CORPS ANTI TANK ARTILLERY Corps anti tank artillery was responsible for defence in depth of the corps area. It was more mobile since it had a large area to cover, and it could be used in a counter attack if required. CORPS ANTI TANK REGIMENT Initially a Corps anti tank regiment had the same organisation as that for the Armoured Division anti tank regiment but this was changed in February 1944. Thus the establishments for NW Europe were as shown below. Headquarters of a Corps Anti Tank Regiment. War Establishment III/308/1. February 1944 Anti Tank Battery, 3” M10 SP. War Establishment III/309/1. February 1944 Anti Tank Battery, 17dr track towed. War Establishment III/310/1. February 1944 Corp Anti Tank Regiments differed from the anti tank regiments in divisions mainly in their role. While the divisional anti tank units were holding the front line or supporting an assault the corps unit was responsible for providing defence in depth. According to the needs of the moment batteries and troops could be dispersed to the following tasks - providing anti tank defence for headquarters. One could never know when an enemy might launch an attack which would penetrate the front lines and reach well into the corps area. This was common in N Africa and of course it happened notably in the Ardennes in December 1944. - providing anti tank defence for key points such as bridges, cross roads, towns etc which were essential to the maintenance of supplies and communications. - providing anti tank defence for supply dumps and other installations in the corps area. - providing a mobile force to meet and destroy enemy tanks within the corps area - providing reinforcements for divisional anti tank defence. This could mean a wide dispersal of batteries and troops right across the corps area and extending well to the rear. Thus supply and communications became a considerable problem and new establishments were issued with revised supply, maintenance and communications elements. The basic organisation of the units remained unchanged. The equipment in the corps unit differed in that it was selected to best fill the needs of a unit with a wide area to cover. Thus the self propelled batteries used the faster M10 and M10 Achilles which gave good mobility compared with the Archer. The towed batteries used the Crusader gun tractor which was also fast and had good cross country performance. Clearly the towed batteries were better equipped to carry out basically static roles such as defending bridges and dumps while the self propelled batteries were best able to actively intercept and ambush enemy tanks. The following establishments apply to the following units. 62 Anti Tank Regiment 1 Corp 73 Anti Tank Regiment 30 Corp 86 Anti Tank Regiment 12 Corp and then 1 Corp 91 Anti Tank Regiment 8 Corp and then 12 Corp 63 Anti Tank Regiment was assigned to 2 Army and it is assumed that it had the same organisation. Some differences in the organisation and equipment are noted in the War Diaries and regimental histories etc. 91 Anti Tank Regiment started the campaign with two self propelled batteries. Half of the self propelled guns were M10 3” and half were Achilles 17pdr. The distribution of these is not known. By September all the M10 had been replaced by Achilles. There were also two batteries of towed guns with Crusader tractors. In July the Battery Commanding Officer and the troop leaders got Crusader gun tractors as OP vehicles. For the Rhine Crossing there were four troops in each battery and the Crusader tractors had been replaced by Quads. Presumably these were the new open bodied C8 FAT. 62 Anti Tank Regiment also started the campaign with two self propelled batteries. Again half of the self propelled guns were M10 and half were Achilles. HEADQUARTERS OF A CORPS ANTI TANK REGIMENT War Establishment III/308/1. February 1944 Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer Major, Second in Command Captain, Adjutant Captain, Technical Officer 2 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant signal serjeant duty serjeant tradesman Artificer RA or fitter (gun) serjeant clerk 3 X clerk 2 X driver mechanic 6 X driver operator staff serjeant storeman, technical storeman, technical vehicle mechanic non tradesman 6 X batman batman driver butchery dutyman 11 X drivers IC 4 X lmg numbers medical officers orderly 3 X motorcycle orderly sanitary dutyman storeman water dutyman 4 X motorcycle 1 X car 4seater 4 X 4 2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 4 X 15cwt GS 2 X 15cwt FFW 1 X 15cwt Office 1 X 15cwt Personnel 1 X 15cwt Water 3 X 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X Carrier Universal 3 X Bren lmg 1 X PIAT NOTE: The following ranks will be available for tradesmen in the regiment. This does not imply extra personnel and are to be shared amongst the headquarters and the four batteries. 2 X staff serjeant 5 X serjeant 2 X lance serjeant 7 X bombardier 9 X lance bombardier The following First Reinforcements are available for the headquarters and four batteries. Captain 4 X Subaltern serjeant 2 X bombardier 5 X lance bombardier 8 X drivers IC 40 X gunner Organisation Motorcycle 1 orderly Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 signalling serjeant Car 4 seater 4 X 4 Lieutenant Colonel commanding officer, Subaltern, batman, driver IC Car 5cwt 4 X 4 1 Artificer RA or gun fitter, vehicle mechanic Carries fitters stores Car 5cwt 4 X 4 2 Medical officer, batman driver 15cwt truck GS 1 staff serjeant technical storeman, duty serjeant, driver IC 15cwt truck GS 2 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren lmg 15cwt truck GS 3 2 X batman, cook ACC, driver operator, driver IC 15cwt truck GS 4 medical officers orderly, driver IC Carries medical stores. 15cwt truck FFW 1 Subaltern, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set 15cwt truck FFW 2 Quartermaster, batman, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set 15cwt Office Regimental Serjeant Major, serjeant clerk, clerk, driver IC 15cwt truck personnel Adjutant, clerk, batman, driver IC 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 technical storeman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries MT Stores Carries a PIAT 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 2 X cook, butchery dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Carries a Bren lmg 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 staff serjeant armourer, storeman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries Q stores Carrier Universal 1 Major, driver mechanic, driver operator Carries a Wireless set Carrier Universal 2 Technical Officer, batman, driver mechanic ANTI TANK BATTERY (SELF PROPELLED) War Establishment III/309/1. February 1944 Personnel Major 2 X Captain 4 X Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant signal serjeant 12 X serjeant No 1 of gun 3 X serjeant 3 X lance serjeant 12 X bombardier 12 X lance bombardier 64 X gunner Tradesmen Ranks and appointments for these are allotted on a regimental basis (see above) except when a battery is operating independently and not as part of a regiment. 2 X clerk 6 X driver mechanic 12 X driver mechanic AFV 26 X driver operator equipment repairer 5 X gun fitter technical storeman 7 X vehicle mechanic Non tradesmen 36 X ammunition number 4 X batman 3 X batman driver 14 X driver IC 24 X gun number 2 X motorcycle orderlies sanitary dutyman 3 X signaller storeman water dutyman Attached corporal electrician, vehicle and plant. REME officers mess cook ACC corporal cook ACC 3 X cook ACC Total 176 vehicles 4 X motorcycle 4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 3 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt FFW 1 X 15cwt water 1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 personnel 9 X 3ton 4 X 4 5 X carrier universal 1 X carrier, starting and charging 12 X 3” SP mounting Organisation Battery Headquarters Motorcycle 1 vehicle mechanic Motorcycle 2 signalling serjeant Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 orderly Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep) Battery Serjeant Major, vehicle mechanic 15cwt GS truck 1 clerk, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations 15cwt GS truck 2 storeman technical, vehicle mechanic, 2 X cook ACC, driver IC For cooked food distribution 15cwt GS truck 3 sanitary dutyman, 2 X cook ACC, driver operator, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren lmg 15cwt truck FFW Captain (Q duties), batman, clerk, 2 X driver operator 15cwt truck personnel Captain, batman, driver IC 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 gun fitter, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries Petrol Carries a PIAT 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 gun fitter, driver IC Carries fuel for gun mountings 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 battery quartermaster serjeant, storeman, equipment repairer, corporal cook, driver IC Carries Q stores Carrier Universal 1 Major, driver mechanic, driver operator Carries a No19 wireless set Carrier Universal 2 Subaltern, driver mechanic, driver operator Carries a No19 wireless set Carrier Staring and Charging electrician REME, driver mechanic, driver IC 3 X troop Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep) serjeant, batman driver 3ton 4 X 4 lorry GS 1 gun fitter, 6 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 72 rounds of ammunition Carries 2”mortar and ten round each smoke and illuminating Carries a Bren lmg For Section 1 3ton 4 X 4 lorry GS 2 vehicle mechanic, 6 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 72 rounds of ammunition Carries 2”mortar and ten round each smoke and illuminating For section 2 Carrier, Universal Subaltern, signaller, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries a Wireless set Carries a PIAT Section 1 M10 3” SP mounting serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set Carries 54 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg M10 3” SP mounting serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set Carries 54 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg Section 2 M10 3” SP mounting serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set Carries 54 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg M10 3” SP mounting serjeant, 2 X gun numbers, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set Carries 54 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg ANTI TANK BATTERY Track Towed War Establishment III/310/1. February 1944 Personnel Major 2 X Captain 4 X Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant 6 X serjeant No 1 of gun 3 X serjeant 6 X lance serjeant 13 X bombardier 13 X lance bombardier 81 X gunner Tradesmen Ranks and appointments for these are allotted on a regimental basis (see above) except when a battery is operating independently and not as part of a regiment. 5 X artificer 2 X clerk 13 X driver mechanic 12 X driver mechanic AFV 13 X driver operator equipment repairer technical storeman 7 X vehicle mechanic Non tradesmen 4 X batman 4 X batman driver 22 X driver IC 72 X gun number 6 X bombardier No 1 of gun 3 X motorcycle orderlies sanitary dutyman 3 X signaller storeman water dutyman Attached corporal electrician, vehicle and plant. REME officers mess cook ACC corporal cook ACC 4 X cook ACC Total 192 vehicles 4 X motorcycle 5 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 3 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt FFW 1 X 15cwt water 1 X 15cwt halftracked 6 X 3ton 4 X 4 12 X tractor 4 X 4 anti tank 4 X carrier universal 1 X carrier, starting and charging 12 X tank (Crusader type tractor) Organisation Battery Headquarters Motorcycle 1 orderly Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 Battery Serjeant Major Car 5cwt 4 X 4 Captain Q, 2 X driver operator Carries a wireless set Car 5cwt 4 X 4 Captain G, driver operator Carries a wireless set 15cwt GS truck 1 2 X cook ACC, 2 X batman, batman driver Carries cooking sets and rations 15cwt GS truck 2 batman, 2 X clerk, driver IC Carries office stores 15cwt GS truck 3 sanitary dutyman, storeman, artificer or gun fitter, driver IC Carries Bren lmg 15cwt water water dutyman, driver IC 15cwt halftrack FFW Subaltern, vehicle mechanic, 2 X driver operator Carries a No19 wireless set 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 storeman, equipment repairer, driver IC Carries Petrol 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 artificer or gun fitter, driver IC Carries Petrol Carries a Bren lmg 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 battery quartermaster serjeant, corporal cook, 3 X cook, driver IC Carries Q stores Carries a Bren lmg and PIAT Carrier Universal 1 Major, 2 X driver operator Carries a wireless set Carrier Staring and Charging electrician REME, driver mechanic, driver IC 3 X troop Car 5cwt 4 X 4 serjeant, batman driver 3ton 4 X 4 lorry GS 1 artificer or gun fitter, 2 X vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 80 rounds of ammunition Carries a Bren lmg and PIAT Carrier, Universal Subaltern, 2 X driver operator Carries No19 Wireless set Section 1 Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank No 7 of gun, driver mechanic Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank No 7 of gun, driver mechanic Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar Tractor, tracked (Crusader) serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun Tractor, tracked (Crusader) serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun Section 2 Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank No 7 of gun, driver mechanic Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar Tractor 4 X 4 Anti Tank No 7 of gun, driver mechanic Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Carries Bren lmg and 2” mortar Tractor, tracked (Crusader) serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun Tractor, tracked (Crusader) serjeant ( No1 of gun), numbers 2 to 6 of gun, driver IC, driver mechanic Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Tows 17pdr Anti Tank gun Note: When a battery organised on this establishment is operating in an assault role Wireless sets No18 will be allotted as follows. One Wireless set No18 to each troop commander One Wireless set No18 to each Crusader tractor These are for communication with the infantry units being supported.