Belgian anti tank companies 1940

[daveh]

Belgian anti tank companies

All Belgian anti tank platoons consisted of 2 sections of 2 guns each

Anti Tank companies which had 3 platoons i.e. 12 guns:
Regimental AT companies of active and first reserve infantry divisions
Divisional AT of active and first reserve infantry divisions

Anti Tank companies which had 2 platoons i.e. 8 guns:
The anti tank companies of the 1st and 2nd Chasseur Ardennais divisions, the motocycle bn of the ChA
and the cycliste regiments of the cavalry


Anti Tank units which had 1 platoon i.e. 4 guns:
The motor cycle regiments of the cavalry, the cavalerie portes regiment and the 2 light regiments

[narwan]

Thanks for the info, the presence of an AT cie with the motorcycle bn of the ChA is new to me. You wouldn't happen to have a source for me would you?

Narwan

[daveh]

see
http://www.fraternellechasseursardennai ... a.html#org

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ymkgmwtk0 ... ENNAIS.pdf

[narwan]

see
http://www.fraternellechasseursardennai ... a.html#org

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ymkgmwtk0 ... ENNAIS.pdf

The second link is incomplete unfortunately. The first one doesn't give an exact description of the make up of the 3rd company but it looks like there were 2 platoon commanders for the machine guns and 2 platoon commanders for the C47's. So am I right in assuming that this was a mixed company with 8 AT guns and 8 hmg's?

Narwan

[narwan]

Belgian anti tank companies

Anti Tank companies which had 2 platoons i.e. 8 guns:
The anti tank companies of the 1st and 2nd Chasseur Ardennais divisions, the motocycle bn of the ChA
and the cycliste regiments of the cavalry

Are you referring to the T13 companies in the 1st ChA division? I haven't seen towed C47 companies in the 1st ChA mentioned in either the 'pied de guerre', the 18daagseveldtocht site, Leo Niehorsters site or anywhere else.

Narwan

[narwan]

Belgian anti tank companies

All Belgian anti tank platoons consisted of 2 sections of 2 guns each

Anti Tank companies which had 3 platoons i.e. 12 guns:
Regimental AT companies of active and first reserve infantry divisions
Divisional AT of active and first reserve infantry divisions

Anti Tank companies which had 2 platoons i.e. 8 guns:
The anti tank companies of the 1st and 2nd Chasseur Ardennais divisions, the motocycle bn of the ChA
and the cycliste regiments of the cavalry


Anti Tank units which had 1 platoon i.e. 4 guns:
The motor cycle regiments of the cavalry, the cavalerie portes regiment and the 2 light regiments

The last category had a platoon of 4 guns per battallion, not per regiment. They all had 2 battallions so that makes for 8 AT guns per regiment.
The 5 DI and 6 DI had a second towed divisional AT company.
Adding it all up:

12 divisions with 48 guns each = 576 guns
add the additional 12 for both the 5 DI and 6 DI and you have 600 AT guns in the infantry divisions alone.

Assuming no towed C47 guns in the first ChA the rest gives us:
2nd ChA regiments and ChA Moto Bn 8 guns each so 4x8 = 32
same for the 4 Cyclist regiments, 4x8 = 32
6 motorised cavalry regiments, 6x8 = 48
2 motorised infantry regiments, 2x8 = 16
2 light regiments, 2x8 = 16

600 + 32 + 32 + 48 + 16 + 16 = 744 towed AT guns required for the different divisions and regiments.

There were 250 T13's by september 1939 and likely at least 55 more by may 40 so that would require another 305 47mm guns.
In bunkers there were additional AT guns, the figure you gave of 60 in the other thread seems about right.

So the minimum need for 47mm guns was 744 + 305 + 60 = 1109

If the number produced was 'over a 1000' that still leaves room for a shortage of up to 100 guns.
I guess we need a more exact production number...

Narwan

[daveh]

The 1st lacks a towed AT company.
I had noted p 22 'pied de guerre' Regiment de Chasseur Ardennais, Compagnie de C.47 and put them down as referring to both divisions...sorry

[narwan]

no apology necessary; I'm very grateful for all the effort you're putting into the belgian army of 1940. I know all about how confusing it can get...

Narwan

[daveh]

confusing..but fascinating

[narwan]

There's something else I've been wondering about concerning the AT companies. The 5 DI and 6 DI had a second towed divisional AT company each. Apparantly to make up for the lack of enough T13's. What was supposed to happen with these two companies when enough T13's did become availble?

Could it be that these were destined for the 2 ChA? It would make even more sense if these two companies had 8 guns each and not 12 (both divisions did have a single T13 platoon so they'd still have the required number of 60 47mm guns in total).

Narwan

[daveh]

http://ablhistoryforum.be/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1417 suggests that the extra towed 47mm AT guns in 5 and 6 ID were indeed in lieu of the T 13s and to give the overall 60 AT guns.

These (12 T13) were however replaced by 4.7 cm by GMC truck

It seems to suggest that new production T 13 went to 5, 6 or 12 ID

Also
La Brigade de Cavaliers Portés était en formation avec 10 T.13 sur 12.

These are not mentioned in the list of the allocated 250 T 13s...more post Sept 1939 second batch production?

As regards where the towed AT guns may have gone after T 13s became available there are a number of possibilities

1) As most AT companies were 2 4 gun platoons form 3 such companies
2) Provide 3 second reserve divisions with an AT company as these lack any AT guns.
3) A mix of second reserve ID and the 2nd Ch A division
4) Depending on when they become available use them in platoons or sections to replace losses