I have tried to find what the commonest towing vehicles for a 2pdr anti tank gun would have been. Can anyone cast any light on this for me. It's been suggested that Light Dragons might have been used if so would these have had limbers? What additional vehicles, if any, would a battery have deployed? I'm interested both in the official and actual position for the BEF and after Dunkirk.
ANTI TANK REGIMENT BEF 1940 War Establishment II/1931/7/3. 4 X Battery each Battery Headquarters Major Captain Subaltern for liaison with unit being supported Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant 3 X bombardier 33 X gunner 2 X trumpeter 5 X motorcycle 2 X 8cwt truck 2 X 15cwt truck 1 X 15cwt water 4 X 30cwt lorry GS 8 X pistol 5 X rifle 2 X Bren lmg 1 X AT rifle Motorcycle 1 Battery Serjeant Major Motorcycle 2 artificer Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 orderly Motorcycle 5 orderly 8cwt truck 1 Major, batman, driver IC 8cwt truck 2 Captain, Subaltern, batman, driver IC 15cwt truck 1 2 X batman, 2 X trumpeter (as AA gunners), driver IC Carries officers mess Carries a Bren lmg Fitted with a Motley AA mount at the front of the body. 15cwt truck 2 cook, driver mechanic 15cwt truck 3 motor mechanic, driver IC Carries reserve petrol Carries an AT rifle 15cwt truck 4 gunner, driver Carries reserve ammunition 15cwt truck 5 gunner, driver IC Carries reserve ammunition 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 30cwt lorry GS 1 2 X cook, driver IC Carries cooking set and rations 30cwt lorry GS 2 2 X artificer, technical storeman, motor mechanic, driver IC Carries MT stores 30cwt lorry GS 3 battery quartermaster serjeant, clerk, storeman, driver IC Carries QM stores and baggage 30cwt lorry GS 4 sanitary dutyman, 2 X gunner, driver IC Carries spare anti gas capes and reserve clothing Troop Headquarters Warrant Officer Class III 2 X gunner 1 X motorcycle 1 X 8cwt truck 1 X pistol 1 X rifle 1 X AT rifle Motorcycle orderly 8cwt truck 1 Warrant Officer Class III, driver IC Carries an AT rifle Section serjeant 2 X bombardier 9 X gunner 6 X rifle 2 X Bren lmg 2 X signal pistol Light Dragon 1 serjeant, bombardier, 3 X gunner, driver IC Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 round of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun Light Dragon 2 Bombardier, 4 X gunner, driver mechanic Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 rounds of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun Section serjeant 2 X bombardier 9 X gunner 6 X rifle 2 X Bren lmg 2 X signal pistol Light Dragon 1 serjeant, bombardier, 3 X gunner, driver IC Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 round of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun Light Dragon 2 Bombardier, 4 X gunner, driver mechanic Carries a Bren lmg Carries 112 rounds of ammunition Tows 2pdr AT gun Mike.
Isn't there a Light Dragon on one of the British Pathé BEF films, scurrying back into Leuven with a 2pdr behind it ?
Alan Philson's BEF Orbat Vol. 2 has each Divisional AT Regiment being issued 48 Light Dragons with a note stating 15cwt truck, GS may be issued instead of Light Dragons as gun tractors.
Andy is correct of course. 15cwts were an alternative. Eventually there would not be enough Light Dragons to go round. Trux Models produced a Bedford MW 15cwt 2pdr tractor. This was a standard 15cwt with the following additions: A seat in each corner of the body for the gun crew. A spare gun wheel mounted on the front inside of the body. Stowage racks over each wheel arch for 2pdr ammunition. Most important - a sprung towbar on the rear of the chassis. Mike. Trux also made the same body on a Morris 15cwt.
