Crusader III Mk 2 AA
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:54 pm
After a couple of years, I have re-installed WitW and WitE2.
I was the guy that researched all of the Allied ToEs and OoBs for WitW.
The British Armoured Divisions and Brigades were initially equipped with troops of Crusader 40mm AA tanks. It soon became clear that this equipment was totally unnecessary because of Allied Air supremacy. In Italy, this equipment was soon discarded, and units landing on D-Day followed suit, having disbanded these AA Troops within days of landing, and using the personnel to replace tank crew losses. These tanks were then converted to Crusader “Tower” artillery tractors. I ignored these AA tanks, and did not include them in the ToEs because they were never used in combat.
It is important to understand British and Commonwealth AA unit doctrine. These units were not authorized, nor trained, to engage ground targets. This is true for both the division-level AA units, and the GHQ AA units.
It was not until very late in 1944 that this policy changed at division-level in Italy. Troops discovered that the 40mm Bofors-armed units were very useful in engaging ground targets during contested river crossings. This was made even more useful when these guns were mounted on the Morris C9/B. These tactics were not employed in NWE. The GHQ AA units were static (no organic transport), and employed in port and city AA defense, and in line-of-communications duties. These units were never employed in engaging ground targets.
Brad
I was the guy that researched all of the Allied ToEs and OoBs for WitW.
The British Armoured Divisions and Brigades were initially equipped with troops of Crusader 40mm AA tanks. It soon became clear that this equipment was totally unnecessary because of Allied Air supremacy. In Italy, this equipment was soon discarded, and units landing on D-Day followed suit, having disbanded these AA Troops within days of landing, and using the personnel to replace tank crew losses. These tanks were then converted to Crusader “Tower” artillery tractors. I ignored these AA tanks, and did not include them in the ToEs because they were never used in combat.
It is important to understand British and Commonwealth AA unit doctrine. These units were not authorized, nor trained, to engage ground targets. This is true for both the division-level AA units, and the GHQ AA units.
It was not until very late in 1944 that this policy changed at division-level in Italy. Troops discovered that the 40mm Bofors-armed units were very useful in engaging ground targets during contested river crossings. This was made even more useful when these guns were mounted on the Morris C9/B. These tactics were not employed in NWE. The GHQ AA units were static (no organic transport), and employed in port and city AA defense, and in line-of-communications duties. These units were never employed in engaging ground targets.
Brad