Does anyone know what 'AO' or 'AO Tps' might refer to in an armoured regiment? The term appears several times in an after action report by a squadron of the RAC that was in action in Burma in early 1943, and refers to an individual Valentine that took part in the fight. I would have assumed 'something Officer' (Administrative Officer, Assisting Officer?) but the tank in question was commanded by a sergeant: The tank seems to have been functioning in a headquarters or control capacity rather than being part of a three-tank troop. Any ideas?
Just a thought: Artillery Observer Troops (these would be an RA OP party in/on or within signalling distance of the tank the Observing Officer would be directing fire from the tank turret. His orders relayed by phone or wireless to a signaller who would pass this to a radio signaller on the RA network) a bit of an odd description but they were used extensively in the field. Gueriat el Attach Tuniisia: Capt Bullivant was mobile OP with the tanks.
Thanks Uncle Target, that's good thinking. 'Tps' must surely be 'Troops' and the 'O' could well be 'Observer' (or maybe 'Operator'?) rather than 'Officer'. It was a fairly small action attacking a fixed position - 8 tanks (2 x 3 tank troops, with detachment OC following one troop and 'AO' following the other), 12 x carriers, 2 coys infantry and 20 guns. The tanks were a last minute addition from another Bde Group - they only arrived on scene some hours before the attack went in, and there was no co-op with tanks in that entire area at any time before or after this action. The tank itself wasn't being used as an OP in this case though, and the Squadron's only outside contact seems to be to with the Brigade CP. A separate document survives from the arty group commander that shows the supporting fireplan for the attack, which was fired as planned, with some additional observed shooting from fixed OPs and two FOOs forward with the infantry.
Possibly relevant - a paragraph from the same AAR titled 'Auxiliary 44 Operator', who appears to be a signaller from the Squadron based at the supported Brigade's CP to maintain contact with the tanks. Would imagine the 'FS6' mentioned here is a Field Set 6 , but completely stumped by the '44'. Only close match I can find is the B44 set, but that came in post war. Might the 'AO' in 'AO Tps' stand for 'Auxiliary Operator', so that tank was in direct contact with an 'AO' signaller working at the Bde CP? Does anyone who knows their wireless comms or armoured units think that would fit?
