Can anyone tell me if 42 R/T/R received any new tanks between its initial allocation in late 1941 for service in the W.D. And its conversion to Matilda Scorpions just prior to El Alamein?
Didn't we have that discussion? Yes they did, from T.D.S. during CRUSADER, to make up for the very heavy losses they suffered there. I am afraid for allocation in 1942 I can not help you, but I would guess the answer to be yes, since the T.D.S. deliveries were insufficient to bring them back to full strength. All the best Andreas
Andreas. We have had similar for sure, but not concerning 42 R/T/R. (unless I have misplaced the notes, which has happened before) I got a little sidetracked with reading up about 8 R/T/R. Thanks.
While not pertinent to the question, here is information on the initial allocation of tanks in October/November 41. More late arrivals « The Crusader Project Can someone tell me what the war establishment was for a Matilda Squadron and battalion HQ? All the best Andreas
Further to the above, 42 R.T.R. took over the remaining Matildas of 8 R.T.R. after the battle at Bardia, when 8 R.T.R. again became a Valentine regiment. No numbers though. All the best Andreas
I don't believe they ever had Valentines: 8th Army – 20 June 1942 to 27 June 1942 On June 20th, 1942, the 42nd handed over any remaining tanks to the 4th and 7th Royal Tank Regiments in Tobruk and it returned to Sidi Bishr, Egypt on June 28th. 1st Army Tank Brigade – 27 June 1942 to 22 April 1944 The battalion rejoined 1st Army Tank Brigade at Sidi Bishr on June 27th, 1942. It was without tanks except for some detachments. A detachment of seven Matildas fought under the 18th Indian Infantry Brigade at Dier el Shein on July 1st, 1942 and another detachment fought under the 1st South African Division for a while from July 8th, 1942 before returning to Khataba in August 1942. It employed two troops of three Scorpions at El Alamein. The battalion left Egypt on October 24th, 1942 and moved to Rafah in Palestine. It then trained there for one year on Matilda Canal Defence Light Tanks (CDLs). It left Palestine on January 31st, 1944 and moved to Mena in Egypt, where it received Grant CDL tanks. It left Egypt by sea on April 6th, 1944 and arrived back at Gourock, Scotland on April 22nd, 1944.
Well since the tanks they handed to 4/7 RTR were Matilda II, I would presume they had this type throughout. All the best Andreas
I note these lines, with my current research in view, by then Major Michael Carver, then a 30 Corps Staff Officer[1] which are from his book 'Dilemmas of the Desert War'[2] (2002 edition) : [1] Thanks to Tom Obrien. See Post 141 on: Deir el Shein sources - July 1942 [2] The book was originally titled ‘Dilemmas of the Desert War: A new look at the Libyan Campaign 1940-1942’ published in 1986 and as a paperback in 2002 with a slightly different title. See: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dilemmas-Desert-War-Campaign-1940-1942/dp/1862271534/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZKKM2RB46TQ7&keywords='Dilemmas+of+the+Desert+War&qid=1700490022&s=books&sprefix=dilemmas+of+the+desert+war,stripbooks,137&sr=1-1
