War Diary 1614 Artillery Platoon (Heavy) - August 1944

Discussion in 'RASC' started by Tom OBrien, Jun 14, 2015.

  1. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi, I thought I'd paste this as it demonstrates what the often mentioned changeover from an artillery war to a petrol war actual meant for the RASC (WO171/2585):

    Well, I would have pasted it but the cut and paste function appears not to be working? :(

    I'll try again later.

    Tom
     
  2. hutt

    hutt Member

    Tom

    I'd be keen to see this.

    I find that cutting and pasting into ww2talk is a waste of time with IE (currently have IE11 installed).

    If I need to add anything to a thread that involves lifting any text from another source I will simply fire up Chrome which seems to work with no issues.

    Graham
     
  3. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    1 August 1944 Le Mesnil de Ducy
    0800 15 cwt vehicle despatched to 205 C.R.C. to collect one reinforcement.
    1200 360 rds 5.5” 80 lb shell delivered to 10 Med Regt R.A.
    360 rds 5.5” 80 lb shell delivered to 121 Med Regt R.A.
    Vehicles replenished at F.M.C.
    1845 360 rds 5.5” 100 lb delivered to 10 Med Regt RA.
    Vehicles replenished at CRASC AP.
    2100 540 rds 5.5” 100 lb delivered to 10 Med Regt RA.
    Vehicles replenished at CRASC AP.

    2 August 1944 Le Mesnil de Ducy
    Day of maintenance + make + mend.
    1925 480 rds 5.5” 100 lb delivered to 10 Med Regt RA.
    2000 540 rds 5.5” 100 lb delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    Vehicles replenished at F.M.C.

    3 August 1944 Le Mesnil de Ducy
    0105 576 rds 80 lb shell 5.5” + 400 fuze 222b delivered to 10 Med.
    0530 11 x 3 ton vehs leave for FMC to collect 72 x 80 lb shell each.
    0545 420 rds 100 lb shell 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1115 540 rds 100 lb 5.5” + 360 rds 80 lb 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1145 144 rds 80 lb 5.5” delivered to B Echelon 10 Med Regt RA.
    1445 840 rds 100 lb 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    2210 540 rds 100 lb 5.5” delivered to 10 Med Regt RA.

    4 August 1944 Le Mesnil de Ducy
    0800 432 rds 80 lb 5.5” delivered to 84 Med Regt RA.
    1210 New location recce’d north of + adjacent to Caumont.
    1615 240 rds 100 lb 5.5” delivered to 121 med Regt RA.
    1615 New location at Caumont occupied by Platoon.
    2140 360 rds 100 lb shell 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.


    5 August 1944 Caumont
    0955 620 x 2nd Charge 5.5” collected from 5 AGRA AP.
    1045 240 rds 100 lb 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1640 48 + 14 [48414?] 222B Fuzes collected from 5 AGRA
    2200 400 rds 3.7” plus 117 fuzes sent to 1619 Pl + 4 x 3 ton loads of 5.5” ammo collected.

    6 August 1944 Caumont
    0800 Capt. J.C. Bamber did recce for new location – one picked near Breuil MR 768527.
    1100 840 rds 5.5” 100 lb dispatched to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1400 480 rds 5.5” 100 lb + 360 rds 5.5” 80 lb delivered to 121 Med.
    1500 Report Centre opened at new location [Breuil].
    2000 360 rds 5.5” 80 lb collected from 5 AGRA A.P.

    7 August 1944 Breuil
    0200 20 x 3 ton loaded 60 rds 5.5” 100 lb each report in to new location.
    1055 360 rds 5.5” 80 lb sent to 10 Med Regt RA.
    1835 1080 rds 5.5” 100 lb sent to 121 Med Regt RA.

    8 August 1944 Breuil
    0500 All vehicles reported in after replenishing at F.M.C.
    1010 640 x 222B Fuzes delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1150 Transport sent to C.R.C. to collect 1 Cpl reinforcement.
    1200 780 rds 5.5” 100 lb delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1900 2nd line holdings dumped on ground + vehicles despatched to 152 F.M.C. to replenish.
    2200 840 rds 5.5” 100 lb collected by 121 Med Regt RA from Platoon location.
    2330 152 F.M.C. state error in ammo state of 3000 rds + vehicles must replenish at B.A.D.

    9 August 1944 Breuil
    0300 480 rds 5.5” 100 lb + 360 rds 5.5” 80 lb collected by 121 Med Regt RA in unit transport from Platoon location.
    0730 27 x 3 ton each loaded 60 rds 5.5” 100 lb return from 15 B.A.D.
    0745 1620 rds 5.5” 100 lb despatched to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1130 27 x 3 ton arrived 152 F.M.C. to collect 1620 rds 5.5” 100 lb.
    1400 300 rds 5.5” 100 lb despatched to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1745 5 x 3 ton despatched to 1619 Platoon to collect 360 rds 80 lb 5.5” ammo.
    2000 360 rds 80 lb 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    2100 660 rds 100 lb 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.

    10 August 1944 Breuil
    0300 Vehicles returned to location reloaded from 152 F.M.C.
    0800 360 rds 80 lb 5.5” delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1200 5 x 3 ton loaded total 360 rds 80 lb 5.5” returned to location after replenishing from 152 F.M.C.
    Afternoon of rest as personnel very tired from 3 days non-stop deliveries – morale high + all willing to go on to help push back the Hun.
    1340 180 x 4½ galls M.T.80 collected from 152 F.M.C. to complete 2nd line Holdings.

    11 August 1944 Breuil
    0730 660 rds 5.5” 100 lb + 240 rds 5.5” 80 lb delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    0900 Capt. J.C. Bamber R.A.S.C. completes recce for new location. One is chosen at Ondefontaine approx 4 miles S. of Aunay.
    1400 Platoon established in new location [Ondefontaine].
    1515 One O.R. [??] reinfr. [sic] collected from 205 C.R.C.
    1530 840 rds 5.5” 100 lb delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.

    12 August 1944 Ondefontaine
    Morning without details – time spent in maintenance of vehs + equipment.
    1000 Parade for inspection of A.G. Capes + equipment + personal arms.
    2000 360 rds 5.5 (80 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    2100 120 rds 5.5 (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    2120 480 pts HD.50 + 440 pts C.600 issued to P.P. 5 AGRA.

    13 August 1944 Ondefontaine
    0600 640 fuzes 222B delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1000 990 rds 5.5” 100 lb + 98 fuzes 119 collected from 152 F.M.C.
    1105 420 fuzes 222B collected from A.P. 5 AGRA.
    1340 216 rds 5.5 (80 lb) + 360 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1400 120 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1510 640 fuzes 222B delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1835 60 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.

    14 August 1944 Ondefontaine
    0630 840 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1615 420 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1710 360 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    1830 900 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    2300 All vehicles returned to location replenished.

    15 August 1944
    0900 Capt. J.C. Bamber R.A.S.C. recce’s for new location. One chosen on side of Mont Pincon at le Plessis Grimoult.
    1305 Transport sent to collect an officer replacement.
    1630 New location occupied [le Plessis Grimoult].
    1700 Lt. D.E. Barlow R.A.S.C. joins platoon.
    2045 600 rds (100 lb) + 475 rds 5.5” (80 lb) delivered to 121 Med.

    16 August 1944 le Plessis Grimoult
    Morning of maintenance.
    1330 98 x 14 Fuzes 222B collected from 152 F.M.C.
    2000 180 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    2015 Capt. J.C. Bamber R.A.S.C. recce’s new location + sites one at Tremblay, south east of le Plessis Grimoult.

    17 August 1944 Tremblay
    0800 Platoon occupies new location.
    Morning of maintenance.
    1245 76 x 14 boxes of 222B Fuzes collected from 152 F.M.C.

    18 August 1944 Tremblay
    Day of maintenance in preparation for the big chase – all ranks in good spirits.

    19 August 1944 Tremblay
    1400 Platoon moved under arrangements of 725 Arty Coy R.A.S.C. to location east of Athis.
    2100 Platoon arrived at harbouring area [Athis].

    20 August 1944 Athis
    Day of maintenance.
    2200 Received orders to prepare to move.
    2230 Platoon ready to move at five minutes notice.

    21 August 1944 Athis
    1300 Platoon ordered to move to Sarceaux south of Argentan.
    1800 Platoon in location [Sarceaux].

    22 August 1944 Sarceaux
    0930 Platoon ordered to move to location N.W. of Noraut le Pin [??], near to St. Anastore [??].
    2220 Platoon occupies new location [St. Anastore?].

    23 August 1944 St. Anastore [?]
    0900 240 rds 5.5” (80 lb), 120 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med.
    1400 Platoon ordered to move to location S. of Laigle.
    2200 Roads being blocked Platoon harboured for the night 12 miles west of Laigle.

    24 August 1944
    0700 Journey to Laigle continued.
    0930 Location S. of Laigle occupied.
    2150 Platoon holding of supplies made up to 5 day for 121 Med Regt RA and 7 days for Platoon.
    2230 Vehicle which overturned at le Plessis Grimoult on 23 Aug now recovered by W/S 725 Coy R.A.S.C. – vehicle B.L.R. – no personnel in hospital.

    25 August 1944 Laigle
    1100 Platoon leaves location to move to location near Vernon with 121 Med Regt RA.
    1900 Platoon occupies location [Vernon].
    2000 960 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.

    26 August 1944 Vernon
    1000 840 rds 5.5” (100 lb) + 160 rds 5.5” (80 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    Day spent in maintenance.

    27 August 1944 Vernon
    0900 840 rds 5.5” (100 lb) delivered to 121 Med Regt RA.
    Vehicles replenished from No 4 2nd Army RoadHead West of Rugles.

    28 August 1944 Vernon
    Day of maintenance + make + mend – weather good.
    2200 All holdings of petrol + ammunition dumped in 156 F.M.C.

    29 August 1944 Vernon
    0600 30 x 3 ton left to collect loads under orders of C.R.A.S.C. 30 Corps Tps.
    Vehicles reported to Rugles + then to No 4 2nd Army R.H. arriving there at 1700 hrs.

    30 August 1944 Vernon
    1100 30 x 3 ton report back to location loaded with P.O.L. + reinforcements for 205 C.R.C.
    1700 Vehs return to location after dumping loads in 156 F.M.C.

    31 August 1944 Vernon
    0600 Vehs leave to report to C.R.A.S.C. 30 Corps Tps (30 x 3 ton).
    0830 Vehs report – detail to collect 24,300 galls M.T.80.
    1545 Received at 1545 hrs.
    2100 Vehs report to 156 F.M.C. for off loading + were sent to Petrol Depot at 2300 hrs.

    1 September 1944 Vernon
    0330 Vehicles report back to location empty.
    0600 30 x 3 ton vehicles sent to CRASC 30 CORPS TROOPS at RUGLES.
    0850 30 x 3 ton vehicles report to CRASC 30 CORPS TROOPS.
    1700 Detail to collect 4800 jerricans of MT 80.
    2300 30 x 3 ton returned to location – vehicles reloaded to allow 2 x 3 ton to report to W/shops 725 Coy RASC.
     
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  4. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Graham,

    Thanks for interest. Hope that it was worth the wait. The wonders of having an old laptop hanging around. :biggrin:

    Cheers

    Tom
     
  5. hutt

    hutt Member

    Tom

    Thank you for posting this. It is interesting to see how a unit with similar responsibilities to my Fathers RASC unit was operating in NW Europe rather than Italy.

    Interestingly, your diary has many references next to the numbers of rounds of shells stating what I assume is the weight. For a considerable period my Fathers unit supplied the 70th Medium Regiment (4.5") but there is not a single reference to weight (if thats what it is) in any entry.

    I think I might do a similar post to yours. It is all transcribed into an Excel spread sheet so it should not take too long just a bit fiddly!
     
  6. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Hutt
    The BL 4.5 Medium Gun How fired a Standard HE Shell of 55lbs inc fuse.
    With a charge 3, Max Range 20.500 yds

    Rob
     
  7. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hutt,
    I don't know whether the 4.5" had different weights of ammunition. What we need is a gunner to tell us. Sheldrake?

    Regards

    Tom
     

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