Divisional LAA Regiments

Hi,

Well for 16 Nov the list gives 36 3-inch (M) held by Egyptian Army. That other reference (CAB80/32 and series) might contain more information on AA allocations. I'll have a look but I think they are available free on National Archives website.

Regards

Tom

 

Wasn't there a proposal later in the war to use 3in AA ordnance mounted on Crusader(?) carriages as SP atk? The same Crusaders were also to be adapted for atk gun towing. 100 of each IIRC. Not sure if either went ahead.

 

Pemberton p127 (HMSO 1950) notes that 100 old 3" fguns wre mounted half in churchill tanks and half on 17 Pdr carriages, the production of which was in advance of the guns. The Churchull was designed to fit a 75mm in the hull and a 2 pdr in the turret . I have not followed this through but Fletcher's Great Tank Scandal leads me to believe that the RA and RAC had a demarcation dispute over who owned these - and ultimately this "British StuG" never saw service anywhere. .

The impetus for their development can be seen in the Alanbrooke diaries. As Commander Homes Forces he mentions his disappointment with the standard of Atk weapons (18 June 1941) and makes a note "I shall have to start a campaign to improve matters". His entries for 3rd July says" making plans to employ 3 " 20 cwt AA Guns to engage 70 and 90 ton German tanks should any of these monsters be landed." (3rd July 1941) "Proceeded to see Beaverbrook concerning anti tank ammunition for 3.7" and 3" AA guns to deal with large tanks should they be landed" (21 July 1941) Anto tank shooting beginning to make some progress. Had 2 pdr, 6 pdr,75mm, bofors and 3.7" guns all firing" (9 September 1941)

This establishes that the highest levels of the Home Forces thought that 3" and 3.7" AA/ Atk guns to be a jolly good idea to solve the problem of heavy tanks, and one which might have been picked up to solve the problem of german tanks a long way away if others had sparked earlier. .

 

Interestingly, Routledge shows 24 3-in still in service as HAA guns in the Middle East in January 1943. Most (16) in 12 AA Bde allocated to 10 Corps. Four were in a RM bty (which also had 2 x 4.5) in 21 AA Bde (Port Said, Suez Canal, Suez and Cairo) and 4 in 78 HAA Regt, 20 AA Bde, in Palestine, Lebanon & Cyprus.

By this time there were 7 AA bdes in the region with 51 HAA btys and 364 3.7. This compares with earlier HAA totals:
Apr 41 - 14 btys
Oct 41 - 27 btys
Jan 42 - 27 btys
Oct 42 - 49 btys

 

I think the Churchills landed at Dieppe were of this Mark.

All the best

Andreas