BRITISH ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2

 MEDIUM REGIMENT 1940

Updated 16 June 2014

ORGANIZATIONS FOR MANŒUVRE

The following tables are taken from the War Establishment for:

There were slightly different establishments for regiments with 60-pdr Gun and for regiments with Medium Dragons instead of Tractors, Heavy.

Summary Table - Men

 

Lt Col

Maj

Capt

Sub

WO

SNCO

JNCO

Gnr/Pte

Total (excl 1st rft)

Officers RA

1

3

8

12+3

 

 

 

 

24

Tradesmen RA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

22

Non-tradesmen/unspecified RA

 

 

 

 

9+1

28+2

 

564+40

601

RAMC Attached

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Chaplain Attached

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Fitters, M.V., R.A.O.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

4

Total Field Regiment

1

3

8

12

9

28

 

590

653

 Notes:
The Quartermaster (a commissioned WO) and Medical Officer could be any rank Subaltern - Major but all are shown as Captains.  The chaplain is also taken as captain grade and his batman/driver as RA.  
The breakdown of Lance Serjeants, Bombardiers and Lance Bombardiers was not given.  However, 'rank & file' (gunners and JNCOs) included 70 Bombardiers including 24 Lance Serjeants and 515 Gunners and Trumpeters including 33 Lance Bombardiers.  
The LAD RAOC,  Signals Section R Signals and 4 RAF wireless operators are not shown in the summary tables.

Summary Table - Vehicles

Vehicle

Qty

Vehicle

Qty

Motor-cycle, solo

40

Truck, 15-cwt, 4-wheeled, G.S fitted with mechanical cable layer

 2

Car, 4-seater, 4-wheeled

1

Truck, 15-cwt, 4-wheeled, G.S fitted with hand cable layer

6

Car, 2-seater, 4-wheeled

1

Truck, 15-cwt, 4-wheeled, water tank

3

Truck, 8-cwt, 4-wheeled, G.S.

9

Lorry, 3-ton, 4-wheeled, G.S.

4

Truck, 8-cwt, 4-wheeled, wireless

11

Lorry, 30-cwt, 4-wheeled, G.S.

22

Truck, 15-cwt, 4-wheeled, G.S.

2

Lorry, 30-cwt, 6-wheeled, G.S.

20

Truck, 15-cwt, 4-wheeled, office

1

Armoured O.P.

2

Truck, 15-cwt, 4-wheeled, G.S fitted with seats

8

Tractor, heavy

18

 Summary Table - Weapons

Weapon

Qty

Pistol .38-in

 72

Rifle .303-in

117

Pistol, signal

6

L.M.G .303-in.

 12

A.T. Rifle .55-in

10

6-inch How

16

THE ORGANIZATION OF A MEDIUM REGIMENTAL H.Q. FOR MANŒUVRE

Group or party

(1)

Name of vehicle
(2)

Sub-unit and type of vehicle
(3)

Personnel
(4)

Normal Frequency
(5)

Remarks

(6)

REGTL. COMD'S. GROUP

Z

H.Q. 4-str car

Lt.-Col.
Tptr
Dr. I.C. 
    Spare seat 

 

 

 

M.C.1

H.Q. M.C.

Orderly 

 

 

 

Z.2

H.Q (8-cwt) 

Major second -in-command
Signal officer
N.C.O. i/c linemen.
Driver I.C. 
    One spare seat 

 

 

 

 

Sig. Sec. M.C.

Despatch rider. 

 

 

 

A

H.Q. (8-cwt)

Adjutant
Bombr. Clerk
Gnr. orderly
Driver I.C. 
   Proportion of office gear 
   Spare seat 

 

 

 

M.C.2

H.Q. M.C.

Orderly 

 

 

 

S.2

Sig. Sec (8).

Wireless set

F.6

 

 

M.C.3

H.Q. M.C.

Survey officer 

 

 

 

M.C.4

H.Q. M.C.

Serjeant surveyor

 

 

H.Q. RECCE. GROUP

S.3

Sig. Sec (8).

Orderly officer
Wireless set

F.6

Responsible for leading H.Q. Recce. Group, and in the absence of the Adjutant, establishing Regt. H.Q.

 

Sur. 1

H.Q. (8-cwt)

2 Regtl. surveyors

 

 

 

Sur. 2

H.Q. (8-cwt)

2 surveyors' assts.

 

 

 

S.4

Sig. Sec (8)

Wireless set

F.5

Working to both Btys.

 

S.1

Sig. Sec (8)

Signal officer

 

 

 

 

Sig. Sec. M.C.

Sig. Sjt.

 

 

 

 

Sig. Sec. M.C.

Despatch rider

 

 

 

 

Sig. Sec. M.C.

Signalman linesman

 

 

 

M.C.5

H.Q. M.C.

B.S.M. 

 

 

REGTL HQ GROUP

A.2

H.Q. (15-cwt office)

R.S.M.
Clerk
Batman to R.S.M
Batman to survey officer
Driver I.C.
    Office gear

 

 

 

A.3

H.Q. (15-cwt)

Bdr. (A.A.)
Gunner (A.A.)
2 R.A.F. W/T operators and set
Driver I.C.
   A.A.L.M.G forward mounting.
A.Tk. rifle

 

 

 

A.4

H.Q. (30-cwt)

Medical officer
Medical orderly
batman to M.O.
Motor mechanic
Sanitary duty man
Driver I.C.

 

Medical equipment

 

S.5

Sig. Sec (15)

Cable laying

 

 

 

S.6

Sig. Sec. (30)

Signal office

 

 

 

S.7

Sig. Sec. (30)

Spare cable lying and stores, etc.

 

 

 

 

Sig. Sec. M.C.

Signalman electrician

 

 

H.Q. MAINTENANCE GROUP

Q.2

H.Q. (30-cwt)

R.Q.M.S.
Clerk
Storeman
Gunner
Driver I.C.
    Spare anti-gas capes and res. clothing for H. Q.
Q.M. Stores 

 

i/c Amn. Gps. of Btys., when under Regt. control.

 

Q.3

H.Q. (30-cwt)

B.Q.M.S.
Sjt. tech. Stores.
Tech. Storeman.
Gunner.
Driver I.C.
  M.T. stores   Distribution petrol to H.Q.

 

 

 

M.C.6

H.Q. M.C.

1 Motor mechanic

 

 

 

L.A.D.

 

 

 

 

H.Q. "B" ECHELON

Q.1

H.Q. (8-cwt)

Quarter-master.
Clerk.
Batman to Qr.-Mr.
Driver I.C.
Spare seat

 

 

 

Q.4

H.Q. (15-cwt)

4 Batman
1 Driver I.C.
   Officers' mess 

 

 

 

Q.5

H.Q. (15-cwt Water-tank)

Water duty man
Driver I.C.

 

 

 

Q.6

H.Q. (30-cwt)

Sjt. cook
Butcher
Cook
2 gunners (A.A.)
Dr. I.C.
    Rations
   A.A.L.M/G. rear mounting

 

Cooking sets, wagon line rations.

 

 

H.Q. 2-str car

Chaplain
Batman driver

 

 

THE ORGANIZATION OF A MEDIUM BATTERY FOR MANŒUVRE

Group or party
(1)
 

Name of vehicle
(2)

Sub-unit and type of vehicle
(3)

Personnel

(4)

Normal Frequency
(5)

Remarks

(6)

BATTERY RECONNAIS -SANCE GROUP

X

H.Q. (8-cwt)

B.C.
O.P.A.
2 sigs. wireless
1 dr. (I.C.).

F.1 

 

 

M.C.1

H.Q. M.C.

B.C's orderly

 

 

 

M.C.2

H.Q. M.C.

Sig.  

 

 

 

K

H.Q. (8-cwt)

Captain
Batman
1 dr. (I.C.)
    .Spare seat.

 

 

 

Y.1

H.Q. (15-cwt)

C.P.O.
A.C.P.O.
3 bty. surveyors
1 dr. (I.C.)
    Survey equipment 

 

 

 

Y.2

H.Q. (8-cwt)

1 bty. surveyor (range-taker)
2 G.P.Os. or G.P.O.As.
1 dr. (I.C.)

 

Range-finder No. 13 must travel in an 8-cwt truck.

 

M.C.3

H.Q. M.C.

C.P.Os' orderly

 

N.C.O.

 

M.C.4

H.Q. M.C.

N.C.O. i/c sigs. (bty.).  

 

 

 

M.C.11

H.Q. M.C.

A Tp. Sjt.

 

M.C.12 may be substituted for M.C.11 if desired.

 

M.C.5

H.Q. M.C.

W.L.O.

 

Keeps touch with bty. recce. group; can travel in H for long journeys.

BATTERY H.Q. "O" PARTY

R.B.

B Tp. (8-cwt)

B Tp. Comd.
O.P.A.
1 sig. (wireless)
1 dr. (I.C.)

F.2

 

 

M.C.6

B Tp. M.C.

Signal N.C.O. B Tp.

 

 

 

M.C.7

B Tp. M.C.

Sig. 

 

 

BATTERY H.Q. GROUP "G" PARTY

G.A.

A Tp. (8-cwt)

G.P.O. or G.P.O.A. A Tp.
2 sigs. (wireless)
1 dr. (I.C.).

F.1 

 

 

M.C.8

A Tp. M.C.

Sig. (Link line).

 

Mans Tp. end of link line from Comd. Post.

 

M.C.9

A Tp. M.C.

Signal N.C.O. A Tp.

 

 

 

G.B.

B Tp. (8-cwt)

G.P.O. or G.P.O.A. B Tp.
2 sigs. (wireless)
1 dr. (I.C.).

F.2 

 

 

M.C.10

B Tp. M.C.

Sig. (Link line).

.

Mans Tp. end of link line from Comd. Post

 

M.1

H.Q. (15-cwt)

3 sigs. (Comd. Post).
2 Sigs. (maintenance)
    2 switchboards 10-line
1 dr. (I.C.) 

 

2 maintenance sigs. lay link lines to Tps.3 sigs. at Command Post are:-
Exchange operator.
Message operator.
C.P.O.'s operator.
Truck fitted with hand cable layer.

 

H

H.Q. (8-cwt)

2 sigs. (wireless)
1 clerk

 

Bty. office equipment1 dr. (I.C.)

 

M.C.12

B troop M.C.

B Tp. Sjt. 

 

 

GUN GROUP

R.A.

A Tp. (8-cwt)

A Tp. Comd.
O.P.A.
1 sig. (wireless)
1 dr. (I.C.)

F.1

Acts as Bty. Leader.

 

M.C.13

A troop M.C.

Sig.

 

 

 

M.C.14

H.Q.M.C.

Orderly

 

 

 

T.L.A.

A Tp. (15-cwt)

A Tp. Leader (W.O. III)
1 sig, (Tp. end O.P. line).
1 artificer R.A.
1 Orderly
2 R.A.F. W/T operators.
    R.A.F. W/T set.
1 Driver (I.C.)

 

 

 

M.2

H.Q. (15-cwt)

1 sig. (O.P. telephonist).
2 sigs. (maintenance).
1 orderly
1 dr. (I.C.)

 

Truck fitted with hand cable layer.

 

 

A Tp. tractors.

4 gun tractors each:-
1 serjeant
2 drs. (I.C.)
9 gun detachment.

 

Each tractor carries 40 rounds of ammunition

 

T.L.B.

B Tp. (15-cwt)

B Tp. Leader (W.O. III)
1 sig, (Tp. end O.P. line).
1 artificer R.A.
1 Orderly
2 R.A.F. W/T operators.
    R.A.F. W/T set.
1 Driver (I.C.)

 

 

 

M.3

H.Q. (15-cwt)

1 sig. (O.P. telephonist).
2 sigs. (maintenance).
1 orderly
2 A.A.L.M.G. gunners 
    A.A.L.M.G. rear mounting.
    A.Tk. rifle.
1 dr. (I.C.)

Truck fitted with hand cable layer.

 

 

B Tp. tractors.

4 gun tractors each:-
1 serjeant
2 drs. (I.C.)
9 gun detachment.

 

Each tractor carries 40 rounds of ammunition.

 

M.C. 15

H.Q. M.C.

B.S.M.

 

Assists B.L. in controlling gun group

 

M.C. 16 

H.Q. M.C.

1 artificer R.A.

 

 

AMMUNITION GROUP

 

H.Q. tractor

2 drs. (I.C.)

 

Reserve tractor

 

60-pr Btys.

H.Q. (3-ton, 6-wheeled)(amn.).

6 lorries each:-
2 drs. (I.C.)

 

7 gunners are carried in these lorries.
Each lorry carries 80 rounds ammunition.

 

6-inch How. Btys.

H.Q. (3-ton, 6-wheeled)(amn.).

10 lorries each:-
2 drs. (I.C.)

 

7 gunners are carried in these lorries.
4 pairs of lorries carry 100 rounds amn. per pair.
2 lorries carry 40 rounds each.

 

 

H.Q. (30-cwt)

1 bombardier.
1 dr. (I.C.).
    A.Tk. rifle 
    Distribution of petrol 

 

 

 

M.C.17

H.Q. M.C.

Orderly

 

 

"B" ECHELON

 

H.Q. (15-cwt water tank).

1 cook.
1 dr. (I.C.).
    Distribution of cooked foods.

 

 

 

 

H.Q (30-cwt)

4 batmen.
1 dr. (I.C.).
    Officers' mess equipment (including tps.).

 

 

 

 

H.Q (30-cwt)

A.A.L.M.G. gnrs.
4 batmen belonging to tps.
1 clerk
1 equipment repairer
1 motor mechanic
1 dr. (I.C.). 
    A.A.L.M.G. (forward mounting)

 

 

 

 

H.Q (3-ton)

Battery Quartermaster Serjeant
1 storeman
1 motor mechanic
2 drs. (I.C.). 
    Gun stores

 

 

 

 

H.Q (3-ton)

1 technical storeman
1 motor mechanic
2 drs. (I.C.).
2 fitters M.V., R.A.O.C. 
    M.T. stores

 

 

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