How, if at all would the weapons establishment and bayonet strength of this Battalion varied from a contemporary "British" Machine gun Battalion of around 1941?
The 6th Rajputana Rifles M-G Battalion did not arrive in the Middle East until June 8th, 1942. The 5th Bn 5th Mahratta Light Infantry did not begin M-G training in the Middle East until January 1943 and the 17th Dogra M-G Battalion did not arrive in Iraq until late June 1942. So there was no Indian M-G Bn in 1941 in the Middle East. Regarding the 6th Rajputana Rifles M-G Bn, I have not come across any indication that it was equipped differently in 1942 than any British M-G Bn.
David, as ever many thanks. You even answered my next question before I asked it! So there was no Indian M-G Bn in 1941 in the Middle East. I suspected as much, hence my use of the word "around". Thank you.
The Indian issue Small Arms Training Pamphlets for the MMG do not explicitly indicate any differences in the formation of the MG Battalion. However, they do discuss Mule Drivers but I imagine these would not have formed part of the establishment on deployment to the Middle East. Richard
Richard: I agree that the Indian troops left their mules behind when they moved to the Middle East, although they later got reacquainted with them in Italy. David
Looking at the numbers though, they would have dropped Mule Drivers and picked up 15-cwt drivers for the MMGs so same War Establishment in numbers and weapons. In Italy, I believe the Mule Drivers were provided by the Indian Arm Service Corps rather than the original MG Bn but happy to be corrected as I can't find my source for that. Regards Richard
