"WW2 British Desert Equipment help required" Topic

Hi all,

I'm building a 28mm Western Desert Force for the Brits based on around a South African Infantry Battalion in late 1941. I've got most stuff sorted but have a couple of queries I havent been able to confirm to throw out to the crowd.

1) What vehicles would be in the Battalion Hq, I'm thinking AEC and a radio truck but not sure ?
2) Before portees what would be used to tow the 2 pdr AT gun ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers Ken
yarkshiregamer.blogspot.co.uk

For a British Inf Bn there would be no organic 2-pr atk guns in 1941, they'd be attached from RA Atk Regts. When 2-prs came into the Inf Bns in early part of 1942 they were of the portee type.

A British Bn HQ of 1941 was authorised two cars, two 15-cwt trucks, one 30-cwt lorry and one Universal carrier. The 1942 Middle East (ie North African) version had one car and one Jeep, otherwise the same.

Gary

edit; just to note these are for a British Inf Bn, I'd love to find a South African war establishment table, but haven't yet.

2pdrs from the AA/AT reg were towed by 15cwt trucks but by late 41 I would have expected portees to have replaced them.

Cheers everyone, had the 2pdrs as btn supports. I might be imagining things but think I have seen a picture of a 2pdr being pulled by a Bren or Lloyd carrier, was that a 6pdr ?

You may well have, but as mentioned the vehicles for the 2-pr in Atk Regts started as the 15-cwt or Dragon (in the pre-war going through to BEF era), and changed to the 30-cwt portee with the late 1941 establishments (Home Forces and Middle East). Loyd carriers were used for the 6-pr beginning in 1943, though they were portee'd as well in the desert, but that's after your time frame.

Gary

Cheers Gary, I remember the photo but not when it was taken

AEC armoured command vehicles tended to be deployed at a much higher level than Battalion.

Brigade level and above as far as I am aware.