Colleagues; Before the actual book was printed I had already started to work at a new one. You will probably not really be surprised if I tell you that it is dealing again with a 'special story' of the Desert Campaign of WW2. What else. In the last book we had only one 'boxout' chapter dealingwith a German unit, Gruppe Schwerin. This time the "German Involvment" in the content is the most important one of the content. Again it will be in English but I intend to use the German expressions for the military ranks. A Hauptmann shall remain a Hauptmann and not become a Captain. However, the expressions shall be translated in footnotes so that all remains clear for the reader. Now, I thought to open this thead to ask you to help me with translations of such expressions on one hand... ...and, since some of the research material comes from UK archives, I would need as well explanations for some British expressions respective used shortforms. I hope I will not bother you too much with my questions
Question 1) Berger should then have been again in the area of Murzuk, this time as C.S.M.[1] with Sonderkommando XY under... [1] What is C.S.M? (from a British interrogation protocoll of a POW)
Question 4) One section of 34 RMT. Coy[1] was sent to Halfa in February to be followed later by the whole company. [1] Explain R.M.T.
Babel says Gefechtsstand = Command Post Ref. Bren Van: The Bren would be the Bren gun and I would assume it would be fixed to a van by some sort of pintle mount. Think Bren Carrier.
Ref. Bren Van: The Bren would be the Bren gun and I would assume it would be fixed to a van by some sort of pintle mount. Think Bren Carrier. Was with the SDF - guess that 'van' rather refers to a light truck - maybe with a mounted Bren gun (the famous "Bren Carrier" was actually also the "Universal Carrier"...)
Question 7) 1 BO 2 NOs 114 NORs[1] [1] Explain these ranks. Again in regard of the SDF: BO = British Officer NO = National (Sudanese) Officers NOR = Nationals, Other Ranks ...only guessing...
Was with the SDF - guess that 'van' rather refers to a light truck - maybe with a mounted Bren gun (the famous "Bren Carrier" was actually also the "Universal Carrier"...) Not really, the Universal Carrier was the fusion of the Bren Carrier and something else for rationalization. Wikipedia got it completely wrong. If I may quote a 1969 Airfix Magazine article at you: INTRODUCED into service in 1940, the Universal Carrier was designed to perform the role of both the Bren and Scout Carrier. The general construction of the hull was a combination of both these machines, but with protection plates on both sides and at the rear, the previous machines only having armour plate on one side of the vehicle. The engine cover was of a modified design having bullet-proof plates on top only, the side plates being of mild steel and easily detachable. Angular mud deflectors were fitted on the front track guards, and two rear steps were fitted, one each side of the vehicle. A crew of three was carried, two in the front compartment, the driver and gunner, with a third man seated in the rear right-hand side of the hull. The main weapon fitted in the gun housing varied, and was either a .55 inch Boys anti-tank rifle, a .303 inch Bren LMG, or even a Vickers .303 inch medium machine gun (this latter was common practice on Australian carriers). When the Bren LMG was fitted in the machine gun housing the vehicle was sometimes erroneously called a Bren Carrier. These vehicles were often re-armed in the field to suit users' requirements and were fitted with a variety of weapons, which included: .30 inch Browning MG, .50 inch Browning MG, German 20 mm Solothurn anti-tank gun. These weapons were usually mounted on pintle sockets in the rear compartment. Light weapons like the PIAT were sometimes fitted in the front compartment. Several carrier units, to achieve extra fire-power, mounted the 2 inch mortar on the engine cover of their carriers. The desirability of mounting these mortars as vehicle equipment for certain roles led to the preparation of a design of mountXing to be fitted in the gunner's compartment. This became a standard fitting in 1943, being included in all Universals of Mark II standard. The stowage arrangement of equipment in the carrier depended on the role that the carrier was to undertake, eg, Scout or Infantry carrier, etc. Used initially in the Western Desert and subsequently in all campaigns in all theatres of war, Universal Carriers were supplied to all Allied armies (Russia receiving 200) except the USA. The Carrier Universal Mk I designation covered also the Bren and Scout Carriers that were converted to Universal standard. The Universal Carrier remained the standard combat carrier throughout the war. Apart from improvements in design the only wartime developments were the production of specially modified versions, the Artillery OP Carrier, 3 inch Mortar Carrier and carrier for flame-throwing equipment. Brief details: Crew, 3; Weight, 4 to 41/4 tons; Armament, 1 x .55 inch Boys Anti-Tank Rifle or 1 x .303 inch Bren LMG; Engine, Ford V-8, 65 bhp; Speed, 30 mph. Armour basis, 7-10 mm. Provision was made for the fitting of a No 11 wireless set. Here they are from a 1941 book I have, it's not a net find These are the original Bren Carriers, the most obvious change in the later Universal Carrier is the horizontal and vertical plates in the passenger compartment. Here is a Universal Carrier wrongfully labeled as a Bren Carrier in Life Mag. http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/d86c2df862a7a8b1_landing Compare the sides of the crew compartment. [edit:] In Wikipedia discussion someone added: "There were several different types of Carrier that varied slightly in design according to their function, designated: "Medium Machine Gun Carrier", "Bren Gun Carrier", "Scout Carrier" and "Cavalry Carrier". It was obvious that production of a single model would be preferred and the Universal appeared in 1940. The Universal would be the most widely produced of the Carriers. It differed from the previous models in having a rectangular body shape in rear section, with more space for crew."
Kuno, what is the context of 'Bren van' ? Could you copy the whole sentence ? 'Van' doesn't sound like WD terminology at all, or is it a British translation of a German report ? It couldn't be a miss-print for 'Bren man', could it ? Rich
Question 7) 1 BO 2 NOs 114 NORs[1] [1] Explain these ranks. Again in regard of the SDF: BO = British Officer NO = National (Sudanese) Officers NOR = Nationals, Other Ranks ...only guessing... I don't know, but given the time, could the 'N' perhaps stand for 'Negro'?
60 vehicles were withdrawn from the Kassala area[1] to start the convoys, and with some more from the Khartoum area, they set off by road from Khartoum for the journey to Wadi Halfa on 17th April 1941. The convoy comprised:- 1 BO 2 NOs 114 NORs[2] 4 Bren Vans[3] 41 Ford 30 cwts 37 Maple Leaf Chevrolets 1 Wireless Van 1 Ambulance [1] Where is this? [2] Explain these ranks. [3] What is a Bren Van?
Psst! Kassala :p Wadi Halfa, by the way. Maple Leaf Chevrolets are obviously Chevys of Canadian make. As for Vans, I have a Commer Q2 15cwt 4x2 Van in an old 'Bellona Military Vehicle Data' booklet so assuming this is correct then the designation Van did exist. Now a Bren Van is a different kettle of fish. Any light vehicle that might carry a Bren for AA or self defence?
