6th Australian Infantry Division in 1941

[David W]

I can only find reference to 9 captured Italian 47mm Breda A.T.G.'s being used by the 2/3 A.T. Regt.. Nothing about 37mm Bofors A.T.G's.

Both types utilised during they "stay" in Tobruk, I believe.

[David W]

To go back to a question that might have been overlooked a little earlier.
Does anyone know if the Aussie anti tank Regiments used porteed guns?

[verdenpark]

I have not come across any mention of them, but then, my references seem to have large gaps in the information, ie; the 37mm Bofors.

[David W]

So do we think that they would have been towed into action?

If so, by which lorry? Did the Aussies have a "Standard issue"?

[Tom from Cornwall]

David,

I've been looking about for information about Australian anti-tank gunners without much luck but did find the following link to a book about NZ anti-gunners which I felt would be of interest.

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-W ... g1-t1.html

Regards

Tom

[Tom from Cornwall]

David,

Have been looking through Australian war diaries on line on Australian War Memorial web site. I can't find details of an anti-tank regt belonging to 6th Division during late 1940 and early 1941.

In the war diary for 9 Inf Div GS Branch Mar 41 it says that "Nine 47mm Italian anti-tank guns are authorised for issue for each fwd Bde. Arrangements are to be made by Bdes for these equipments to be transported and fought PORTEE."

Hmmm, that's strange, by 24 Mar 41 the Unit Location report shows 3rd AT Regt belonging to 9th Infantry Division and back in Palestine. Now I am confused... Ahh, by 1 Apr 41 they are recorded as being en route to Tobruk.

Will go back and look again at 6th Inf Div diaries to seek clarification about 1st Anti-Tank Regt.

Tom

[David W]

Tom.

Thanks for the NZ link, I'll have a good read of that later.

I have the 2/1st Anti tank Regiment as belonging to the 6th Div, but no date of arrival in N.A.

[Tom from Cornwall]

According to the Australian OH of the Greek campaign the 1st AT Regt was deployed there (April 41 IIRC) but I can't see a reference to what guns it had. It had been in the UK in 1940 and shipped out to ME I presume in late 1940 (perhaps without guns?) and may therefore have been back in Delta waiting for guns whilst rest of 6th Division took part in capture of Bardia, Tobruk, etc, with an attachment of RHA AT guns.

Do you happen to know if there are copies of the Australian war diaries at Kew, if so I could have a peek as I'm hoping to go there in the next few weeks.

Tom

[David W]

According to the Australian OH of the Greek campaign the 1st AT Regt was deployed there (April 41 IIRC) but I can't see a reference to what guns it had. It had been in the UK in 1940 and shipped out to ME I presume in late 1940 (perhaps without guns?) and may therefore have been back in Delta waiting for guns whilst rest of 6th Division took part in capture of Bardia, Tobruk, etc, with an attachment of RHA AT guns.

Sounds plausable.

Do you happen to know if there are copies of the Australian war diaries at Kew, if so I could have a peek as I'm hoping to go there in the next few weeks.

No, I'm sorry I don't.

[Tom from Cornwall]

David,

If you look in the North Africa section, Michael Kenny has posted a link to some very pertinent information posted on the MissingLynx site that you will want to see.

It contains photos of documents showing British and Commonwealth artillery equipments in the Middle East in Dec 1940 and Jan 41 and provides confirmation of the recent arrival of 1 A/Tk Regt, R.A.A. with 46 2-pdrs for 6 Austalian Division.

Regards

Tom

[David W]

Thanks Tom.

Which thread?

Edit
OK Tom, got it!

[David W]

Going back to the 18pdr as used by some batteries of the Australian Field artillery regimnets. Does anyone have any information like range, weight of shot, type of ammo, H.E filler type & weight etc etc?

[verdenpark]

The 18 pdr. Mk.III/IV/V had a range of 9,300yd.s with standard ammunition, or 11,100yd.s with the streamlined Mk.IC round. The shell weighed 18.5 lb.s, and the total weight of the fixed round was 23 lb.s. Standard W.W.II rounds were H.E., A.P., Smoke, Star, Incendiary, and Schrapnel. H.E. filling was Amotol, but I cannot say how much was used.

Source: Wikipedia.

Trucks used in the Australian army at the time were of various makes, seem to be mostly Chev's or Fords, as these were the most popular commercial vehicles at the time.

[David W]

verdenpark.

Thank you.

I wonder if anyone else knows the amount of Amotol in the H.E shells?

[David W]

Tom.
2/1st A/T Regiment R.A.A seems (according to Shane's documents) to have arrived in the Middle East in about Mid January 1941.

I'm now assuming that they saw no action in the Western Desert, but went instead to Greece in the April.

Did they ever return to North African shores, or depart for somewhere like Syria or even the far East?

(I can't think of anything specific at Kew for tomorrow, but thanks a million for the offer)