Airborne Recce - 6th Airborne AARR - Operation Varsity

Discussion in 'Trux Discussion Area' started by GPRegt, Aug 30, 2010.

  1. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    The Regt used American Locust tanks on this op.

    Steve W.
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  3. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Picture taken from ww2f:

    [​IMG]
     
  4. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  5. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Here's a reenactor YouTube Video of one leading a convoy:

    M22 locust (part 2)


    I'll add a few pics found on my PC that I think are from the the Peg Archive (via IWM?). Not the best quality unfortunately, but they are from Op Varsity LZ.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    I heard the Armoured Recce also used Cromwells, is that correct?
     
  7. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    I heard the Armoured Recce also used Cromwells, is that correct?
    According to the book I mentioned above and this link 6th Airborne Armoured Recce Regiment RAC | ParaData the answer is yes, the book says by the first week of October 1944 the regiment consisted of two Recce Squadrons, a Support Squadron and the HQ Squadron.Each recce squadron (A and B ) had four troops the first being a tank or 'heavy' troop of four tanks which would be Locusts when Gliderborne or Cromwells otherwise.
     
  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Is there anyone who has the War Diary for January 1945 of the 6th AARR - when the regiment was involved in the battle in the Ardennes?
     
  9. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

  10. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Dave - are the operations of the 6th AARR in the Ardennes mentioned in the book. I know they were involved in this battle, but there whereabouts are still a bit obscure to me.
     
  11. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Dave - are the operations of the 6th AARR in the Ardennes mentioned in the book. I know they were involved in this battle, but there whereabouts are still a bit obscure to me.


    Stolpi

    By the time 6th AARR had caught with the 6th Airborne Div, they were taking up defensive positions on the far side of the Meuse having taken over from the 84th US Infantry Division.The positions were located to the West of the Marche-Rocheford Railway which marked the German front line. The advance eastwards was to commence on the 3rd of January.By that date, 6th AARR had been ordered to occupy a small bridgehead south-east of the Meuse across from Namur,with the responsibility for guarding the crossing area.

    Hope this helps

    Dave
     
    stolpi likes this.
  12. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Yup! - but if that's true, they did not see any action at all. Namur was in fact far in the rear ... and there also was the Guards Armoured guarding the river crossings on the far bank of the Meuse. All the recce work then probably was left to the 61st Recce Regiment, which was temporarily attached to 6th Airborne.
     

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