Hello all Have a small question for you Allied guys, commonwealth in particular. Which universal carrier variant would be acceptable for a towed 6 Per in an Inf Brigade in Normandy, same comes for the 17pdr I have seen a crusader picture but also have read, a 6x6 a Quad FGT, Quad, and A 30 cat. What would be appropriate I have no clue and can't seem to find my answer. Hope this is right forum. Euge
6 Pounder Universal Carrier Loyd Carrier Jeep 17 Pounder Quad Crusader Gun Tower ( usually with limber ) Ram Gun Tower ( usually with limber ) Half Track Just a few examples, some of which you have already mentioned. Photos from IWM and Dutch National Archieve sites. cheers Kevin
Anti Tank Platoon in an infantry battalion. There were three Sections each with two detachments. Each detachment had: Loyd carrier serjeant, 3 X gun numbers, driver mechanic Carries 24 rounds of 6pdr ammunition in 4 boxes Carries 2” mortar Tows 6pdr Anti tank gun Loyd carrier corporal, driver mechanic Carries 30 rounds of 6pdr ammunition in boxes Carries Bren gun and No2 cooker Motorcycle Orderly Assault formations in Normandy were issued with Universal Carriers, modified with a tow bar, instead of Loyds. The Universal was armoured, more reliable and easy to waterproof. The same organisation was used by 6pdr troops in Royal Artillery AT Regiments except that a troop was four guns. Mike.
17 pdrs in Divisional AT Regiments were organised with troops of four guns in two sections. In Infantry Divisions Tractor 4 X 4 was used. These were usually Morris or CMP original built as 6pdr portees and later modified as 17 pdr tractors. Some standard Quad tractors were used later. Tractor 4 X 4 serjeant, 5 X gun numbers, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr AT gun Tractor 4 X 4 bombardier, 5 X gun numbers, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr AT gun 15cwt truck GS 2 X gun numbers, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg In armoured divisions 17pdr troops used M9 half tracks, 15cwt halftrack serjeant, 5 X gun numbers, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr AT gun 15cwt halftrack serjeant, 5 X gun numbers, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr AT gun 15cwt halftrack serjeant, 5 X gun numbers, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr AT gun Crusader Tractors were used in 17pdr troops of Corps AT Regiments. Each troop had two sections each of two guns. 4 X 4 tractors were used as limber vehicles carrying ammunition. 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 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 The organisations were constantly changing but these troops remained much the same. The 6 X 6 tractor appeared very late in the war. Mike
Euge You asked about the anti-tank weapons of an Infantry Brigade - the only Brigade assets were the towed 6pdrs of the Infantry Battalions. Divisional anti tank troops (Royal Artillery) were attached as the operation required - usually two to four troops which could be M10 / towed 17pdr / 6pdr as required or available. My only addition to Mike's impeccable information is that around September 1944 1 (MB) Grenadier Guards swapped their Loyd Carriers for de-gunned M14 half tracks to tow their 6pdrs. Keith
