TANK BATTALION Originally trained and equipped for infantry support tank battalions were by 1945 used in the same roles as armoured regiments and by the end of the campaign had adopted the same organisation, and the same name. Some regiments were equipped with flame throwing Churchill Crocodile tanks. TANK BATTALION TANK REGIMENT Tank Regiment. War Establishment II/154/2. November 1943 The tank regiment had started as a unit which would operate in small groups in support of infantry. The early war infantry tanks were well armoured to allow them to go out onto the battlefield but were armed only with machine guns and acted as mobile pill boxes. Later the infantry tank was intended to be more aggressive. The tank was armed with machine guns as secondary armament but carried 2pdr, 6pdr or 75mm guns in their turret. These tanks were intended to assault an enemy position and hold it while the infantry came up and formed a defensive position. In Normandy this was soon shown to be impracticable. Tanks advancing by them selves were very vulnerable to all manner of anti tank weapon including the hand held rocket launchers. Thus infantry attacked to clear away the enemy so that the tanks could follow. Eventually tank regiments developed much the same sort of all arm combat team that armoured regiments were using and the distinction between the two types of regiment all but disappeared. Another factor in the gradual convergence of the armoured regiment and the tank regiment was that there were not sufficient Churchill tanks to equip all the infantry support units. There were at least as many such units equipped with Sherman tanks as there were those equipped with Churchill. At the same time there were two brigades worth of Churchill tanks in specialist roles. Many older marks, MkIII and MkIV were converted to Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers and were used to equip three Assault Regiments Royal Engineers. 31 Armoured Brigade became a Crocodile equipped unit and this used only Churchill MkVII. As a result of the Standardisation Conference in January 1945 the tank regiments and tank brigades were renamed as armoured regiments and armoured brigades and the only difference then was the equipment used. There seems only to have been one relevant War Establishment before that of May 1945. This was War Establishment II/154/2 with an effective date of 30 November 1943. This was modified before D Day and modified again during the late summer/autumn of 1944.The November 1943 establishment gave the tank regiment two OP tanks and eleven light tanks. The OP tanks were removed in March 1944 and replaced by a pool of eight OP tanks at Brigade Headquarters. Although the official War Establishment tables give tank regiments an organisation of five troops of three tanks each this was in fact changed early in the campaign. Since squadrons often operated as half squadrons it was more sensible to have four troops of four tanks each, although at first one troop had only three tanks. War Diaries and memoirs mention this and it is known that the 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards of 6th Guards Tank Brigade changed to the new organisation on 21st August 1944. Presumably other units changed as convenient at around the same time. The next published War Establishment was that for the standard armoured brigade issued as a result of the Standardisation Conference. Dated May 1945 it was actually notified and made effective on that date. But it had been in use by 21 Army Group since February/March. This is the establishment used in Churchill equipped units in 1945 and is very similar to earlier establishments. The changes were largely confined to replacing earlier vehicle types, which had been found to be inadequate, with improved types. Thus the 15 cwt office truck was replaced by a larger 3ton office lorry. The overworked and overloaded Carrier, Starting and Charging was replaced by a 3ton 4 X 4 Machinery I battery charging lorry. 15cwt personnel, either 4 X 2 or 4 X 4 armoured, trucks were replaced by halftracks. TANK REGIMENT War Establishment II/154/2. November 1943 Total personnel Lieutenant colonel Major, second in command 4 X Major Captain, adjutant Captain, Technical Officer Captain Liaison Officer 8 X Captain 20 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant Quartermaster Serjeant, technical Mechanist Quartermaster Serjeant Squadron Serjeant Major 4 X squadron quartermaster serjeant 4 X serjeant mechanist orderly room serjeant clerk provost serjeant signal serjeant transport serjeant serjeant technical storeman 29 X serjeant 59 X corporal 523 X trooper Total 670 Plus Medical Officer RAMC 3 X armourer REME 4 X officer’s mess cooks ACC 15 X cook ACC 6 X vehicle mechanic REME Trades included carpenter and joiner 13 X clerk 94 X driver mechanics 103 X driver operator 5 X electrician equipment repairer gun fitter 92 X gunner mechanics 89 X gunner operator 6 X storeman (technical) 39 X vehicle mechanics 22 X batman butchery dutyman 90 X driver IC medical orderly 6 X motorcycle orderly postman 5 X sanitary dutyman 5 X storeman 4 X water dutyman Total vehicles 8 X motorcycle 1 X Car 4seater 4 X 4 11 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 jeep 6 X 15cwt GS 4 X 15cwt water 1 X 15cwt FFW 15 X 15cwt halftrack 47 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS 5 X 3ton 6 X 4 stores 1 X 3ton office 4 X 3ton machinery I30 4 X 3ton kitchen 12 X scout car 6 X AA tan 6 X Churchill close support tank 55 X Churchill tank 11 X light tank 3 X armoured recovery vehicles 1 X 180 gallon water trailer 3 X 2ton trailer workshop servicing This organisation applied to the following units in 21 Army Group. All Churchill equipped regiments were part of Independent Tank Brigades, which were renamed Independent Armoured Brigades in February 1945. 4 Tank Battalion Grenadier Guards 6 Guards Tank Brigade 4 Tank Battalion Coldstream Guards 6 Guards Tank Brigade 3 Tank Battalion Scots Guards 6 Guards Tank Brigade 7 Battalion Royal Tank Regiment 31 Tank Brigade 9 Battalion Royal Tank Regiment 31 Tank Brigade then 34 Tank Brigade 107 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp 34 Tank Brigade 141 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp 31 Tank Brigade 147 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp 34 Tank Brigade 153 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp 34 Tank Brigade In September 1944 31 Tank Brigade became a part of 79 Armoured Division and the brigade then had only two Churchill equipped regiments, both with Churchill Crocodile flame throwing tanks. 1 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry 31 Tank Brigade 79 Armoured Division 7 Royal Tank Regiment 31 Tank Brigade 79 Armoured Division Organisation. Regimental Headquarters. Car 4 seater 4 X 4 Subaltern, corporal driver IC, driver IC 15cwt halftrack driver IC Churchill Tank 1 (control) Lieutenant Colonel, serjeant, driver mechanic, gunner operator, driver operator. Carries 2 X Wireless set No19 Churchill Tank 2 (Rear Link) Major, Regimental Serjeant Major, operator RS, corporal driver mechanic, gunner Operator Carries 2 X Wireless set No19 Churchill Tank 3 Intelligence Officer, driver mechanic, corporal gunner operator, driver operator, gunner mechanic Churchill Tank 4 Adjutant, serjeant, gunner operator, driver mechanic, driver operator From August 1944 three of the headquarters tanks were transferred to squadron headquarters, leaving only one tank at regimental headquarters. However according to some references an Armoured Command Vehicle was provided to accommodate the regimental staff. This is not shown on the establishment of the Royal Signals section. It may in fact have been a halftrack since such vehicles were used by Armoured/Tank Brigade Headquarters in 1945. The December 1943 War establishment lists the following Observation Post Tanks. These were removed before the campaign in NW Europe started. Tank Observation Post 1 serjeant, driver mechanic, driver operator, gunner mechanic, Tank Observation Post 2 driver mechanic, gunner operator, corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic Each Observation Post Tank had a seat for an observation officer Royal Artillery. Headquarters Squadron. Squadron headquarters. Car 4 seater 4 X 4 Major (squadron commander), Squadron Serjeant Major, corporal clerk, driver IC Car 15cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) Captain Liaison Officer, batman driver Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt FFW Captain (squadron second in command), 2 X driver operator Carries a Wireless set No19. AA troop AA Tank 1 Subaltern, driver mechanic, gunner operator, driver operator AA Tank 2 serjeant, driver mechanic, gunner operator, driver operator AA Tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic AA Tank 4 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic AA Tank 5 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic AA Tank 5 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic AA tank 6 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic Reconnaissance troop Troop headquarters Light tank 1 Subaltern, driver mechanic, gunner operator, driver operator Light tank 2 serjeant, driver mechanic, gunner operator, driver operator Section 1 Light tank 3 serjeant, driver mechanic, gunner operator, gunner mechanic Light tank 4 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic Light tank 5 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic Section 2 Light tank 6 serjeant, driver mechanic, gunner operator, gunner mechanic Light tank 7 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic Light tank 8 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic Section 3 Light tank 9 serjeant, driver mechanic, gunner operator, gunner mechanic Light tank 10 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic Light tank 11 corporal driver operator, gunner mechanic, gunner operator, driver mechanic Intercommunication troop Scout Car 1 Subaltern, driver operator Scout Car 2 serjeant, driver operator Scout Car 3 driver operator, corporal driver IC Scout car 4 driver operator, driver IC Scout car 5 driver operator, driver IC Scout car 6 driver operator, driver IC Scout Car 7 driver operator, driver IC Scout Car 8 driver operator, driver IC Scout Car 9 Technical Officer, driver operator, Note that the 1943 tank regiment establishment listed three extra Scout Cars. It is thought that these were added for liaison between squadron headquarters and infantry units. In this case there would be no need to add three scout cars for use in squadron headquarters in early 1945 since these already existed. Administrative troop Motorcycle 1 provost serjeant Motorcycle 2 corporal motorcyclist Motorcycle 3 motorcyclist Motorcycle 4 motorcyclist Motorcycle 5 motorcyclist Motorcycle 6 motorcyclist Motorcycle 7 motorcyclist Motorcycle 8 motorcyclist Motorcycle 9 motorcyclist Motorcycle 10 motorcyclist Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 1 driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 2 driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 3 driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 4 driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep) 5 driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 6 driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep) 7 driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 8 driver IC 15cwt truck GS 1 Mechanist Quarter Master Serjeant, 2 X vehicle mechanic, driver IC 15cwt truck GS 2 transport serjeant, batman, relief gunner operator, 4 X relief gunner mechanic 15cwt truck GS 3 2 X batman, cook ACC (officers mess), driver IC Carries officers mess equipment 15cwt truck GS 4 signal serjeant, 3 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess baggage and rations. 15cwt truck GS 5 Quartermaster, driver IC 15cwt truck GS 6 medical officers orderly Carries medical stores 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 15cwt halftrack 1 mechanist serjeant, 2 X vehicle mechanic, driver operator Carries fitters and tools Carries a Wireless set No19 15cwt halftrack 2 3 X relief driver mechanic, 3 X relief gunner operator, driver IC 15cwt Halftrack Medical Officer, driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt halftrack driver IC For the collection of casualties 15cwt halftrack driver IC For the collection of casualties 3ton 4 X 4 GS 1 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, Technical Quartermaster Serjeant, corporal clerk, technical storeman, driver IC Carries anti gas stores Tows a 20mm AA gun. 3ton 4 X 4 GS 2 batman, driver IC Carries petrol 3ton 4 X 4 GS 3 relief serjeant, driver IC Carries petrol 3ton 4 X 4 GS 4 relief corporal driver operator, driver IC Carries petrol 3ton 4 X 4 GS 5 relief corporal driver operator, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 6 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 7 batman, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 8 clerk, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 9 clerk, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 10 clerk, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 11 serjeant technical storeman, corporal technical storeman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries MT stores Tows a 20mm AA trailer 3ton 4 X 4 GS 12 serjeant armourer REME, lance corporal armourer REME, armourer REME, carpenter and joiner, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries armourers and carpenters tools plus mens kit 3ton 4 X 4 GS 13 storeman, postman, equipment repairer, batman, driver IC Carries baggage and blankets Tows a 1ton trailer 3ton 4 X 4 GS for use as Office serjeant clerk, corporal clerk, driver IC 3ton 4 X 4 Kitchen squadron quartermaster serjeant, serjeant cook, 2 X cook, butchery dutyman, storeman, clerk, driver IC 3ton 6 X 4 store 6 X vehicle mechanic, technical storeman, driver IC Carries stores and vehicle mechanics tools. Carrier, Starting and Charging electrician, driver mechanic The Squadrons. Each of the three squadrons was organised identically. Squadron headquarters This contained the vehicles and personnel essential to the command and control of the squadron in action. All headquarters tanks were connected on one wireless net via the Wireless set No19 B set while they all had a different net via the Wireless set No19 A set. These connected with regimental headquarters, B echelon and the troops. Two of the headquarters tanks were close support, which meant that they were equipped with a howitzer instead of an anti tank gun. The howitzer could be used to lob high explosive onto enemy positions that might hold up an advance. These tanks were generally used by the Commanding Officer and the Second in Command. They had more room inside since the howitzer did not extend so far into the turret space. The Second Captain also used a scout car. He was at times called the Battle Captain or the Reconnaissance Officer. His roles included - going ahead of the squadron when it moved from one location to the other and selected sites for the squadrons vehicles and routes to them. - Acting as liaison with the infantry which the squadron was supporting. For both of these tasks a scout car would usually be more convenient than a tank. There was also an Observation Post Tank attached to squadron headquarters. When it was the role of tank regiments to support infantry attacks there was an artillery observer at squadron headquarters in order to call down artillery support for the armour and infantry. This role was regarded as so important that if the Royal Artillery Observer should become a casualty his place could be taken by the Battle Captain or the Second in Command, both of whom were trained in the role. As the campaign progressed all armoured brigades held a pool of tanks for the observers. A or Fighting Portion Churchill Tank Close Support Major (squadron commander), serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, driver mechanic Churchill Tank Close Support Captain, Squadron Serjeant Major, driver operator, gunner operator, driver mechanic Churchill Tank Captain, driver mechanic, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, corporal driver operator Scout car relief gunner mechanic, driver operator. For the use of the Reconnaissance Officer Armoured Recovery Vehicle MkI serjeant vehicle mechanic REME, vehicle mechanic REME, vehicle mechanic, driver mechanic From August 1944 Squadron Headquarters received an extra tank from Regimental Headquarters. This allowed half squadrons with a headquarters of two tanks and two troops of four tanks each to be deployed. B or Administrative Portion Car 4 seat 4 X 4 squadron quartermaster serjeant, batman, driver IC 15cwt truck GS 3 X batman, driver IC Carries officers mess equipment 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC 15cwt halftrack mechanist serjeant, 2 X vehicle mechanic, driver operator (relief) Carries a Wireless set No19 15cwt halftrack relief gunner mechanic, 4 X relief gunner operator, relief driver operator, driver IC 15cwt halftrack serjeant, 2 X relief driver mechanic, 2 X relief driver operator 3ton 4 X 4 GS 1 vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 2 vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 3 sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 4 relief gunner mechanic, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 5 relief gunner mechanic, driver IC Carries ammunition 3ton 4 X 4 GS 6 vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries petrol 3ton 4 X 4 GS 7 corporal clerk, driver IC Carries petrol 3ton 4 X 4 GS 8 clerk, driver IC Carries petrol 3ton 4 X 4 GS 9 serjeant storeman, driver IC Carries baggage and blankets. Tows a 1ton trailer 3ton 4 X 4 GS10 2 X gunner mechanic (relief), driver IC 3ton 4 X 4 Kitchen corporal cook ACC, 4 X cook ACC, driver IC Carries rations 3ton 6 X 4 stores corporal storeman technical, 4 X vehicle mechanic Carries stores and mechanics tools. Carrier, Starting and Charging. electrician, driver mechanic The fighting troop. Officially the organisation remained that of five troops of three tanks per squadron. In fact all tank units in 21 Army Group changed to the organisation giving four troops each of four tanks. These changes were made from August 1944 and were aimed at allowing half squadrons to be deployed in support of infantry units. Since the reorganisation had to use the fifteen tanks already available in the squadron one troop had at first only three tanks. Troop 1 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Troop 2 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Troop 3 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Troop 4 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Troop 5 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic OR From August 1944 Troop 1 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 4 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Troop 2 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 4 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Troop 3 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 4 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Troop 4 Churchill tank 1 Subaltern, corporal driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 2 serjeant, driver operator, gunner operator, gunner mechanic, driver mechanic Churchill tank 3 corporal driver operator, gunner operator, 2 X gunner mechanic, driver mechanic The CHURCHILL TANK. The Churchill MkIII and MkIV represented the second generation of Churchill. These were designed to carry the 6pdr anti tank gun as a main armament with a co axial machine gun and a hull machine gun. These marks also introduced the full length track covers which were absent on earlier marks. MkIII had a welded turret while MkIV had a cast turret. The MkIV offered slightly more protection. But the shortage of production facilities meant that relatively few MkIV were produced. Churchill MkV was the close support version of the MkIII and carried a 95mm howitzer. Churchill MkVI was the MkIV fitted with a 75mm gun. Some of the older MkIV were modified to MkVI standard. Most Churchill tanks going into NW Europe had been reworked to some extent and those with major re working were given new Mark numbers. MkIII or MkIV tanks fitted with appliqué armour plating to approximately MkVII standard were known as MkIX. Some MkVI were similarly up armoured and fitted with the turret designed for the MkVII thus becoming MkX. MkV tanks which were uparmoured and fitted with the new turret became MkXI. There were other variations which did not justify a new mark number. Some were fitted with 75mm guns but retained the older turret. Some had older turrets fitted with cupolas from the new turret. These earlier Marks of Churchill remained in production until early 1945 and remained in service until the end of the war, and after. Churchill MkVII was the third generation. Although looking very similar to the earlier versions it was redesigned in almost every respect. The hull was redesigned so that it was made of single layer armour with a maximum thickness of 152mm. This compares with the 102mm maximum of the MkIII and MkIV. The hull was also slightly wider. These changes increased the weight to 40 tons and reduced the speed to 12mph. Many would think it a good trade off. The old square escape doors of the earlier marks were replaced by circular ones which eliminated a weak point in the hull. The new tank had a new turret. This was of composite construction, containing both cast and welded parts, cast on the sides and welded for the roof. A new low cupola was also fitted. Churchill MkVIII was the close support version of the MkVII and carried the 95mm howitzer. This Mark was produced in only small numbers and there would be few, if any, in NW Europe. The 75mm gun could fire high explosive so, much as in Sherman units, the CS version was redundant. Many units welcomed the retention of some older Churchill tanks with the 6pdr gun. The 75mm had the advantage of being able to fire anti tank and high explosive rounds but the 6pdr was issued with APDS ammunition which gave it a greatly improved anti tank performance. There was no equivalent of the 17pdr armed Sherman Firefly or Challenger for issue to tank regiments. Such a vehicle was envisaged and produced in prototype form. This was the Black Prince but it was not ready before the end of hostilities and was in line with the then current thinking. It became usual for a tank regiment to be accompanied by 17pdr armed Achilles M10A1 Tank Destroyers. These gave anti tank cover to the Churchills when they were advancing, and then moved up to provide anti tank defence for the infantry until towed weapons could be brought up. The Achilles was never a part of the tank regiment but often troops and batteries worked with the same squadrons and regiments for long periods of time. The interiors of all tanks were cramped and contained a wide variety of articles, all stowed in the correct place. Usually special stowage was provided to prevent loose articles rolling or flying about. The Churchill was roomier than most British tanks but still cramped. Markings. Tank Regiments carried a green Arm of Service square with numerals in white. 6 Guards Tank Brigade Brigade Headquarters Green square with 151 in white, white bar underneath 4 Tank Battalion Grenadier Guards Green square with 152 in white, white bar underneath 4 Tank Battalion Coldstream Guards Green square with 153 in white, white bar underneath 3 Tank Battalion Scots Guards Green square with 154 in white, white bar underneath 31 Tank Brigade Brigade Headquarters Green square with 990 in white, white bar underneath 7 Battalion Royal Tank Regiment Green square with 991 in white, white bar underneath 9 Battalion Royal Tank Regiment Green square with 992 in white, white bar underneath 141 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp Green square with 993 in white, white bar underneath 34 Tank Brigade Brigade Headquarters Green square with 155 in white, white bar underneath 107 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp Green square with 156 in white, white bar underneath 147 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp Green square with 157 in white, white bar underneath 153 Regiment Royal Armoured Corp Green square with 158 in white, white bar underneath. Vehicles generally carried names In battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment it was usual for the tanks of the regiment to all carry a name beginning with the same letter of the alphabet. The letter was dictated by the battalions seniority so that 1 Battalion had names beginning with A. In 21 Army Group 7 RTR had names beginning with G and 9RTR had names beginning with J. Other units devised their own systems, trying at least to have each squadron assigned a letter or a subject. We have the names for 6 Guards Tank Brigade in detail. The following were in use when the brigade landed in France. Grenadier Guards All names were those of English towns and cities, except for the intercommunication troop which had the names of aircraft. Each troop had names beginning with a different letter. Worcester Churchill Tank Commanding Officer Worthing Churchill Tank Adjutant Windsor Churchill Tank 2ic Winchester Churchill Tank HQ Troop Leader Wolverhampton Churchill OP FOO Watford Churchill OP FOO Warminster Churchill OP FOO Wallasey Recovery Liberator ACV Mustang Humber Scout Car Signal Officer Thunderbolt Humber Scout Car Technical Adjutant Typhoon Humber Scout Car A echelon Lightning Humber Scout Car Liaison Officer Hurricane Humber Scout Car F2 Echelon Spitfire Humber Scout Car Intelligence Officer Whitwell Stuart Tank Welbeck Stuart Tank Walthamstow Stuart Tank Wanstead Stuart Tank Worksop Stuart Tank Wonersh Stuart Tank Wigan Stuart Tank Isle of Wight Scout Car Wensley Scout Car Wimbledon Scout Car Wooton Scout Car Waven Scout Car A Squadron Dorking Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Daventry Churchill CS Derby Churchill CS Dover Churchill Tank Meteor Scout Car Alton Churchill Tank 1 Troop Ascot Churchill Tank 1 Troop Arundel Churchill Tank 1 Troop Bristol Churchill Tank 2 Troop Birmingham Churchill Tank 2 Troop Bracknell Churchill Tank 2 Troop Claydon Churchill Tank 3 Troop Cresswell Churchill Tank 3 troop Chorley Churchill Tank 3 Troop Elstree Churchill Tank 4 Troop Everton Churchill Tank 4 Troop Eton Churchill Tank 4 Troop Fulham Churchill Tank 5 Troop Finsbury Churchill Tank 5 Troop Faversham Churchill Tank 5 troop Indefatigable Churchill ARV B Squadron Newbury Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Newmarket Churchill CS Northampton Churchill CS Nottingham Churchill Tank Reading Scout Car Folkestone Churchill Tank 6 Troop Frinton Churchill Tank 6 Troop Fairlop Churchill Tank 6 Troop Kenley Churchill Tank 7 Troop Kettering Churchill Tank 7 Troop Kingston Churchill Tank 7 Troop Glssop Churchill Tank 8 Troop Gloucester Churchill Tank 8 troop Guildford Churchill Tank 8 Troop Halifax Churchill Tank 9 Troop Hulme Churchill Tank 9 Troop Hull Churchill Tank 9 Troop Yarm Churchill Tank 10 Troop Yeovil Churchill Tank 10 Troop Yatton Churchill Tank 10 Troop Furious Churchill ARV C Squadron Manchester Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Mansfield Churchill CS Macclesfield Churchill CS Mortimer Churchill Tank Tempest Scout Car Portsmouth Churchill Tank 11 Troop Peterborough Churchill Tank 11 Troop Preston Churchill Tank 11 Troop Southampton Churchill Tank 12 Troop Shrewsbury Churchill Tank 12 Troop Surbiton Churchill Tank 12 Troop Lancaster Churchill Tank 13 Troop Liverpool Churchill Tank 13 Troop Lytham Churchill Tank 13 Troop Oxford Churchill Tank 14 Troop Oldham Churchill Tank 14 Troop Oldbury Churchill Tank 14 Troop Thame Churchill Tank 15 Troop Twyford Churchill Tank 15 Troop Taplow Churchill Tank 15 Troop Ark Royal Churchill ARV Coldstream Guards Battalion Headquarters vehicles had the names of birds Eagle Churchill Tank Commanding Officer Seagull Churchill Tank Adjutant Vulture Armoured 15cwt Owl Armoured 15cwt Robin Armoured 15cwt Pigeon Humber Scout Car Signal Officer Wren Humber Scout Car A echelon Owlet Humber Scout Car Intelligence Officer Linnet Humber Scout Car Liaison Officer Eaglet Humber Scout Car Gull Humber Scout Car Cygnet Recovery Ostrich Recovery Snipe Stuart Tank Peregrine Stuart Tank Hawk Stuart Tank Kite Stuart Tank Merlin Stuart Tank Falcon Stuart Tank Osprey Stuart Tank Flycatcher Stuart Tank A Squadron vehicles had the names of battle honours, each troop having names beginning with the same letter Egypt Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Barossa Churchill CS Peninsular Churchill CS Alma Churchill Tank 1 Troop Aisne Churchill Tank 1 Troop Arras Churchill Tank 1 Troop Marne Churchill Tank 2 Troop Malplaquet Churchill Tank 2 Troop Modder River Churchill Tank 2 Troop Somme Churchill Tank 3 Troop Suakin Churchill Tank 3 troop Sevastopol Churchill Tank 3 Troop Tangiers Churchill Tank 4 Troop Talavera Churchill Tank 4 Troop Tel el Kabir Churchill Tank 4 Troop Nive Churchill Tank 5 Troop Waterloo Churchill Tank 5 Troop Gibraltar Churchill Tank 5 troop Loos Churchill ARV B Squadron vehicles had the names of animals, each troop having names beginning with the same letter Tiger Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Jackal Churchill CS Jaguar Churchill CS Buffalo Churchill Tank 6 Troop Bison Churchill Tank 6 Troop Bear Churchill Tank 6 Troop Cheetah Churchill Tank 7 Troop Caribou Churchill Tank 7 Troop Cougar Churchill Tank 7 Troop Elk Churchill Tank 8 Troop Elephant Churchill Tank 8 troop Eland Churchill Tank 8 Troop Lion Churchill Tank 9 Troop Leopard Churchill Tank 9 Troop Lynx Churchill Tank 9 Troop Panda Churchill Tank 10 Troop Panther Churchill Tank 10 Troop Puma Churchill Tank 10 Troop Ox Churchill ARV C Squadron vehicles had the names of ships, each troop having names beginning with the same letter Revenge Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Renown Churchill CS Resolution Churchill CS Bandit Churchill Tank 11 Troop Buccaneer Churchill Tank 11 Troop Bulldog Churchill Tank 11 Troop Dreadnought Churchill Tank 12 Troop Defiant Churchill Tank (6pdr) 12 Troop Dauntless Churchill Tank 12 Troop Minotaur Churchill Tank 13 Troop Minerva Churchill Tank 13 Troop Medusa Churchill Tank 13 Troop Triumph Churchill Tank 14 Troop Terror Churchill Tank 14 Troop Thunderbolt Churchill Tank 14 Troop Vindictive Churchill Tank 15 Troop Valiant Churchill Tank 15 Troop Venomous Churchill Tank 15 Troop Resource Churchill ARV The system of names seems to have survived re organisation and in January 1945 the battalion captured a Panther tank and named in Cuckoo in line with HQ names. Scots Guards This battalion named vehicles after Scottish geographical features. Headquarters used names of mountains, A squadron used the names of towns and cities, B squadron used the names of islands and C squadron used the names of rivers. Cairngorm Churchill Tank Commanding Officer Ben Nevis Churchill CS Adjutant Ben Lawers Churchill CS 2ic Ben Macdhui Churchill Tank HQ tanks leader Brae Riach Churchill OP FOO Ben Ledi Churchill OP FOO Lochnager Churchill OP FOO Blue Bonnets Humber Scout Car Glendaruel Highlander Humber Scout Car Macbeth Humber Scout Car The Master of Ballantrae Humber Scout Car Auld Reekie Humber Scout Car Cock o’ the North Humber Scout Car Colonsay Humber Scout car Killiecrankie Humber Scout car Robert the Bruce Humber Scout car The Black Douglas Humber Scout car Rob Roy Humber Scout car Kingdom of Fife ACV Sandy Cameron Stuart Tank Hielan Laddie Stuart Tank Monymusk Stuart Tank Tullochgorm Stuart Tank Reel o’ Tulloch Stuart Tank Craig n’Darroch Stuart Tank Duntrune Stuart Tank The Black Bear Stuart Tank Corryhoylie Stuart Tank Ghillie Callum Stuart Tank Sheepwife A Squadron Greenock Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Perth Churchill CS Troon Churchill CS Crail Churchill Tank Edinburgh Churchill Tank 1 Troop Dundee Churchill Tank 1 Troop Ayr Churchill Tank 1 Troop Lochinvar Churchill Tank 2 Troop Inverness Churchill Tank 2 Troop Dunkfeld Churchill Tank 2 Troop Sterling Churchill Tank 3 Troop Elgin Churchill Tank 3 troop Kirkcaldy Churchill Tank 3 Troop Montrose Churchill Tank 4 Troop St Andrews Churchill Tank 4 Troop Glasgow Churchill Tank 4 Troop Oban Churchill ARV B Squadron Coll Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Tyree Churchill CS Mull Churchill CS Treshnish Churchill Tank Iona Churchill Tank 7 Troop Rona Churchill Tank 7 Troop Canna Churchill Tank 7 Troop Skye Churchill Tank 8 Troop Uist Churchill Tank 8 Troop Barra Churchill Tank 8 Troop Jura Churchill Tank 9 Troop Islay Churchill Tank 9 troop Bute Churchill Tank 9 Troop Stroma Churchill Tank 10 Troop Staffa Churchill Tank 10 Troop Arran Churchill Tank 10 Troop Lewis Churchill ARV C Squadron Esk Churchill Tank Squadron Commander Tweed Churchill CS Teviot Churchill CS Nith Churchill Tank Dee Churchill Tank 11 Troop Don Churchill Tank 11 Troop Deveron Churchill Tank 11 Troop Annan Churchill Tank 12 Troop Beauly Churchill Tank 12 Troop Findhorn Churchill Tank 12 Troop Spey Churchill Tank 13 Troop Clyde Churchill Tank 13 Troop Garry Churchill Tank 13 Troop Lyon Churchill Tank 14 Troop Leven Churchill Tank 14 Troop Lochy Churchill Tank 14 Troop Tummel Churchill ARV Note: The Scots Guards seem to have had squadrons with only four troops of three tanks each at this date. TANK REGIMENT (CROCODILE) TANK REGIMENT Tank Regiment. War Establishment II/154/2. November 1943 There was no separate establishment for a Tank regiment equipped with Crocodiles. The establishment for a Tank Regiment contains notes concerning Crocodile equipped units. The Churchill Crocodile was a standard Churchill MkVII tank fitted with flame throwing equipment. In theory any MkVII could be adapted in the field by fitting a standard kit. Many MkVII tanks were fitted with the necessary attachment points during manufacture. Some 800 kits were manufactured but it is not known how many were issued for use in NW Europe. Certainly 250 sets were reserved for possible use in the Far East and others were used for training in the UK. Modifications to the Churchill VII included - fitting a flame projector nozzle in place of the hull machine gun - fitting fuel pipes under the hull of the tank - fitting the rear towing gear for an armoured fuel trailer. The towing attachment was designed to swivel in two planes so that the trailer could be towed over any country the Churchill was capable of crossing. The trailer was armoured, but only against small arms fire, and had two wheels. It contained 400 gallons of thickened flame fuel and nitrogen cylinders to propel the fuel. The trailer could be jettisoned when empty or if damaged. It had a detachable tow bar to enable it to be towed by unit transport and a rear towing hook so that more than one could be towed. The effective range was only some 90 yards. Even then it could not be used in all conditions. A headwind made its use dangerous and strong side winds made it ineffective. Still it was a fearsome weapon when used against pillboxes or defended buildings. In NW Europe all Crocodile units were operated by 79th Armoured Division. 141 Regiment RAC arrived shortly after D Day, and a small number of Crocodiles landed on D Day. The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry arrived in October 1944. 7 Royal Tank Regiment arrived in February 1945. From September 1944 Crocodile units were controlled by 31 Armoured Brigade. Crocodiles could be used as normal gun tanks but as far as possible this was not done. They were specialist armour and it was intended that they be withdrawn when their specialist role was fulfilled. As specialist armour they required careful planning and timing if they were to operate efficiently. It took about an hour to prepare the Crocodile for action. First the trailer had to be filled with fuel. This was done by hand from cans with red and yellow bands on them and took about half an hour. The equipment then had to be pressured up, a slow and careful procedure. First a gas cylinder was gently opened to force fuel through the pipes to the projector. Gradually all the cylinders were opened until the maximum pressure was achieved. This took another 15 minutes. Then everything had to be checked for leaks of fuel or gas. Crews were very exposed when fuelling and pressuring up and so this had to be done some distance from the firing line. When the Crocodiles arrived at the start line they had only a limited time in action. The pressure would last for about six hours, although it was getting weaker by then. Crocodiles were difficult to manoeuvre because of the length of the trailer. It was difficult to make sharp turns and very difficult to reverse. However it was necessary to aim the whole tank since the horns of the Churchill limited the traverse to 10 degrees left and 20 degrees right. It was also desirable to keep the tank in a position where it could protect the trailer since it had only thin armour. Finally the Crocodile had to use its fuel wisely. 400 gallons of fuel would give about 60 seconds of firing. Usually one second bursts were used, both to conserve fuel and to allow the crew to see the effects of the flame. The regiments equipped with Crocodiles were organised the same as normal tank regiments. Headquarters tanks, both regimental and squadron, were gun armed Churchill and CS tanks were used to give support. 35 3ton 4 X 4 GS lorries were deleted from the establishment and 50 Tractor 4 X 4 were added. These were Matador Medium Artillery Tractors, although FWD SU COE were in the same class. Photographs show Mack NM 6 X 6 Tractors being used. These were used to tow trailers when not in action and to collect empty or damaged trailers on the battlefield. These were distributed with 15 in each squadron or one for each crocodile. 5 reserve tractors were held at Regimental Headquarters. It was stated that no additional drivers would be authorised and units would find the extra 15 drivers from the existing establishment. Since the Crocodiles were usually employed in individual squadrons and troops, one Churchill in each squadron and one Crocodile in each troop was a control tank with two Wireless Sets No19. At some point it was decided to divide the squadron into four troops of four Crocodile so that half squadrons of eight Crocodile and two Churchill (one 75mm and one 95mm Close Support) could be deployed in support of assaults rather than a whole squadron. No establishment has been found for this but regimental diaries and histories mention it. No extra tanks were made available so that the reorganisation had to rely on those already available. This seems to mean that in fact one troop per squadron had only three Crocodiles. Additional squadron headquarters tanks came from regimental headquarters which had less need of them. This left only one tank at Regimental Headquarters. In common with other armoured and tank regiments the AA tanks were withdrawn after Normandy. Crocodile units also gave up the light tanks of the reconnaissance troop, having found little use for them. Total personnel Lieutenant colonel Major, second in command 4 X Major Captain, adjutant Captain, Technical Officer Captain Liaison Officer 8 X Captain 20 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant Quartermaster Serjeant, technical Mechanist Quartermaster Serjeant 4 X Squadron Serjeant Major 4 X squadron quartermaster serjeant 4 X serjeant mechanist orderly room serjeant clerk provost serjeant signal serjeant transport serjeant serjeant technical storeman 29 X serjeant 59 X corporal 523 X trooper Total 670 Plus Medical Officer RAMC 3 X armourer REME 4 X officers mess cooks ACC 15 X cook ACC 6 X vehicle mechanic REME Trades included carpenter and joiner 13 X clerk 94 X driver mechanics 103 X driver operator 5 X electrician equipment repairer gun fitter 92 X gunner mechanics 89 X gunner operator 6 X storeman (technical) 39 X vehicle mechanics 22 X batman butchery dutyman 90 X driver IC medical orderly 6 X motorcycle orderly postman 5 X sanitary dutyman 5 X storeman 4 X water dutyman Total vehicles 8 X motorcycle 1 X Car 4seater 4 X 4 11 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 jeep 6 X 15cwt GS 4 X 15cwt water 1 X 15cwt FFW 15 X 15cwt halftrack 12 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS 5 X 3ton 6 X 4 stores 1 X 3ton office 4 X 3ton machinery I30 4 X 3ton kitchen 50 X Medium Artillery Tractor 12 X scout car 6 X AA tank 10 X Churchill tank 6 X Churchill close support tank 45 X Churchill Crocodile 11 X light tank 3 X armoured recovery vehicles 1 X 180 gallon water trailer 3 X 2ton trailer workshop servicing