"Question: Brit para cpy/plt strength/org 42-43" Topic
12 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please be courteous toward your fellow TMP members.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the WWII Naval Discussion Message Board Back to the Blogs of War Message Board Back to the Wargaming in Australia Message Board Back to the WWII Discussion Message Board Back to the Terrain and Scenics Message Board Back to the 20mm WWII Message Board
Areas of InterestGeneral World War Two on the Land World War Two at Sea
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Recent Link
Top-Rated Ruleset
Featured Showcase ArticlePistol-waving command figures.
Featured Profile Article
Current Poll
|
Gunner Dunbar | 09 Aug 2024 4:46 p.m. PST |
Hi guys I have found this organisation for a 1944 British airborne platoon, was it the same in Tunisia 42-43? The company had 3 x PIATs attached, the PIAT was first used in Tunisia, would they have had PIATs or Boys AT rifles?
|
Tango01 | 09 Aug 2024 4:47 p.m. PST |
"Last Thursday we tried a new naval wargame called Nimitz from Sam Mustafa. It is a quick play game for huge actions. Mike provided all models in 1/3000 (after that I decided to go into this scale as well). During that night we managed to play two games, one small, historical and the other based on points…"
Asienieboje Wargaming Blog link Armand
|
Hornswoggler | 09 Aug 2024 10:48 p.m. PST |
You should probably be looking at the May 42 org: PDF link No clue offered though if/when the AT rifles were swapped out as PIATs became available. Maybe Gary will know… |
Erzherzog Johann | 10 Aug 2024 2:17 a.m. PST |
|
Trockledockle | 10 Aug 2024 3:20 a.m. PST |
I suspect both as the PIAT only became available in 1943 and they were in action from November to March. |
Gunner Dunbar | 10 Aug 2024 3:33 a.m. PST |
Yeah, I'm thinking both, there's this pic, but I suspect it's from Sicily.
|
Martin Rapier | 10 Aug 2024 5:24 a.m. PST |
They certainly wouldn't have Sten Mk V in Tunisia… |
Gunner Dunbar | 10 Aug 2024 5:56 a.m. PST |
|
Starfury Rider | 10 Aug 2024 6:30 a.m. PST |
The changeover from the Boys anti-tank rifle to the PIAT was announced via a War Office letter of 16th June 1943 (thought I'd found a copy of it somewhere in the Canadian online archive but I can't find it now). They were initially to replace the Boys on a one-for-one basis, however Progress Bulletin (Infantry) of June 1943 noted that ammunition supplies were not initially available for non-active theatres so they'd have to make do with practice PIAT rounds. That would suggest they were being prioritised for Field Force units. The Smith Gun is positively identified on the May 1942 WE, and is named also on the Middle East version of Nov 1942, which is effectively identical with the May 1942 WE. I've no idea if they were taken overseas, let alone used in anger. My instinct says 'no' however it's the kind of thing that might only be revealed by a Battalion War Diary. Ditto re the above on Sten gun Marks of course. Gary |
Trockledockle | 10 Aug 2024 7:28 a.m. PST |
Here's a IWM film from 22/3/43 of a training exercise in Tunisia showing the Inniskillen Fusiliers with PIATs. With that date they may have seen action with the Paras. link |
Starfury Rider | 10 Aug 2024 8:57 a.m. PST |
I found the WO letters I was thinking of, slightly out on my dates from the above post. WOL of 1st Mar 1943 stated the PIAT was being introduced to Infantry Battalions, at home and abroad, in replacement of Boys anti-tank rifles and the No.68 grenade. Initial scale was to be three per Rifle Company. The letter of 16th Jun 1943 stated that anti-tank rifles were to be replaced on a one-for-one basis by PIATs as these became available, throughout the Service. This was to be staged, with Infantry units (including Recce, Motor and Defence units) having priority. Anti-tank rifles and .55-inch amn, plus No.68 grenades and associated equipment, were to be withdrawn as PIATs were received on a unit basis. 1 Parachute Brigade went overseas in November 1942, and my understanding is the PIAT was still in the later stages of testing and development at that time. 2 Parachute Brigade followed in April 1943. If I recall, the PIAT was used in the latter stages of Tunisia. The 6th Bn, Inniskillings, had gone overseas in November 1942 as part of 6th Armoured Division, so look to have received the PIAT while in North Africa – can't get the clip to play on my PC… Gary |
Gunner Dunbar | 10 Aug 2024 2:10 p.m. PST |
Thanks gents, all useful info, I'm going to include them, and I'm going to have to change the stens, all my AB figures I was using for the stens are MkV, I've just bought the Revell para box, it has MkIIs I think, I might be doing some fine surgery |
|