Corps sound ranging troop

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  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    CORPS SOUND RANGING TROOP
    War Establishment XIV/431/1. September 1944.
    This was designed to be an increment to a Survey Regiment RA War Establishment III/13/8.

    The first equipment issued to counter mortars was an improved sound locating system. This used a new four pen recorder, Recorder SR No2 MkI, together with smaller microphones and a new control unit. Four microphones were spread over a 100 yard front and connected by wire to the recorder. This effectively recorded heavy mortar fire and enabled a speedy plotting and thus a speedy response. A further refinement in 1945 was to use a multiplex phoneline which allowed all four signals to travel down a single line using different frequencies.

    Captain
    6 X Subaltern
    signal serjeant
    lance serjeant
    3 X bombardier
    4 X lance bombardier
    27 X gunner
    57 X tradesman
    telecommunications mechanic REME
    2 X cook ACC

    Trades etc
    2 X bombardier driver operator
    2 X lance bombardier driver operator
    10 X driver operator
    6 X serjeant surveyor
    4 X lance serjeant surveyor
    bombardier surveyor
    4 X lance bombardier surveyor
    26 X surveyor
    lance serjeant vehicle mechanic
    lance bombardier vehicle mechanic
    7 X batman driver
    7 X driver
    3 X motor cycle orderly
    8 X gunner
    8 X signaller
    storeman
    water dutyman

    3 X motorcycle
    14 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    2 X halftrack FFW
    2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    7 X 10cwt trailer
    1 X water trailer


    Headquarters Section
    Captain
    Subaltern
    signal serjeant
    telecommunications mechanic REME
    2 X cook ACC
    2 X driver operator
    2 X serjeant surveyor
    4 X surveyor
    lance serjeant vehicle mechanic
    lance bombardier vehicle mechanic
    2 X batman driver
    3 X driver
    2 X motorcycle orderly
    storeman
    water dutyman

    2 X motorcycle
    2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    2 X halftrack FFW
    2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 10cwt trailer
    1 X water trailer


    Survey Section
    Subaltern
    bombardier surveyor
    6 X surveyor
    batman driver
    motorcycle orderly

    1 X motorcycle
    4 X jeep
    2 X 10cwt trailer


    4 X Sound Recorder Section
    Subaltern
    3 X driver operator
    serjeant surveyor
    lance serjeant surveyor
    lance bombardier surveyor
    4 X surveyor
    batman driver
    driver
    2 X gunner, line and wireless
    2 X signaller

    2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X 10cwt trailer
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    AN ARMY RADAR BATTERY RA 21 ARMY GROUP
    War Establishment XIV/452/1. September 1944.

    This applied to 100 Army Radar Battery

    As Heavy Anti Aircraft regiments were not much needed in their primary role some use was made of their radars for counter mortar work. There were a considerable number of Radar AA No3 MkII sets available and with very little modification these could be used to locate mortars. The moment a mortar round left the tube it became visible on the radar and its bearing and range could be determined very quickly. The limiting factor became the speed with which the information could be sent to the guns and acted upon.

    Major
    4 X Captain, Instructor in Fire Control
    Captain
    4 X Subaltern

    battery quartermaster serjeant
    duty serjeant
    3 X serjeant, technical instructor in fire control
    lance serjeant
    8 X bombardier
    8 X lance bombardier
    32 X gunner

    corporal cook ACC
    10 X cook ACC

    6 X clerk
    10 X driver mechanic
    30 X driver operator
    equipment repairer
    120 X operator fire control including
    10 X serjeant
    10 X lance serjeant
    10 X bombardier
    10 X lance bombardier
    80 X gunner
    5 X vehicle mechanic

    batman
    9 X batman driver
    11 X driver IC
    24 X gunner
    2 X motorcyclist
    sanitary dutyman
    storeman

    8 X motorcycle
    6 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    2 X 15cwt GS
    11 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    10 X tractor HAA
    10 X Equipment Radar AA No3 MkII
    10 X generator
    1 X water trailer

    Battery Headquarters
    Major
    Captain, Instructor in Fire Control
    Captain
    Subaltern

    battery quartermaster serjeant
    duty serjeant

    corporal cook ACC

    3 X clerk
    equipment repairer
    2 X vehicle mechanic
    batman
    3 X batman driver
    driver IC
    4 X gunner
    2 X motorcyclist
    sanitary dutyman
    storeman

    5 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    2 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X water trailer

    Headquarters Radar Section
    12 X operator fire control including
    serjeant
    lance serjeant
    bombardier
    lance bombardier
    8 X gunner
    driver IC
    gunner
    corporal cook ACC
    driver mechanic
    3 X driver operator

    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X tractor HAA
    1 X Equipment Radar AA No3 MkII
    1 X generator

    3 X Troop
    Headquarters
    Captain, Instructor in Fire Control
    Subaltern
    serjeant, technical instructor in fire control
    clerk
    vehicle mechanic
    2 X batman driver

    1 X motorcycle
    2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4

    3 X Section
    12 X operator fire control including
    serjeant
    lance serjeant
    bombardier
    lance bombardier
    8 X gunner
    driver IC
    gunner
    corporal cook ACC
    driver mechanic
    3 X driver operator

    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X tractor HAA
    1 X Equipment Radar AA No3 MkII
    1 X generator



    DIVISIONAL COUNTER MORTAR BATTERY
    War Establishment II/190E/1. December 1944.

    By late 1944 there were sufficient trained personnel and new equipment available to provide each division with a Counter Mortar Battery with sound ranging and radar sections.

    Personnel
    Major, Officer commanding
    4 X Captain, Assistant Counter Mortar Officer
    7 X Subaltern, Assistant Counter Mortar Officer

    battery quartermaster serjeant
    signalling serjeant
    serjeant

    Tradesmen
    10 X clerk
    24 X driver operator
    3 X driver mechanic
    serjeant operator, fire control
    lance serjeant operator, fire control
    2 X bombardier operator, fire control
    8 X operator, fire control
    serjeant surveyor
    lance serjeant surveyor
    2 X bombardier surveyor
    5 X surveyor
    storeman, technical
    2 X vehicle mechanic

    Non tradesmen
    2 X batman
    7 X batman driver
    5 X driver IC
    motorcycle orderly
    7 X signaller

    Total 98 all ranks

    Plus attached
    corporal instrument mechanic (signals), Royal Signals – from Infantry Division Signals
    electrician (control equipment) REME – from Infantry Brigade Workshop
    corporal telecommunications mechanic REME – from Infantry Brigade Workshop
    telecommunications mechanic REME – from Infantry Brigade Workshop
    3 X cook ACC

    Total 101 all ranks including attached
    Note:
    The official totals including attached is 101 but this does not include personnel attached from other units in the division – Royal Signals and REME.

    First reinforcements
    2 X subaltern
    lance bombardier
    6 X gunner

    2 X motorcycle
    1 X car 4seater 4 X 4
    3 X jeep
    2 X scout car
    5 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    3 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS fitted with hand cable layer
    9 X 15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    1 X 15cwt halftrack, personnel. FFW
    3 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    2 X tractor (either Medium 4 X 4 or Heavy 6 X 4)
    3 X trailer 10cwt GS
    1 X water trailer
    1 X trailer with 15KVA generating set
    1 X trailer Radar AA, No3, Mk2(F)

    Organisation

    Battery Headquarters
    Motorcycle
    signalling serjeant
    Car 4 seater 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)
    Major (Officer Commanding), clerk, batman
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    Subaltern (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X clerk, batman driver.
    15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    Subaltern (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), clerk, 2 X driver operator
    Carries wireless set No22
    3ton 4 X 4 GS
    battery quartermaster serjeant, storeman (technical), cook ACC, batman,
    2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set No22 (ground station)

    Note:
    Wireless ground stations are unusual in 21 Army Group divisional units but were fairly common in other theatres and at earlier times. They are the same wireless sets as fitted in vehicles but are supplied in cases and with all fittings for setting up on the ground, or in a suitable building.

    Infantry Brigade Section
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    Captain (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X clerk, batman driver
    15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    Subaltern (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set No22

    Infantry Brigade Section
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    Captain (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X clerk, batman driver
    15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    Subaltern (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set No22

    Infantry Brigade Section
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    Captain (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X clerk, batman driver
    15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    Subaltern (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set No22


    Mortar Location Troop
    Headquarters
    Motorcycle
    orderly
    Scout Car
    Captain (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), 2 X driver operator
    Carries a Wireless set
    15 cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    serjeant, 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set No22.
    3ton 4 X 4 GS
    2 X vehicle mechanic, batman, corporal instrument mechanic RS, driver IC.
    Tows a water trailer.

    Note:
    The Scout Car could be replaced by a Light Reconnaissance Car.
    The driver IC is trained in water duties.


    Radar Section
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
    Subaltern, batman driver
    Tows a 10cwt trailer
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    3 X signaller, driver IC
    Carries a hand cable layer
    15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    operator (fire control), 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set No22

    15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    operator (fire control), 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set No22
    15cwt 4 X 4 FFW
    operator (fire control), 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set No22
    3ton 4 X 4 GS
    cook ACC, driver IC
    Carries cooking sets and stores
    Tractor



    3 X operator (fire control), corporal telecommunication mechanic (HAA) REME, driver mechanic
    [/list][/list] Tows radar trailer
    Tractor
    4 X operator (fire control), telecommunication mechanic (HAA) REME,
    driver mechanic
    Tows a generator trailer.

    Note:
    A tractor would not normally be required to tow the generator but it is also a reserve tractor for the radar trailer.


    Sound Ranging Section
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4
    serjeant surveyor, 2 X surveyor
    Tows a 10cwt trailer
    Carries recorder stores
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4
    2 X surveyor
    Tows a 10cwt trailer

    Scout Car
    Subaltern (Assistant Counter Mortar Officer), batman driver

    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    2 X signaller, driver IC
    Fitted with hand cable layer
    Carries recorder stores and cable
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    2 X signaller, driver IC
    Fitted with hand cable layer
    Carries recorder stores and cable
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    cook ACC, electrician (control equipment) REME, driver mechanic
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    2 X surveyor, 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set No22

    15cwt halftrack personnel FFW
    2 X surveyor, 2 X driver operator
    Carries a wireless set No22


    Radar AA No3 MkII
    There were a considerable number of Radar AA No3 MkII sets available since there was little work for AA artillery and many Heavy AA Regiments were formed into infantry battalions. With very little modification these radar sets could be used to locate mortars. The radar was then Radar AA No3 MkII (F). The moment a mortar round left the tube it became visible on the radar and its bearing and range could be determined very quickly. The most accurate use was when it was linked to a 3 pen Westex Recorder which took bearings from three radars and plotted them. Bearings and range from a single radar was still accurate to 150 yards. These radars and associated equipment were used in Divisional Counter Mortar Batteries.

    This radar could also be used for tracking meteorological balloons.


    Radar AA No3 MkV
    This was much more accurate than the Radar AA No3 MkIII. It was the US SCR 584 which was a very advanced equipment for its day. It was still required for anti aircraft work but some were made available for counter mortar work. In its primary role it could locate and automatically track aircraft and use an integral computer (Predictor Mk10) to work out the big sums needed to predict where an aircraft would be when a shell arrived. It could also control a battery of anti aircraft guns. Each gun automatically followed the radar and fired remotely under radar control. Much of this was redundant in a mortar locating radar but its ability to track incoming rounds, and to do the necessary calculations made location both quick and accurate. The whole equipment was mounted in a box semi trailer.

    In theory Radar AA No3 MkV could locate and fire direct onto moving ground targets. The US Army did so on one occasion.

    Radar FA No3 Mk2.
    The most practical counter mortar radar came just too late for service in WWII. This used a US airborne radar which was light and accurate. Carried in a trailer towed by a halftrack it was very mobile and the dish could be mounted separately. It was trial mounted on an artillery observation tower. Weighing only 600lbs it used only a 1.2KVa generator. The crew in the halftrack included two operators and a plotter with artillery board.



    Field Artillery Radar.
    It was possible to use any of the anti aircraft radars for accurate location of enemy artillery by having a spotter aircraft fly over the site and have the radar track it. The pilot only needed to signal when he was directly overhead the target and the exact location could be worked out very quickly.

    Radar CA No1 Mk4 (F).
    Another use of redundant radar was for ranging artillery fire. Radar CA No1 Mk4 was a 3cm wavelength Coastal Artillery radar set used to spot the fall of shell in coastal batteries. Mounted on a trailer it was used to observe shell bursts up to 20,000 yards away. This allowed artillery fire to be controlled well beyond the range of observers and in all conditions. It also allowed the engagement of moving targets. As used in 21 Army Group it became Radar CA No1 Mk4 (F). Power supply was a trailer mounted 15KVa generator.

    Radar FA No1 Mk4 (F).
    This was developed from Radar CA No1 Mk4 (F). It was mounted on a half track with a large house type body accommodating three operators. The aerial array was roof mounted. Performance was as for the CA set. Power supply was from a 6.25KVa generator carried in a trailer.
     
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