| jgibbons | 23 Dec 2009 9:31 a.m. PST |
Any chance anyone can tell me what the platoon size was for the Royal Engineer AVRE's during and after the DDay invasion? Somewhere I recall reading 6 tanks but I am by no means certain of that… James |
aecurtis  | 23 Dec 2009 9:48 a.m. PST |
Six per troop, as I recall. After Normandy, an assault squadron (equipped with AVRE) was reduced from four troops to three, but as far as I know, troop strength was unchanged. However, others will know better than I. Allen |
| John Armatys | 23 Dec 2009 9:50 a.m. PST |
Yes, an Armoured Assault Regiment RE NW Europe had an HQ with a scout car and three (or four) squadrons each of an HQ of two Churchill AVRE, a carrier and two scout cars and three (four until July 1944) troops of six Churchill AVRE. |
| Phil Hendry | 23 Dec 2009 10:09 a.m. PST |
Yes, 6 tanks in a troop. They tended to work in two groups of three – often with one doing whatever engineering task they were, er, tasked with, whilst the other two provided 'protection' – from lobbing 'flying dustbins' or shooting off loads of Besa rounds at threats through to using their physical bulk as 'mobile shields' to protect 'dismounts' going to do combat engineering jobs from small-arms fire. A question on the scout cars – Humber or Daimler? I suspect Humber, but haven't managed to confirm via photos. |
| aecurtis | 23 Dec 2009 10:30 a.m. PST |
Now I've seen them described as operating in pairs. And I would suspect Daimlers, Humber Scout Cars usually being in a liaison role. Where's R. Mark Davies?  Allen |
| aecurtis | 23 Dec 2009 10:32 a.m. PST |
Now here's your Humber, but for a senior commander: picture Allen |
| jgibbons | 23 Dec 2009 12:09 p.m. PST |
Thanks guys – awesome fast answers! Much appreciated! And up to company level to boot! James |
| jgibbons | 23 Dec 2009 12:11 p.m. PST |
And Merry Christmas! James |
| aercdr | 23 Dec 2009 3:39 p.m. PST |
It's one of the many reasons that I love TMP! |
| Jemima Fawr | 23 Dec 2009 4:49 p.m. PST |
You'd already answered it Allen! ;) |
| Jemima Fawr | 23 Dec 2009 4:51 p.m. PST |
AS I understand it, the scout cars were purely for liaison purposes, so were probably Humbers (more room for radio kit than a Daimler). They need more liaison cars than a normal armoured regiment due to their often dispersed assignments. |
| aecurtis | 23 Dec 2009 5:05 p.m. PST |
OK, Humbers. That makes sense, explained that way. Sorry Phil, and thanks, R. Mark! Allen |
| Cardinal Hawkwood | 23 Dec 2009 11:38 p.m. PST |
stop calling them companies!!!!! they are troops and squadrons..harumph |
| Phil Hendry | 24 Dec 2009 11:26 a.m. PST |
Now here's your Humber, but for a senior commander:picture Allen Thanks Allen – I already have a print of that picture – in fact some years ago I made a 1:35 scale model of that particular Humber. And thanks Mark, for confirming my suspicions regarding the cars at lower level. Phil |
| aecurtis | 24 Dec 2009 7:46 p.m. PST |
I should have checked Peter Brown's compilation of armoured car holdings first: link That makes it pretty clear. Allen |
