Corps anti tank artillery

Discussion in 'Artillery' started by Trux, Aug 29, 2010.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    CORPS ANTI TANK ARTILLERY

    Corps anti tank artillery was responsible for defence in depth of the corps area. It was more
    mobile since it had a large area to cover, and it could be used in a counter attack if required.

    CORPS ANTI TANK REGIMENT

    Initially a Corps anti tank regiment had the same organisation as that for the Armoured Division anti tank regiment but this was changed in February 1944. Thus the establishments for NW Europe were as shown below.

    Headquarters of a Corps Anti Tank Regiment. War Establishment III/308/1. February 1944
    Anti Tank Battery, 3” M10 SP. War Establishment III/309/1. February 1944
    Anti Tank Battery, 17dr track towed. War Establishment III/310/1. February 1944


    Corp Anti Tank Regiments differed from the anti tank regiments in divisions mainly in their role. While the divisional anti tank units were holding the front line or supporting an assault the corps unit was responsible for providing defence in depth. According to the needs of the moment batteries and troops could be dispersed to the following tasks
    - providing anti tank defence for headquarters. One could never know when an enemy might launch an attack which would penetrate the front lines and reach well into the corps area. This was common in N Africa and of course it happened notably in the Ardennes in December 1944.
    - providing anti tank defence for key points such as bridges, cross roads, towns etc which were essential to the maintenance of supplies and communications.
    - providing anti tank defence for supply dumps and other installations in the corps area.
    - providing a mobile force to meet and destroy enemy tanks within the corps area
    - providing reinforcements for divisional anti tank defence.

    This could mean a wide dispersal of batteries and troops right across the corps area and extending well to the rear. Thus supply and communications became a considerable problem and new establishments were issued with revised supply, maintenance and communications elements. The basic organisation of the units remained unchanged.

    The equipment in the corps unit differed in that it was selected to best fill the needs of a unit with a wide area to cover. Thus the self propelled batteries used the faster M10 and M10 Achilles which gave good mobility compared with the Archer. The towed batteries used the Crusader gun tractor which was also fast and had good cross country performance.

    Clearly the towed batteries were better equipped to carry out basically static roles such as defending bridges and dumps while the self propelled batteries were best able to actively intercept and ambush enemy tanks.


    The following establishments apply to the following units.

    62 Anti Tank Regiment 1 Corp
    73 Anti Tank Regiment 30 Corp
    86 Anti Tank Regiment 12 Corp and then 1 Corp
    91 Anti Tank Regiment 8 Corp and then 12 Corp

    63 Anti Tank Regiment was assigned to 2 Army and it is assumed that it had the same organisation.


    Some differences in the organisation and equipment are noted in the War Diaries and regimental histories etc.

    91 Anti Tank Regiment started the campaign with two self propelled batteries. Half of the self propelled guns were M10 3” and half were Achilles 17pdr. The distribution of these is not known. By September all the M10 had been replaced by Achilles. There were also two batteries of towed guns with Crusader tractors. In July the Battery Commanding Officer and the troop leaders got Crusader gun tractors as OP vehicles. For the Rhine Crossing there were four troops in each battery and the Crusader tractors had been replaced by Quads. Presumably these were the new open bodied C8 FAT.


    62 Anti Tank Regiment also started the campaign with two self propelled batteries. Again half of the self propelled guns were M10 and half were Achilles.




    HEADQUARTERS OF A CORPS ANTI TANK REGIMENT
    War Establishment III/308/1. February 1944

    Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer
    Major, Second in Command
    Captain, Adjutant
    Captain, Technical Officer
    2 X Subaltern
    Quartermaster

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    signal serjeant
    duty serjeant

    tradesman
    Artificer RA or fitter (gun)
    serjeant clerk
    3 X clerk
    2 X driver mechanic
    6 X driver operator
    staff serjeant storeman, technical
    storeman, technical
    vehicle mechanic

    non tradesman
    6 X batman
    batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    11 X drivers IC
    4 X lmg numbers
    medical officers orderly
    3 X motorcycle orderly
    sanitary dutyman
    storeman
    water dutyman

    4 X motorcycle
    1 X car 4seater 4 X 4
    2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    4 X 15cwt GS
    2 X 15cwt FFW
    1 X 15cwt Office
    1 X 15cwt Personnel
    1 X 15cwt Water
    3 X 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS
    2 X Carrier Universal

    3 X Bren lmg
    1 X PIAT

    NOTE:
    The following ranks will be available for tradesmen in the regiment. This does not imply extra personnel and are to be shared amongst the headquarters and the four batteries.
    2 X staff serjeant
    5 X serjeant
    2 X lance serjeant
    7 X bombardier
    9 X lance bombardier

    The following First Reinforcements are available for the headquarters and four batteries.
    Captain
    4 X Subaltern
    serjeant
    2 X bombardier
    5 X lance bombardier
    8 X drivers IC
    40 X gunner

    Organisation
    Motorcycle 1
    orderly
    Motorcycle 2
    orderly
    Motorcycle 3
    orderly

    Motorcycle 4
    signalling serjeant

    Car 4 seater 4 X 4
    Lieutenant Colonel commanding officer, Subaltern, batman, driver IC

    Car 5cwt 4 X 4 1
    Artificer RA or gun fitter, vehicle mechanic
    Carries fitters stores
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4 2
    Medical officer, batman driver

    15cwt truck GS 1
    staff serjeant technical storeman, duty serjeant, driver IC
    15cwt truck GS 2
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC
    Carries 2 X Bren lmg
    15cwt truck GS 3
    2 X batman, cook ACC, driver operator, driver IC
    15cwt truck GS 4
    medical officers orderly, driver IC
    Carries medical stores.

    15cwt truck FFW 1
    Subaltern, 2 X driver operator
    Carries Wireless set
    15cwt truck FFW 2
    Quartermaster, batman, 2 X driver operator
    Carries Wireless set

    15cwt Office
    Regimental Serjeant Major, serjeant clerk, clerk, driver IC

    15cwt truck personnel
    Adjutant, clerk, batman, driver IC

    15cwt water
    water dutyman, driver IC

    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1
    technical storeman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC
    Carries MT Stores
    Carries a PIAT
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2
    2 X cook, butchery dutyman, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and rations
    Carries a Bren lmg
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3
    staff serjeant armourer, storeman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC
    Carries Q stores

    Carrier Universal 1
    Major, driver mechanic, driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set
    Carrier Universal 2
    Technical Officer, batman, driver mechanic



    ANTI TANK BATTERY (SELF PROPELLED)
    War Establishment III/309/1. February 1944

    Personnel
    Major
    2 X Captain
    4 X Subaltern

    Battery Serjeant Major
    battery quartermaster serjeant
    signal serjeant
    12 X serjeant No 1 of gun
    3 X serjeant

    3 X lance serjeant
    12 X bombardier
    12 X lance bombardier
    64 X gunner

    Tradesmen
    Ranks and appointments for these are allotted on a regimental basis (see above) except when a battery is operating independently and not as part of a regiment.
    2 X clerk
    6 X driver mechanic
    12 X driver mechanic AFV
    26 X driver operator
    equipment repairer
    5 X gun fitter
    technical storeman
    7 X vehicle mechanic

    Non tradesmen
    36 X ammunition number
    4 X batman
    3 X batman driver
    14 X driver IC
    24 X gun number
    2 X motorcycle orderlies
    sanitary dutyman
    3 X signaller
    storeman
    water dutyman

    Attached
    corporal electrician, vehicle and plant. REME
    officers mess cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    3 X cook ACC
    Total 176

    vehicles
    4 X motorcycle
    4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    3 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 15cwt FFW
    1 X 15cwt water
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 personnel
    9 X 3ton 4 X 4
    5 X carrier universal
    1 X carrier, starting and charging
    12 X 3” SP mounting


    Organisation
    Battery Headquarters

    Motorcycle 1
    vehicle mechanic
    Motorcycle 2
    signalling serjeant
    Motorcycle 3
    orderly
    Motorcycle 4
    orderly

    Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep)
    Battery Serjeant Major, vehicle mechanic

    15cwt GS truck 1
    clerk, 2 X batman, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and rations
    15cwt GS truck 2
    storeman technical, vehicle mechanic, 2 X cook ACC, driver IC
    For cooked food distribution
    15cwt GS truck 3
    sanitary dutyman, 2 X cook ACC, driver operator, driver IC
    Carries 2 X Bren lmg

    15cwt truck FFW
    Captain (Q duties), batman, clerk, 2 X driver operator

    15cwt truck personnel
    Captain, batman, driver IC

    15cwt water
    water dutyman, driver IC

    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1
    gun fitter, vehicle mechanic, driver IC
    Carries Petrol
    Carries a PIAT
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2
    gun fitter, driver IC
    Carries fuel for gun mountings
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3
    battery quartermaster serjeant, storeman, equipment repairer, corporal cook, driver IC
    Carries Q stores

    Carrier Universal 1
    Major, driver mechanic, driver operator
    Carries a No19 wireless set
    Carrier Universal 2
    Subaltern, driver mechanic, driver operator
    Carries a No19 wireless set

    Carrier Staring and Charging
    electrician REME, driver mechanic, driver IC

    3 X troop
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep)
    serjeant, batman driver

    3ton 4 X 4 lorry GS 1
    gun fitter, 6 X ammunition number, driver IC
    Carries 72 rounds of ammunition
    Carries 2”mortar and ten round each smoke and illuminating
    Carries a Bren lmg
    For Section 1
    3ton 4 X 4 lorry GS 2
    vehicle mechanic, 6 X ammunition number, driver IC
    Carries 72 rounds of ammunition
    Carries 2”mortar and ten round each smoke and illuminating
    For section 2

    Carrier, Universal
    Subaltern, signaller, driver operator, driver mechanic
    Carries a Wireless set
    Carries a PIAT

    Section 1
    M10 3” SP mounting
    serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic
    Carries Wireless set
    Carries 54 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg
    M10 3” SP mounting
    serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic
    Carries Wireless set
    Carries 54 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg

    Section 2
    M10 3” SP mounting
    serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic
    Carries Wireless set
    Carries 54 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg
    M10 3” SP mounting
    serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic
    Carries Wireless set
    Carries 54 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg


    ANTI TANK BATTERY Track Towed
    War Establishment III/310/1. February 1944

    Personnel
    Major
    2 X Captain
    4 X Subaltern

    Battery Serjeant Major
    battery quartermaster serjeant
    6 X serjeant No 1 of gun
    3 X serjeant

    6 X lance serjeant
    13 X bombardier
    13 X lance bombardier
    81 X gunner

    Tradesmen
    Ranks and appointments for these are allotted on a regimental basis (see above) except when a battery is operating independently and not as part of a regiment.
    5 X artificer
    2 X clerk
    13 X driver mechanic
    12 X driver mechanic AFV
    13 X driver operator
    equipment repairer
    technical storeman
    7 X vehicle mechanic

    Non tradesmen
    4 X batman
    4 X batman driver
    22 X driver IC
    72 X gun number
    6 X bombardier No 1 of gun
    3 X motorcycle orderlies
    sanitary dutyman
    3 X signaller
    storeman
    water dutyman

    Attached
    corporal electrician, vehicle and plant. REME
    officers mess cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    4 X cook ACC
    Total 192

    vehicles
    4 X motorcycle
    5 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    3 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 15cwt FFW
    1 X 15cwt water
    1 X 15cwt halftracked
    6 X 3ton 4 X 4
    12 X tractor 4 X 4 anti tank
    4 X carrier universal
    1 X carrier, starting and charging
    12 X tank (Crusader type tractor)


    Organisation
    Battery Headquarters
    Motorcycle 1
    orderly
    Motorcycle 2
    orderly
    Motorcycle 3
    orderly
    Motorcycle 4
    Battery Serjeant Major

    Car 5cwt 4 X 4
    Captain Q, 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4
    Captain G, driver operator
    Carries a wireless set

    15cwt GS truck 1
    2 X cook ACC, 2 X batman, batman driver
    Carries cooking sets and rations
    15cwt GS truck 2
    batman, 2 X clerk, driver IC
    Carries office stores
    15cwt GS truck 3
    sanitary dutyman, storeman, artificer or gun fitter, driver IC
    Carries Bren lmg
    15cwt water
    water dutyman, driver IC

    15cwt halftrack FFW
    Subaltern, vehicle mechanic, 2 X driver operator
    Carries a No19 wireless set

    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1
    storeman, equipment repairer, driver IC
    Carries Petrol
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2
    artificer or gun fitter, driver IC
    Carries Petrol
    Carries a Bren lmg
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3
    battery quartermaster serjeant, corporal cook, 3 X cook, driver IC
    Carries Q stores
    Carries a Bren lmg and PIAT

    Carrier Universal 1
    Major, 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set

    Carrier Staring and Charging
    electrician REME, driver mechanic, driver IC


    3 X troop
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4
    serjeant, batman driver

    3ton 4 X 4 lorry GS 1
    artificer or gun fitter, 2 X vehicle mechanic, driver IC
    Carries 80 rounds of ammunition
    Carries a Bren lmg and PIAT

    Carrier, Universal
    Subaltern, 2 X driver operator
    Carries No19 Wireless set

    Section 1
    Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank
    No 7 of gun, driver mechanic
    Carries 30 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar
    Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank
    No 7 of gun, driver mechanic
    Carries 30 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar

    Tractor, tracked (Crusader)
    serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic
    Carries 40 rounds of ammunition
    Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun
    Tractor, tracked (Crusader)
    serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic
    Carries 40 rounds of ammunition
    Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun


    Section 2
    Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank
    No 7 of gun, driver mechanic
    Carries 30 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar
    Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank
    No 7 of gun, driver mechanic
    Carries 30 rounds of ammunition
    Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar

    Tractor, tracked (Crusader)
    serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic
    Carries 40 rounds of ammunition
    Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun
    Tractor, tracked (Crusader)
    serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic
    Carries 40 rounds of ammunition
    Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun


    Note:
    When a battery organised on this establishment is operating in an assault role Wireless sets No18 will be allotted as follows.
    One Wireless set No18 to each troop commander
    One Wireless set No18 to each Crusader tractor
    These are for communication with the infantry units being supported.
     
    Jane Suff likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page