Sorry if this is misplaced... First question. I've read that the role of anti-tank regiments (or batteries) was to reinforce ground taken to defend against enemy tanks. Was there a document, manual, or handbook which spelled this out? Second, obviously at some point portees were considered unusable in Europe, at least after 1940 when I believe some were used. Was there a firm decision made and by whom and when? Third, in my notes (from Into The Vally) I have that there was a GS (General Staff?) directive to create a 17 pounder SP gun on September 29, 1942 (which led to the Valentine 17-pounder SP.) Where would I find the original directive?
Chris You could ask the author of Into the Valley? Dick Taylor does visit this forum occasionally but he posts quite frequently on missing-Lynx in the Allied Forum. Hopefully he is now back in circulation after the Cambrai events of the last couple of weeks or so.
Hi SDP, Yes, I do have his email address and have passed him a little information I've found, but - he did write the book years ago and whether he'd remember or have notes, I don't know. I guess it's worth trying! P.S. of course... it was the 100th anniversary of the battle, wasn't it?
Regarding the first question: Military training pamphlet no. 59A : anti-tank tactics 1943 (LBY WO 1659) And the earlier: Lessons in anti-tank warfare | Wartime Canada
Regarding portees, it's fairer to say they were never the first choice. Antitank guns were designed to be towed, but there was an assumption that the majority of the time would be spent on roads. That didn't hold for the desert where guns - particularly the relatively heavy 2 pr - would shake themselves to bits. The dinky 25mm gun of 1940 was a bit of an exception, presumably it wasn't great on roads let alone cross-country
Thank you idler I found pamphet no 59A available for download when I did a google search for it by name.
Anti tank gun policy was driven by RA Anti tank policy as much general service publications. It was quicker to promulgate doctrine via RA Notes, Army/ army group circulars than army wide documents. There were Army Training Notes as well as the policy publications. The Bartholomew committee (into France 1940) recommended that there should be a corps anti tank regiment, that one battery per divisional regiment should be equipped with SP mountings and that each infantry battalion should have an anti tank platoon. In September 1941 there was a GS policy promulgated for an SP Anti tank gun. The first proper SP (rather than portee improvisation) was the 6pdr Deacon. This was not particularly satisfactory and arrangements were made for it to be replaced by the US M10, which came into service in 1943. There was a GS specification for an SP 17 Pounder with all round traverse. (The M10 fitted with the 17 pounder met this requirement, but was american on a lease lend basis. i.e. it had to be handed back at the end of the war. ) There was a plan to use the A30 chassis , but the earliest this could be available was Dec 1945. The Valentine SP did not have 360 degree traverse, but was available in Oct 1944. (Pemberton artillery tactics and equipment 1951 no source document listed) Hope this helps
Sheldrake, I'm really trying to get exact specifics, but that was helpful, thank you - not least for reason of knowing to look at Pemberton (it turns out the Canadian War Museum research centre has a copy)
