British Assault Troop

[aghart]

Hi aghart.

Would it be attached to Squadron Headquarters?

With the assault troop being so versatile, it would make sense to have it on hand for HQ security for one.
The problem is though, that because of its small size, it couldn't be split into three and parceled out to the three recce troops.

Regards
Yan.

No it was a troop in it's own right, in Northern Ireland we were often split into sections and attached to the armoured car troops. We would man vehicle check points, do searches ect, while the Armoured Cars covered us and kept watch.

[yantaylor]

Does any know where I could find any photos of an assault troop in use?

I have tried but with these types of formations it is nearly impossible to tell if they are from the assault troop or just troops in trucks.

Yan.

[Sheldrake]

The Jack of all trades/odd job description of Assault Troop is quite accurate. Assault Troop stayed with Armoured Recce Regiments until the late 1970's, when it became Surveillance Troop equipped with the ZB298 ground surveillance radar set. Surveillance Troop did not last long and was disbanded when ZB298 was withdrawn from Service. I actually served in an Assault Troop, but that was in Northern Ireland (1973/4) where for that particular period we were simply the Squadron's own internal Infantry Platoon.

Medium Recce was around in 1982. At least 13/18th had assault troops Spartans while the recce troops had Scorpions.

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi aghart.

Would it be attached to Squadron Headquarters?

With the assault troop being so versatile, it would make sense to have it on hand for HQ security for one.
The problem is though, that because of its small size, it couldn't be split into three and parceled out to the three recce troops.

Regards
Yan.

Hi Yan

Why would you need to split the assault troop up and put them in with the Recce troops. The Recce troops already had an infantry element in the carrier sections.

[yantaylor]

You are correct Clive, just wondering why they called it the assault troop when each scout troop had a couple of carrier sections, it looks like an excuse to add extra motorized troops.

I think we British had a knack of naming ad-hoc units glamorous names like assault troop, when in reality the guys mounted in carriers would have been up at the sharp end with the armoured cars.

Nice to hear from you, and a happy new year.
Regards
Yan