Does anyone have a good source that would give details on the activity of the various artillery units with the BEF in France in 1940. In most of the accounts I have read there is very little information on how the artillery was used and most infantry actions seem almost to have been fought without artillery support, or at least it does not get mentioned in the reports. I know that the coordination between the armored units and infantry was poor, if it existed at all? Were there similar issues between the artillery and infantry, or was the front simply too fluid for effective use of the artillery? I understand that the artillery suffered substantial casualties and that all or most of the guns were destroyed or left in France and would appreciate any information on the actions and sacrifices of the arm.
My perception is that the Royal Artillery, particularly the field regiments came out of France with their reputations very much enhanced and it was often the artillery with their more fixed positions who brought some steadiness to an over-stretched front. I believe that on the Ypres-Comines canal, they put down a barrage that was not equalled until El-Alamein. Unfortunately, Corps and Regimental histories which cover the whole war tend to gloss over May 1940 so your research is likely to be piecemeal.
The Years of Defeat by Farndale is the RA's regimental history covering the period. That's as good a place to start as any. And here's a freebie: Hondeghem
The Years of Defeat 1939-41 by Farndale springs to mind. It's rather good at cover the RA story in France
Thanks everyone. Rob, that is almost 2000 pieces of artillery lost in a month. Truly staggering numbers. There could not have been much left in Britain, and the replacement cost must have been equally staggering. I was reading somewhere that infantrymen who returned from France without their rifles were charge five pounds, the replacement cost of an SMLE at the time. If it is true it seems a little unfair when millions of pounds worn of equipment was left or destroyed during the retreat!
Anyone know what would tow the heavy stuff 4.5in and above ? Always curious about how many Scammells were lost , they crop up very regularly in German soldiers snaps.
4.5 howitzer was a Field Gun and towed by a quad (generally). Not to be confused with the later 4.5 gun (similar to the 5.5). Plenty of pictures of Scammells towing 6 in howitzers and 60 pdrs (and also the 4.5/60pdr, though I thought it was a 4.7/60pdr). Chris
Thanks , so if we say all the medium artillery that's 272 and if we add the heavy artillery another 53 so that's 322 no. . Adding spare vehicles , recovery and tank transporter Scammell Pioneers suppose 400-500 would be a reasonable estimate . A hell of a loss . Craig
Hi, I wonder if it is possible that anybody make a guess or estimate the percentage of this loss to the war estblishment so we can understand the true impact of these numbers? David
To answer my own question, of the 5 regular army divisions, 4 were sent to France in Sept 1940, and assuming total loss of all heavy equipment, that gives a 80% loss rate. But the division remaining at home was only partly equipped so we could reasonably assume that at least 90% of the total war establishment equipment for the enitre army was lost in France in 1940. In my notes these figures for losses are close to your estimates: 2,300 guns, 400 tanks, 63,900 motor vehicles, 1/2 million tons of stores.
Rob, in that list of losses I see no mention of 7.2" howitzers. Just wondering if they had them in France as I have got a couple floating around in my 6mm army and assumed they were present. [edit: just going by Wikipedia, the 7.2" apparently was a rebarrelled 8" howitzer, converted after the France campaign]
It is very clear that the losses in artillery and anti-aircraft weapons had a major impact on the proposed defence of the UK following Dunkirk. Although Ironside put up stoplines in Southern England there were not enough guns to defend them and this lasted well into 1941.
