3rd Hussars

[David W]

Does anyone know when the 3rd Hussars upgraded from Lt Tank Mk VI to Crusaders, Grants & finally Shermans?

Thanks.

[Michael Emrys]

I can't provide exact dates, but checking my usual source for this kind if information turns up that on Dec. 9, 1940, in addition to 36 Mk. VI, they also had 16 A.10. Curiously enough, on March 31, 1941, they had 13 Mk. VI and an unspecified number of M13/40s (in B Sqdb.).

I don't have anything on them for the rest of 1941 or the first nine months of 1942.

By Oct. 23, 1942, they are armed with 9 Grants, 12 Shermans, and 16 Crusaders.

Maybe that will get you started anyway.

[David W]

Thanks.

[David W]

As an aside, do we have an exact date of arrival in North Africa?

As all I know is that it was prior to December 1940. Were they part of the "Hats" convoy?

[Alanmccoubrey]

David, This site is always a good place to look for British units and their strength/equipment.

http://web.archive.org/web/200010070504 ... index.html

[David W]

Alan.

No, nothing there I'm afraid.

[Saxon Cross]

As an aside, do we have an exact date of arrival in North Africa?

As all I know is that it was prior to December 1940. Were they part of the "Hats" convoy?

I believe the exact date the 3rd Hussars joined the 7th Armoured Brigade in North Africa was the 24th September 1940; or that's when they arrived at Port Said.

It seems the 7th Armoured Brigade was part of the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats).

The 7th Armoured Brigade was formed in Feb 1940

The 3rd Hussars are not listed as part of 7th Armoured Brigade OOB in June 1940, but are listed by November 1940 (less 'B' squadron with 2nd RTR, 4th Armoured Brigade) :
http://www.ian.a.paterson.btinternet.co ... m#Late1939

In the meantime, Western Desert Force had also been reinforced, when on 24th September 1940, three new Armoured Regiments, plus other forces, arrived at Port Said. These were, 2nd RTR with Cruiser tanks (mainly A13, but with some A9 and A10s) and 7th RTR with 48 Matilda tanks and the 3rd Hussars which still had MKVI light tanks only. The Matilda's of 7th RTR were the first to arrive in the Middle East. In October 2nd RTR joined 4th Armoured Brigade, while 3rd Hussars joined 7th Armoured Brigade. The Divisional Commander, Major-General O'Moore-Creagh, decided to transfer 'B' Squadron of 2nd RTR to 3rd Hussars and visa versa, which meant that each tank Regiment was able to have at least one Cruiser tank Squadron on its strength. Click here to view the Divisional Order Of Battle at this time. In the meantime 7th RTR started training with various infantry brigades, in their infantry support roll. The 11th Hussars were also strengthened by the addition of No.2 Armoured Car Company RAF with ten Fordson Armoured cars, who became ‘D’ Squadron (RAF) within the regiment.
...
By the evening of 10th December, over 5,000 prisoners had been taken and with 7th Hussars cutting of their retreat route at Buq-Buq, so many Italians surrendered that they became to numerous to count. In the end some 20,000 prisoners were captured, with the British suffering about 700 losses.

More might have been achieved if the 4th Indian Division had not be recalled to Cairo on the second day of the battle and sent to Sudan, where another Italian army had taken to the field.

This left 7th Armoured to continue the battle around Sidi Barrani and they soon took the Rabia and Sofafi camps, which the Italians had abandoned. At this time the 11th Hussars had discovered the Italian 64th Catanazaro Division, under General Armico, well dug into the dunes west of Buq-Buq, behind the salt flats, with thirty-five guns of all types covering the east and another twenty-five guns of all types covering the south. A hastily assembled force of 3rd Hussars, a squadron of 2nd RTR, cruisers from the 8th Hussars, along with 'B' & 'C' Squadrons of the 11th Hussars, plus a battery of 4 RHA, all under the command of Lt-Colonel John Combe (11th Hussars) attacked the Italian force. They met strong opposition from the Italian artillery, which stopped the advance of 'C' Squadron, 3rd Hussars, and knocked out many of the tanks of 'A' Squadron. The Italians were finally overwhelmed by a flank attack by 8th Hussars, in Cruiser tanks, along the western seaward side.
http://www.ian.a.paterson.btinternet.co ... es1940.htm

Hope this helps.

Lol...noticed a gap of 5 years between your first and second question.

Saxon

[David W]

Hope this helps.

Lol...noticed a gap of 5 years between your first and second question.

Yes it does!

I've been around here for a while!!

[David W]

Do we know when B Sqd 3rd Hussars were equipped with A10s?

The article above shows all three Sqds with Lt Mk VI on 24th September. But O.o.B dated 9th December show the A10 as present.

Also, the whole unit seems to disappear completely from December '41 - March '42. Was it being re-fitted? Or did it serve elsewhere in the Middle East for that time?