Number of Churchill tanks in a regiment

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by peterjankers, May 14, 2016.

  1. peterjankers

    peterjankers Member

    This may be a stupid question and has probably been answered or mentioned before, but could someone please explain it to me?
    My father was in 34 Armoured Brigade - 153 then 147 then 107.
    I have read that the regiments were comprised of 58 Churchills.
    Three squadrons each of five troops of three - that makes 45
    I have also read that RHQ had 4 tanks and each squadron HQ also had 4 tanks.
    That makes 61
     
  2. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    A 1944 Churchill equipped Regt had 58 infantry tanks, 11 light tanks, 6 AA tanks and 3 armoured recovery vehicles (ARV).

    RHQ had 4 tanks
    Recce Tp 11 light tanks
    AA Tp 6 AA tanks

    Three Sqns, each
    Sqn HQ 3 tanks + 1 ARV
    Five Tps, each 3 tanks

    At the start of 1944 the Regts were supposed to have two OP tanks as well, but they were kicked up to Bde HQ by Mar/Apr 1944.

    Cruiser equipped Armd Regts had a fourth tank in Sqn HQ, so they had 61.

    Gary
     
  3. peterjankers

    peterjankers Member

    Thanks very much Gary, I thought it must have had something to do with Sqn HQ.
    Also, could you tell me what AA tanks were? Obviously anti-aircraft but which tanks and how were they set up?
    Peter
     
  4. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

  5. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    34 Tank Brigade organised their Stuarts as follows. Although officially a 'Recce Troop' it is a mini-Squadron. Note use of 'Sections'.

    HQ Section - 3 Stuart
    4 Sections of 2 Stuart

    After Greenline (after suffering damage and realising profile was an issue) the vast majority had their turrets removed.

    They did reorganise to three Troops of 4 tanks and one Troop of 3 tanks in each of the Brigade's Tank Regiments in early August.
     
  6. peterjankers

    peterjankers Member

    Many thanks Gary and Sniper - very helpful!
    Peter
     

Share This Page