Hello everybody, Recently I found the following link which describes the procedure for laying a night barrage fire during Malta's defense October 1942 – Malta: War Diary 4th HEAVY ACK ACK REGIMENT During the month the Regiment has only fired 90 rounds ARBT. A new form of night barrage has been evolved in which each RCR as before works out the datas for its own gun positions. Plots are obtained from the GL at very 10th second immediately following the buzz made in the circuit from RCR; the buzzes are also made in the guns circuit. The FCO [Fire Control Orders] orders ‘Immediate – height’ on the next buzz guns start a stop watch on each position. The FCO now works out the co-ordinates of the barrage point, based on a time from the executive buzz of 55 seconds and orders the co-ordinates. Guns work out the date and apply it; gun positions subtract the time of flight (say 17 seconds) from 55 and fire when their stop watch shows 38 seconds. I assume the FCO is "Fire Control Officer" instead of "Fire Control Orders" mentioned in the text. But I cannot find anywhere in my files the abbreviations "ARBT" and "RCR." Obviously, the first is a type of artillery ammunition. As for the latter, I speculated it could stand for "Royal Coastal Regiment" but I have not found anything to verify If anybody here is familiar with the above terms, I will appreciate any help. Thank you
This will help, albeit not from an artillery website and 'he' is Brigadier Norman Vause Sadler OBE DCM., TD: From and there is little else on him: https://www.facebook.com/WirtArtna/...7X0ToFcsjgifAkUOruqIhhcxBNi-9fj2Kzlvcb1tpoj5r Within this general history, for context mainly, is a passage on the scheme he introduced: HyperWar: The Mediterranean & Middle East, Vol.II (Chapter 3) and a chapter within this USAF author's theses, which remarks the barrage was inefficient: https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/22/2001330044/-1/-1/0/AFD-100922-032.pdf There is a previous, short 2012 thread: The Malta Box Barrage On the "cousins" this might help: The Box Barrage - a general "why not?" JSTOR has: Defending the Indefensible? The Air Defence of Malta, 1936–1940. Available for free after registration: https://www.jstor.org/stable/26013969 Could 'RCR' be 'GOR'? Sadler's text refers to Gun Operation Room.
Thank you for the reply, I was aware of all the links you provided and did not find any answer to my question. At this point, it is all speculation. I find difficult to accept that a typo could make "GOR" to "RCR." And I am also surprised by the fact that I can find nowhere a reference to the term ARBT. I thought that it would be relatively easy to get info about the ammunition used in the British anti-aircraft artillery.
Educated guesses only but ARBT could be an abbreviation for AiRBursT ie. rounds fired with a time fuse. RCR could be Radar Control Room. Tim
Thank you Tim, The text does look like the description of the technique for anti-aircraft barrage fire against an unseen target with a radar providing info to the gun batteries. I browsed the pages of a file I have regarding such AA barrage fire (see attached photos). I did not see the terms ARBT and RCR but your educated guess seems to be a good one. By the way, notice the the pamphlet mentioned in one of the pages I attached. This pamphlet has more details about the planning of a geographical barrage fire. The document is called M.A.A.D., Vol I, Pamphlet No. 10. Do you have any idea about the acromym M.A.A.D.? Thanks
It sounds reasonable, but I do not know why a Malta pamphlet would be mentioned in an Indian anti-aircraft manual.
I have a copy of Jobson's glossary of RA terms and even it doesn't have a proper definition for ARBT - and none for RCR. It just mentions that ARBT appears in 1938 ammunition returns to refer to 3.7" high explosive AA rounds.
Thank you for the info Chris, I did find the term Radar Control Room here The Lascaris War Rooms - Museum in Żabbar, Malta The very important Radar Control room, operated by the Royal Air Force, from where the island's air defense and all its activity in the region was coordinated. The operation of the radar was not yet very developed and it could not be distinguished whether they were allies or not. He was therefore in continuous harmony with the room where the messages were deciphered. Still no mention of the acronym in any official manual...
You're almost certainly correct as MAAD Vol 1 Pamphlet 10 is titled System of Fire Control (Heavy AA). Tim
Where did you get the title, and do you have any info regarding where I can find this manual? Edit: it seems the book is in the IWM Manual of anti-aircraft defence. Volume I : gunnery. Part I, pamphlet no. 10 : system of fire control (heavy A.A.), 1940 Does anybody know if one can pay for a digital photocopy ? pamak
Yes, now I will have to check if independent researchers are available to go there. I have paid for work in kew, but I have never done it for the IWM
Hi Pamak, You can order a copy from the IWM, but it will cost a bit. Ask a new request - RefTracker (altarama.com) They charge £0.40 per page, and they will treat each numbered page as a page, so facing pages (even at A5) will be copied and charged for separately. There is also, as I recall, a £2.50 fee per estimate request. So if you think there is anything else of interest add it to the same request, as any further requests are charged for individually. And, it takes forever... The same booklet is also available at the AWM; System of fire control (heavy A.A.) : 1940. Variant title: System of fire control (heavy anti-aircraft) Variant title: System of fire control (heavy anti-aircraft) I have used their service a lot over the last couple of years for pamphlets. They charge $0.50 per page copied, and in my experience will treat facing pages as a single copy, so you actually get two pages for $.050 in most cases. They do not charge a service fee. They do though take a long time, but not quite as long as the IWM (it is close though!). Request a copy estimate - RefTracker (altarama.com) I had a quick look re ARBT and could only find one web ref, and airburst does sound a good answer; Attack on RAF Detling, 13th August 1940 Gary
