A/T assets

[TMO]

Just been looking at these for British Line and Guards units. In the RDOA scenario 43 Inf Div has nine 17pdr and three Achilles trps. According to Gary Kennedy 'British Army of WW2 War Establishment Tables, vol 5, p2. 2007', an Inf Div should have nine 17pdr and three 6 pdr trps (each trp four guns) arranged as four batteries, each comprising two 17pdr and one 6pdr troop.

In early Oct 44 a change was made: the 6pdr trps remained at four guns but the 17pdr trps were reduced to three guns each, with one of the two 17pdr troops in each battery changed from towed guns to the 17pdr SP Archer. 43 Div reported this change completed by mid-Jan 1945.

Kind regards

Tim

[Lieste]

There are (from my Estab tables of an early version) additional ATG within each infantry Coy... attached in place of 'many' AT trp/plt for both US and UK units.

I think these are somewhat too ubiquitous, and always conveniently present, while this wasn't always the experience of the PBI. I forget how many Coys are in a UK infantry Division off the top of my head, but 12 seems a likely number... in which case 6lber ATG would be present about 4x as frequently as the TOE would call for.

Having trouble concentrating right now, so I won't follow this up, but suggest that you consider these when comparing strength vs TOE and reported individual strengths.

Not sure the situation re Achilles and 17 pdr for this division, but it is possible that these are non-organic but 'close-cooperation' elements associated with this division slice ~ represented as 'under command' but officially someone else's babies.

[TMO]

Lieste

Thanks for the reply. The A/T assets that I describe are in addition to the Inf Bn organic assets - an Inf Div had (in addition to the organic Bn A/T Pl) an A/T Rgt in support. Each regt comprised four Btys, each of which three Trps - two 17pdr and one 6pdr. Three Btys (one per Bgde) would support the three Inf Bgdes with the fourth acting as Div reserve

Kind regards

Tim