68th (Midlands) Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment (R.A)

Guys, usual request for Batteries and movements during 1940 - 1942 please.

Thanks in advance, David.

 

68th (North Midland) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
HQ, 200th, 222nd (Derby) Btys: Siddal’s Road, Derby
276th, 277th Btys: Nottingham

The regiment served under 32nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade at the start of the war. 200th Battery left after September 1939. 68th Heavy AA Regiment arrived at Port Said on 22 April 1941 and served under GHQ BTE on arrival. 222nd Battery was sent to Malta at the end of 1940. The regiment served under 12th AA Brigade from October 1941 until the regiment was reduced to cadre on 21 September 1942. The regiment was captured at Tobruk on 20 June 1942.
The regiment was reconstituted on Malta from the disbanding 10th Heavy AA Regiment on 17 June 1943 with 190th and 191st Batteries from 10th Heavy AA Regiment and 222nd Battery still regimented. It remained on Malta until the end of the war.

 

The regiment was deployed around Benghazi in Jan 42, and it is possible that one of its troops was lost to a German ambush near Saunnu on 23/24 January.

All the best

Andreas

 

Thanks both.

 

Does anyone know how many of the batteries guns were 3" as opposed to 3.7" in North Africa @ 1941?

Thanks.

 

According to Routledge, 2nd AA Brigade in Oct 1941possessed 112x 3.7"s, no 3" being declared. Hope that helps.

 

Thanks HAARA.

I guess any 3" must have been replaced by 3.7" by then.

Do you have a breakdown for earlier in 1941, or late 1940?

Please can you also confirm which Regiments were in 2nd AA Brigade at the time of your Routledge quote.

Thank you very much.

David.

 

At the time of the quote, October 41, it seems 2nd AA Brigade consisted of:
9 HAA Regt, less one battery, + 277/68, and 283/88, based Alexandria .
74HAA Regt at Port Said and Port Fuad
88 HAA Regt, + 205/89, and 5 Aust HAA Bty at Suez and Shallufa
200/69 on the Canal.

In Jan 41, Western Desert Force/13 Corps, 4th AA Brigade comprised 51 HAA Regt:152,153, and 16/2 HAA Btys
2nd AA Brigade: 9th HAA regt: 24,26 HAA Btys, and 74th HAA Regt: 230,231,232 Btys

At Tobruk, April 41 HAA consisted 152/51,153/51, 235/89.

 

Thanks for that.

What can you tell me about the 5th Australian HAA Bty? I have never heard of it before in North Africa.

 

Sorry to say David that Routledge has no further information on this apart from this reference. A preliminary Google doesn't seem to show any direct reference either, so am unable to assist.

 

Thanks for looking.

Some one some where must have this info.
Unless of course the whole 3" thing is a myth, and all the 3.7" were present from day one.