Organisation of HQRA in an Armoured Division

BRITISH ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2

HQRA 1943

Updated 16 June 2014

HEADQUARTERS ROYAL ARTILLERY IN AN ARMOURED DIVISION

The following tables are taken from the War Establishments for:

'Headquarters, Armoured Divisional Artillery', WE II/104/2 effective date 8 December 1943.
'Armoured Divisional Signals' WE II/213/1 effective date 24 November 1943 (No 2 Squadron, H Troop).

The CRA's tank was held on the establishment of an armoured regiment in the division.

Summary Table - Men

	Brig	Maj	Capt	Sub	WO	SNCO	JNCO	Gnr/Pte	Total
Officers RA	1	1	3	3					8
Tradesmen RA					1	2	1	10	14
Non-tradesmen/unspecified RA						1	2	18	21
ACC Attached								3	3
Chaplains Attached			3						3
RAF meteorologists				1			1	1	3
HQRA Totals	1	1	6	4	1	3	4	32	52
Officers R Signals				1					1
Tradesmen R Signals						1	4	10	15
Non tradesmen R Signals								1	1
H Troop Total				1		1	4	11	17
Complete Total	1	1	6	5	1	4	8	43	69

Note: The H troop numbers exclude 20 men in the Anti-Tank and L.A.A. regiment detachments and the tank crew from an armoured regiment.

Summary Table - Vehicles and Trailers

Vehicle	Qty	Vehicle	Qty
Motor-cycle, solo	4+1	Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, fitted for wireless	2
Car, 5-cwt, 4�4	1+1	Lorry, 3-ton, 4�4, G.S.	2+1
Car, 4-seater, 4�4	2	Scout car	4
Car, 2-seater, 4�2	3	Armoured command vehicle L.P.	1
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, wireless house	1	Armoured car	1
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, office	2	Trailer, 15-cwt, 2-wheeled, water, 180 gallons	1

Summary Table - Weapons

Weapon	Qty
L.M.G. �303in	3+2
P.I.A.T.	1

THE ORGANIZATION OF A HEADQUARTERS RA

Type of vehicle	Personnel	Remarks
Car, 4-seater, 4�4	C.R.A. Batman Driver I.C.	No 22 set (carried)
Armoured car	Lance corporal operator Driver-operator	No 19 H.P. set No 19 set (R Signals)
Tank, control	(crew provided by armoured regt holding tank)	2 No 19 sets
Car, 4-seater, 4�4	Brigade major Staff captain Intelligence officer Driver I.C.
Motor-cycle, solo	Duty serjeant
Motor-cycle, solo	Orderly
Motor-cycle, solo	Orderly
Motor-cycle, solo	Orderly
Scout car	Captain liaison officer Driver-operator	Wireless
Scout car	Subaltern liaison officer Driver-operator	Wireless
Scout car	Subaltern liaison officer Driver-operator	Wireless
Scout car	Subaltern liaison officer Driver-operator	Wireless
5-cwt. car, 4�4	Subaltern Batman-driver	(R Signals)
Motor-cycle, solo	Serjeant	(R Signals)
Armoured command vehicle L.P.	Corporal operator 2 operators Driver-mechanic	For CRA and staff Rear link & forward control (No 19 sets) L.M.G. (R Signals)
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, fitted for wireless	2 driver operators Signaller
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, fitted for wireless	2 driver operators Signaller
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, wireless house	Corporal operator Operator Driver-operator	No 22 set (R Signals)
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, office	W.O.1. clerk Staff serjeant clerk Serjeant clerk Clerk (trained in artillery staff duties) Driver I.C.
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, office	Flying officer Corporal RAF Leading aircraftman Driver I.C.	RAF met section
5-cwt. car, 4�4	Q.M. & M.T. bombardier Driver I.C.
Lorry, 3-ton, 4�4, G.S. with water trailer	3 cooks 3 batmen Driver I.C.
Lorry, 3-ton, 4�4, G.S.	Sanitary dutyman Vehicle-mechanic Driver-mechanic
Lorry, 3-ton, 4�4, G.S.	Corporal instrument mechanic Operator Electrician 2 driver-mechanics	6kW charging set L.M.G. P.I.A.T. (R Signals)
Car, 2-seater, 4�2	Chaplain Batman-driver
Car, 2-seater, 4�2	Chaplain Batman-driver
Car, 2-seater, 4�2	Chaplain Batman-driver

When a Counter-Battery Section was attached from the Corps CB Staff it comprised the following RA personnel.

Type of vehicle	Personnel	Remarks
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, G.S.	Captain Clerk Batman-driver
Truck, 15-cwt, 4�2, office	Clerk Driver I.C.
Motor-cycle, solo	Orderly

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