"Burma 1945, 14th Army Vehicles" Topic

I am new to TMP. I have a 28 mm Chindit force for skirmish games. I prefer Rules of Engagement but game with other rules as well. I want to extend my force to a conventional force for 1945. To that end I intend to add equipment such as 6pdr AT guns. Jeeps seem to be ubiquitous. Can anyone direct me to a source on, or let me know, the various uses to which they were put in Burma and any particular modifications from the standard jeep. Similarly, were Universal Carriers used and organised in inf bn as in NW Europe? I have seen a photo of a Universal Carrier as a mortar carrier. Were there also MMG carriers? Were mortar or MMG carriers used and organised as in NW Europe? Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

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Hi Radagaisus,

Yes, Jeeps were ubiquitous as you say. No particular modifications to speak of. Dodge Weapons Carriers and CMP 15cwts were also VERY common and were probably somewhat more common than Jeeps in the light gun-tractor role (the room afforded by these trucks allowed the Royal Artillery 6pdr batteries to also carry 3-inch mortars as a secondary weapon).

The Universal Carrier 3-inch Mortar Carrier you mention belonged to 3 Recce Regiment (3rd Division) and seems to be unique. The regiment mainly used Jeeps, though retained a few Carriers (though no armoured cars). I've not found any other examples of tracked mortar carriers, though most Indian armoured car squadrons in Burma had a pair of Indian Pattern Wheeled Carriers with 3-inch Mortars mounted in the compartment.

The allocation of Universal Carriers to infantry battalions depended on the division and could change seemingly on a whim. Generally speaking, Carrier allocation to infantry battalions was at a far lower scale than other theatres. There were no battalion AT Platoons, so no need for Carriers there. Mortar and MG Platoons used either Jeeps, mules or Shanks' Pony – no Carriers. HQ Carriers also don't seem to have been used. However, while many battalions retained a Carrier Platoon, many had converted it to a dismounted Recce Platoon (very Bren-heavy – often used for fire support and sometimes referred to as an 'Assault Platoon').

While some divisions did have MG Battalions (others had battalion MG Platoons), these were invariably man-packed, mule-packed or Jeep-packed.

6pdrs were exclusively operated by the divisional Royal Artillery AA/AT Regiments. There were no Infantry Battalion AT Platoons. These regiments were split with two batteries of 6pdrs and two batteries of light AA guns (20mm/40mm). As mentioned above, they also frequently carried 3-inch mortars in order to increase their utility. There are examples of 6pdrs being manhandled over quite remarkable distances through the jungle in order to engage Japanese bunkers. The Norfolks even dragged some up the mountains behind the Japanese positions at Kohima!

Hells Bells Jemima five hours to answer! We were getting worried about you. ;-)

My Dad was a huge fan of the jeep from his time out east. He used to say that only mules could go places a jeep couldn't and that the jeep didn't kick or smell as bad.

Fatman

I have to sleep at some point… In my defence m'lud, did answer this at oh--hundred-hours local time! :)

Yes, the Jeep was undoubtedly the greatest weapon we had in Burma and the Dodge and CMP 4x4s were similarly superb.

One snippet I found on Carriers is that one division (20th Indian iirc) massed all its Carrier Platoons together into 'Brigade Carrier Companies' and used them as 'fire brigade' forces to counter Japanese penetrations south of Imphal.

OK I will concede you need to sleep as inconvenient as that is for the rest of us. Most of what I post is at of o'clock sleep being a rarity these days.

Fatman

I'm actually asleep. This is my Burma-bot.

Scary thing is I'm not sure if you are kidding. ;-)

Fatman

Jemima F, you can get a cream for that

11th ACR and Jemima Fawr, Many thanks for all the useful info. The info that the AT Bty also carried 3" mortar was particularly interesting as I had not come across that before. To start with I think that I shall just get a number of Jeeps for my force and see where we go from there. I might try my luck at converting one to an ambulance. Good luck with the sleep! Radagaisus.

Indian Pattern Carriers might turn up as well.

Spontoon,

Surprisingly not so much. A few turned up in Indian Battalion Carrier Platoons in Burma circa 1942, but not after that. All Carrier Platoons from 1943-45 used Universal Carriers, Jeeps or Shanks' Pony.

As mentioned above, Wheeled Carriers were used in the Mortar Sections of Indian Cavalry Squadrons in Burma, but that was about it. Cavalry and Armoured Regiment scout cars were Dingos (some used Jeeps or Universal Carriers).

The vast majority of Wheeled Carriers seem to have gone to the Middle East.

@ Jemima Fawr; …or police duties in India! Seen quite a lot engaged in that! I suppose the India Pattern Carrier was a rather heavy beast for the sort of roads you'd find in that theatre!

Yes, loads were used for internal security duties immediately after the war. On the surface they seem to have mainly been used where there was a decent road network (or a desert). That said, there were plenty of Dingos, Daimler armoured cars and Fox armoured cars in Burma…