"What British unit would have a CWT 15 Radio Van?" Topic

As part of my sudden and surprising interest in British WW2 units, I dug out a model that I'd bought a decade ago and built it. I've gotten it painted up based on the best references I can find. It has the aerial recognition star and a War Department number, but now I need to figure out unit insignia.

I've seen one cargo version marked as part of a Guards unit, but this radio truck would be used more selectively, I'd think. I should note that this if for Northwest Europe 1944-45.

Right now, I'm doing Welsh Guards, Scots Greys and Coldstream Guards armored units so I'd prefer to mark it for one of those units – if it would've been historically correct. Failing that, hopefully an associated infantry unit?

The decals are from Dom, by the way. And the model is 1/87.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Wyatt

I found this one easily:
link

You can scout around Niehorster and see what you can find.

A 15 cwt radio van is a comparatively rare vehicle in an Armoured Regiment. There were only two, and in the Admin Echelon (food, fuel, ammo, and mechanics) not the Fighting Echelon (which used halftracks for radio vehicles). Both of these vehicles were attached to the Armoured Regiment from divisional services (brigade services in the case of the Scots Greys) and thus retained their Arm of Service colours and adopted the code number of the regiment they were attached to. The first vehicle was attached to the HQ Squadron of the Admin Echelon from the Royal Corps of Signals (white over blue square with the regt code number in red). The second vehicle belonged to the REME Light Aid Detachment (blue-yellow-red square with the regt code in white).

Hope this helps.

cheers

If you go to the Niehorster site here link and click on the individual squadrons on the left, you can find where the 15 cwt radio vans were allocated (attached out) from div signals. The radio van in the REME detachment may well be from div signals as well. I have a reference that says it belongs to REME, but Niehorster says otherwise. Your choice I guess.

cheers

Nice little model that.
I've always liked the look of the 15cwt, for some reason.

I presume we're talking about a 15-cwt truck here (not a van)? If so then the Armd Regt WE for 1943 only had one such authorised, with Sqn HQ of HQ Sqn, and fitted with a No.19 set. The attached R Sigs Tp had a 15-cwt wireless house with a No.22 set. The REME LAD Type "C" had another 15-cwt fitted for wireless (radio type not mentioned in the WE).

For an Inf Bn in an Armd Div, Sp Coy and each Rifle Coy were authorised a 15-cwt fitted for wireless, which should be a No.19 set according to the signal training pamphlet (1945). Inf Div Sigs had a 15-cwt truck FFW attached to Inf Bns as their rear link vehicle.

Gary

Interesting – and confusing.

Clicking on No. 1 squadron I see that they had 10 radio vans in the B Section. Clicking on No. 2 squadron puts one each in the CRA (artillery?), AA and anti-tank sections – which makes sense. And so on.

The model itself will likely be no more than an objective marker, or the HQ.

I'm still new to British organization, badges and services so the keeping track of branch of service, etc. has me foxed, I must admit.

Wyatt

The B Troop 15-cwts were all wireless house models, 1-4 with No.19 sets and 5-10 with No.22 sets. E and F Troops (RA Fd/SP Regts) each had a 15-cwt wireless house (No.22) and two 15-cwts with No.19 sets. H Troop (Commander, RA) had another wireless house (No.22) 15-cwt each for the CRA, Atk and LAA Regts as mentioned. J Troop (Inf Bde) had three wireless house trucks (No.22) and four FFW 15-cwt trucks (No.19), acting as Bn and Bde rear link sets.

Gary

I have not come across any British units in North West Europe who were issued with CMP type 13 cab 15cwt trucks , as far as I can see these were used exclusively by Canadian forces. Some British 8th army units had them in Italy but even then I have not come across this particular variant.

Sooooooo….

Who makes a 15cwt radio van on a Bedford chassis? And in what scales?

cheers