1980.

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