Super Heavy Regiment

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  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    SUPER HEAVY REGIMENT (ROAD) 21ARMY GROUP


    Headquarters Super Heavy Group. War Establishment III/328/1
    Super Heavy Regiment (Road). War Establishment XIV/523/1. August 1944.
    Super Heavy Battery (Rail) 18” Howitzer, Cadre. War Establishment XIV/524/1 August 1944.

    Coast Observation Detachment. War Establishment III/313/1. March 1944.


    HEADQUARTERS SUPER HEAVY GROUP RA.
    War Establishment III/328/1

    Brigadier
    Brigade Major
    2 X Staff Captain

    3 X batman
    4 X batman driver
    Warrant Officer Class I clerk, RA clerks section
    Staff Serjeant Clerk, RA clerks section
    serjeant clerk, RA clerks section
    clerk
    duty serjeant
    6 X driver IC
    4 X motorcycle orderly
    bombardier QM and MT dutyman
    sanitary dutyman
    5 X signaller
    vehicle mechanic

    Attached
    2 X Chaplain RAChD
    Warrant Officer Class 1, Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer RAOC
    Deputy Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineers, REME
    officers mess cook ACC
    2 X cook ACC


    Transport
    5 X motorcycle
    4 X car 2 seater
    2 X car 4 seater 4 X 4
    1 X 15cwt truck GS fitted with hand cable layer
    3 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X water trailer 180 gallon

    2 X Bren lmg

    Organisation
    Motorcycle 1
    orderly
    Motorcycle 2
    orderly
    Motorcycle 3
    orderly
    Motorcycle 4
    orderly
    Motorcycle 5
    signaller

    Car 2 seater 1
    Chaplain, batman driver
    Car 2 seater 2
    Chaplain, batman driver
    Car 2 seater 3
    Deputy Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineers, vehicle mechanic,
    batman driver
    Car 2 seater 4
    WO1 Brigade Ordnance Officer, driver IC

    Car 4 seater 4 X 4 1
    Brigadier, batman driver
    Car 4 seater 4 X 4 2
    Brigade Major, 2 X Staff Captain, driver IC

    15cwt truck GS
    4 X signaller, driver IC
    Fitted with hand cable layer
    Carries signal stores

    3ton 4 X 4 GS 1
    3 X clerk (RA clerks section), clerk, driver IC
    For use as office
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 2
    3 X cook, 2 X batman, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and rations
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 3
    duty serjeant, QM and MT dutyman, sanitary dutyman, batman, driver IC
    Carries QM and MT stores
    Tows water trailer




    SUPER HEAVY REGIMENT (ROAD)
    War Establishment XIV/523/1. August 1944.

    Personnel
    Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding
    Major, Second in Command
    3 X Major
    Captain, Adjutant
    3 X Captain
    14 X Subaltern
    Quartermaster

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    3 X Battery Serjeant Major
    3 X battery quartermaster serjeant
    3 X signalling serjeant
    survey serjeant
    duty serjeant
    12 X serjeant
    7 X lance serjeant
    27 X bombardier
    37 X lance bombardier
    244 X gunner
    Total 471

    Plus attached
    serjeant nursing orderly RAMC
    armourer serjeant REME
    3 X staff serjeant armament artificer (field) REME
    4 X officers mess cooks ACC
    3 X corporal cook ACC
    11 X cook ACC

    Tradesmen
    6 X artificer RA or gun fitter
    8 X battery surveyor
    serjeant clerk, RA clerks section
    6 X clerk
    28 X driver mechanic
    18 X driver mechanic AFV
    32 X driver operator
    3 X equipment repairer
    serjeant technical storeman
    4 X technical storeman
    7 X vehicle mechanic

    Non Tradesmen
    24 X ammunition number
    17 X batman
    7 X batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    75 X driver IC
    6 X gun position officer’s assistant
    96 X gun number
    16 X lmg numbers
    medical officers orderly
    15 X motorcycle orderly
    12 X observation post assistants
    39 X signaller
    4 X sanitary dutyman
    4 X storeman
    4 X water dutyman

    Notes:
    Repair tradesmen may be allotted the following additional ranks and appointments
    staff serjeant
    serjeant
    lance serjeant
    2 X bombardier
    3 X lance bombardier

    Left at base.
    serjeant clerk (RA clerks section)

    First reinforcements.
    3 X subaltern
    serjeant
    2 X bombardier
    3 X lance bombardier
    30 X gunner


    Total vehicles
    12 X motorcycle
    18 X jeep
    2 X car 4 seater 4 X 4
    7 X truck 15cwt GS
    1 X truck 15cwt office
    4 X truck 15cwt water
    20 X truck 15cwt halftrack FFW
    16 X lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    18 X lorry 6ton 6 X 4 or 6 X 6
    18 X Heavy Tractor High Speed M6
    6 X armoured observation post
    3 X truck mounted crane
    3 X 1 ton trailer
    3 X trailer, clamshell

    Note:
    If 15cwt halftracks FFW are not available 15cwt 4 X 4 personnel or 4 X 2 FFW may be issued in lieu. In addition two trucks in each battery will be fitted with hand cable layers.

    Attached
    Independent Regiment RA Signal Section RS
    Light Aid Detachment Type A (Modified) REME


    Regimental Headquarters
    Personnel
    Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding
    Major, Second in Command
    Captain, Adjutant
    2 X Subaltern
    Quartermaster

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    survey serjeant
    duty serjeant
    4 X bombardier
    26 X gunner
    Total 55

    Plus attached
    medical orderly RAMC
    armourer serjeant REME
    officers mess cook ACC
    2 X cook ACC

    Tradesmen
    8 X battery surveyor
    serjeant clerk, RA clerks section
    3 X clerk
    2 X driver operator
    serjeant technical storeman
    technical storeman
    vehicle mechanic

    Non Tradesmen
    5 X batman
    batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    12 X driver IC
    4 X lmg numbers
    medical orderly
    3 X motorcycle orderly
    sanitary dutyman
    storeman
    water dutyman

    Organisation
    Motorcycle 1
    orderly.
    Motorcycle 2
    orderly
    Motorcycle 3
    orderly

    4 seater car 4 X 4 1
    Commanding Officer, subaltern, driver IC
    4 seater car 4 X 4 2
    Second in Command, operator RS, driver IC
    Carries a Wireless set

    5 cwt car 4 X 4 1
    Subaltern, battery surveyor
    5 cwt car 4X 4 2
    survey serjeant, battery surveyor
    5 cwt car 4 X 4 3
    2 X battery surveyor
    5cwt car 4 X 4 4
    2 X battery surveyor
    5cwt car 4 X 4 5
    nursing orderly, driver IC
    5 cwt car 4 X 4 6
    duty serjeant, vehicle mechanic

    15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 1
    quartermaster serjeant, storeman technical, batman driver
    15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 2
    2 X battery surveyors
    Carried survey stores
    15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 3
    2 X lmg numbers, driver IC
    Carried 2 X Bren gun
    15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 4
    medical orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC
    Carried medical stores

    15cwt truck Office
    Regimental Serjeant Major, 2 X clerks, driver IC
    15cwt truck halftrack FFW
    Adjutant, serjeant clerk, 2 X lmg number, driver IC
    Carries office stores
    Carries 2 X Bren lmg and a PIAT
    Carries Wireless set
    15cwt truck halftrack FFW
    2 X driver operator
    Carries Wireless set (Artillery/R)

    15cwt truck water
    water dutyman, driver IC

    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1
    storeman, 5 X batman, driver IC
    Carries MT stores
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2
    3 X cook, butchery dutyman, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets, and rations
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, clerk, driver IC
    Carries Quartermaster stores.
    Carries Bren lmg
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4


    storeman technical, driver IC
    [/list] Carries petrol



    Battery X 3
    Headquarters
    Personnel
    Major
    Captain
    4 X Subaltern

    Battery Serjeant Major
    battery quartermaster serjeant
    signalling serjeant
    4 X bombardier
    41 X gunner

    Plus attached
    Armament artificer REME
    officers mess cooks ACC
    2 X cook ACC

    Tradesmen
    2 X artificer RA or gun fitter
    clerk
    3 X driver mechanic
    2 X driver mechanic AFV
    10 X driver operator
    equipment repairer
    technical storeman

    Non Tradesmen
    4 X batman
    2 X batman driver
    11 X driver IC
    2 X gun position officers assistant
    4 X lmg numbers
    3 X motorcycle orderly
    3 X observation post assistants
    13 X signaller
    sanitary dutyman
    storeman
    water dutyman


    Organisation
    Motorcycle 1
    orderly
    Motorcycle 2
    orderly
    Motorcycle 3
    orderly

    5cwt car 4 X 4 1
    Subaltern (Battery Leader), batman driver, driver operator
    Carries wireless set
    5cwt car 4 X 4 2
    Battery Serjeant Major, gunfitter
    5cwt car 4 X 4 3
    signal serjeant, signaller
    5cwt car 4 X 4 4
    signaller, batman driver
    Battery Commanders Car

    15cwt truck GS
    4 X batman, cook, driver IC
    For cooked food distribution.

    15cwt truck water
    water dutyman, driver IC

    15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 1
    Subaltern Gun Position Officer, gun position officer’s assistant, 2 X driver operator
    Carries Wireless set No19
    15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 2
    Subaltern Assistant Gun Position Officer, gun position officer’s assistant, 2 X driver
    operator
    Carries Wireless set No19
    15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 3
    clerk, 2 X signaller, driver operator
    Carries a PIAT
    Carries Wireless for Artillery R
    15cwt truck Halftrack FFW 4
    Captain, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator
    Carries Wireless set No19
    15cwt truck Halftrack 5
    4 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC
    Carries Bren lmg
    Carries a mechanical cable layer and cable reels.
    15cwt truck Halftrack 6
    5 X signaller, driver IC
    Carries a hand cable layer and cable reels.

    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1
    battery quartermaster serjeant, electrician RS, sanitary dutyman,
    storeman, driver IC
    Carries quartermaster stores and charging set
    Tows a 1 ton trailer
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2
    storeman (technical), driver IC
    Carries petrol
    3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3
    2 X lmg number, equipment repairer, fitter, armament artificer, driver IC
    Carries MT stores
    Carries a Bren lmg and a PIAT
    3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4
    4 X cooks, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and rations

    Tractor Heavy High Speed M6 1
    driver mechanic, driver IC
    Spare vehicle
    Tractor Heavy High Speed M6 2
    driver mechanic, driver IC
    Spare vehicle

    Armoured Observation Post Carrier 1
    Major, observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic
    Carries Wireless set No19
    Armoured Observation Post Carrier
    Subaltern, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator
    Carries Wireless set No19

    Truck Mounted Crane
    lance serjeant driver IC (crane operator), driver mechanic
    Tows a trailer with clamshell

    Note:
    A Carrier, Observation Post was used initially but these may have been replaced by an Observation Post Tank later.


    Section X 2
    Personnel
    2 X serjeant
    3 X corporal
    41 X gunner

    2 X driver mechanic
    2 X driver mechanic AFV
    vehicle mechanic
    4 X ammunition number
    4 X driver IC
    driver IC as crane operator
    16 X gun number


    6ton lorry 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 1
    gun numbers 9 to 14, driver mechanic, driver IC
    Carries 15 rounds of ammunition
    Carries a PIAT
    6ton lorry 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 2
    serjeant gun number 18, gun numbers 15 to 17, driver mechanic, driver IC
    Carries 15 rounds of ammunition
    Carries a Bren lmg
    6ton lorry 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 3
    4 X ammunition number, vehicle mechanic, driver IC
    Carries 15 round of ammunition
    Carries a Bren lmg

    Tractor Heavy High Speed M6
    serjeant gun number 1, gun numbers 2 to 4, driver mechanic ARV, driver IC
    Tows gun transport trailer
    Carries 10 rounds of ammunition
    Tractor Heavy High Speed M6
    Gun numbers 5 to 8, driver mechanic AFV, driver IC
    Tows carriage transport trailer
    Carries 10 rounds of ammunition



    There were two Super Heavy Regiments in 21 Army Group

    • 3 Super Heavy Regiment with five batteries
    • 61 Super Heavy Regiment with three batteries.
    These two regiments formed a Super Heavy Artillery Group which acted as a holding unit. They were assigned to Army Group Royal Artillery as required.

    The 240mm howitzer.
    These large howitzers were well thought of but were relatively little used. This was partly because there was little opportunity to deploy siege artillery and partly because tactical air power did the job better.

    It fired a 360lb shell
    Maximum range was 25,225 yards. A reduced charge was available which gave a maximum range of 8,450 yards. Maximum elevation was 65 degrees
    Traverse was 20 degrees either side


    The 8” gun
    Very few of these big guns were made and issued. They were not very accurate and the wear on the barrel was excessive.

    It fired a 240lb shell
    Maximum range was

    • 30,315 yards using Normal Charge
    • 35,635 yards using Super Charge
    • 8,450 yards using Reduced Charge
    Maximum elevation was 50 degrees
    Traverse was 20 degrees either side

    The 8” gun and the 240mm howitzer used the same carriage. Both guns were so heavy that it had to be broken into two loads, each with its own transporter. The barrel and recoil system were carried on one carriage and the trail on the second. Each was towed by a M6 38ton fully tracked tractor. Fully loaded each carriage weighed some 50,000 lbs.

    The tractor was the Tractor, High Speed, 38ton M6. In fact the high speed was to distinguish it from agricultural and construction type tractors. Maximum speed was 21 mph. It was however a powerful tractor, using two Waukesha 6 cylinder petrol engines of 817 cubic inches capacity each. Fuel consumption was o.3 miles per gallon. It carried a crew of eleven and fourteen rounds of ammunition.

    Further ammunition was carried on the three 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Tractors per gun. These were Scammell Pioneer (6 X 4), Albion CX22 (6 X 4) or Mack NM (6 X 6).

    The mobile crane was Crane, Truck Mounted, M2 (Lorraine 6 X 6) which towed a trailer carrying the clamshell excavator. As a crane it lifted the carriage and barrel loads from the transporter and emplaced them. As a clamshell excavator it dug the pit which was needed to allow the breech to recoil at high elevation, and to accommodate the recoil spades. Guns could be emplaced without the crane by using the winches on the various tractors plus a lot of manpower. This required at least eight hours hard work against two hours with the crane.
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    SUPER HEAVY BATTERY RA 21 Army Group 18” Howitzer, cadre.
    War Establishment XIV/524/1 August 1944.
    This establishment is for a cadre only. More personnel would be required if and when the battery became operational. The table is a 21 Army Group document and the battery was earmarked for service in NW Europe if required. In the event there was no demand for it and the battery remained in the UK until disbanded at the end of 1944.

    Consisting of a Headquarters and two sections each with one 18” howitzer on railway mounting.

    Major
    Captain
    2 X Subaltern

    Battery Serjeant Major
    battery quartermaster serjeant
    2 X serjeant
    2 X bombardier
    4 X lance bombardier
    12 X gunner

    Trades
    2 X artificer RA
    2 X battery surveyor
    clerk
    2 X gun fitter
    batman
    batman driver
    driver IC
    storeman
    2 X gun position officer’s assistants
    12 X gun numbers

    Attached
    electrician (diesel electric locomotive) RE
    fitter (locomotive, diesel) RE
    lance serjeant railway engine driver RE
    lance corporal railway engine driver RE
    2 X railway engine driver RE
    staff serjeant traffic operator RE
    carriage and wagon repairer RE

    2 X Warrant Officer Class II armament artificer REME
    2 X cook ACC

    Transport
    2 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt GS
    2 X diesel electric locomotive
    2 X 18” howitzer mounting
    2 X 18” howitzer shell truck
    4 X cartridge van
    2 X gun store and artificers shop van
    7 X mens sleeping vans


    Headquarters
    Major
    Captain

    Battery Serjeant Major
    battery quartermaster serjeant
    clerk
    batman
    batman driver
    driver IC
    storeman

    Attached
    electrician (diesel electric locomotive) RE
    fitter (locomotive, diesel) RE
    staff serjeant traffic operator RE
    carriage and wagon repairer RE
    2 X cook ACC

    Transport
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt GS
    1 X mens sleeping vans


    2 X Section each
    Subaltern

    serjeant
    bombardier
    lance bombardier
    6 X gunner

    Trades
    artificer RA
    battery surveyor
    gun fitter
    gun position officer’s assistants
    6 X gun numbers (one to act as batman)

    Attached
    4 X railway engine driver RE
    Warrant Officer Class II armament artificer REME

    Transport
    1 X motorcycle
    1 X diesel electric locomotive
    1 X 18” howitzer mounting
    1 X 18” howitzer shell truck
    2 X cartridge van
    1 X gun store and artificers shop van
    3 X mens sleeping vans
     
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