Morning, folks,
I continue with the division-threads. (still hurting after reading another Seelöwe thread... which - according to the title - didn't even concern 2nd NZ, but was full of info).
2nd NZ Division
HQ around the Maidstone area.
5th NZ Bde
HQ around the Maidstone area
21 NZ Btl: in Maidstone (minus D Coy)
22 NZ Btl: in Hollingbourne
23 NZ Btl: in West Malling
7th NZ Bde
HQ somewhere in the Sittingbourne-Fevarsham area
28 NZ Btl: in Doddington
29 NZ Btl: in Bredgar
MILFORCE
Around Ashford with:
D Coy/21 NZ Btl, C Squadron/NZ Cavalry (with around 9-12 light tanks, if I remember corretly, maybe some carriers), 2 Bde-AT-Coys (without guns, employed as Infantry), 1 Coy HMG, 1 troop of 35 LAARgt (4xBofors)
As for the rest, there should be one Field Coy, RE, 5th Field NZ Rgt with 8x75mm and 8x25pdr and 7th NZ AT Rgt with two Btys (each with 8x2pdr - however, I have also read 12x2pdr each). I don't have anything about the dislocation of these units.
The units were reasonably well equiped for a deal made (pressure applied) by the NZ government.
Also under command was 8 RTR around Charing (?).
C Squadron was equiped fully with Matilda IIs (16 vehicles), A and B Squadrons with a mix of Matilda Is (total 27 vehicles) and Matilda IIs (total, including C Squadron 23, so probably 3 vehicles for each of the other two squadrons), probably also a few Light Tanks (Establishement: 7).
C Squadron was to suppert MILFORCE, the other two following later.
Operational Order for the Division:
4. Tasks in general.
The tasks of N.Z. Div. in order of priority are:
(a) to counter attack vigorously any enemy landing in 1 Lon.
Div. area, especially in the area North and N.W. of DOVER
and FOLKESTONE.
(b) To re-establish the line of ROYAL MILITARY CANAL eastwards
of HAM STREET.
(c) Concurrently with the above, to deal with any hostile air
borne landings in the area SITTINBOURNE - FAVERSHAM -
CHARING - MAIDSTONE.
6. Tasks in particular.
(a) N.Z. Div. less 7 Inf. Bde. Gp. is to be prepared to counter-
attack enemy in area:
(i) North and N.W. of DOVER south of the line SANDWICH (7776)-
WINGHAM (6875) from the direction of CANTERBURY. This will
be known as plan "A".
(ii) N.W. of FOLKESTONE from the direction of SELLINGE (5356)
Plan "B".
(iii) POSTLING GREEN (5153) LYMINGE (6059) - Plan "C"
(b) 7 Inf. Bde. Gp. is to be prepared to:
(i) Attack enemy air-borne landings in the area
SITTINGBOURNE - FAVERSHAM - CHARING - MAIDSTONE.
(ii) From petions [sic] on high ground immediately North of
road HARRIETSHAM (3171) - CHARING - to provide A.A. L.M.G.
defence for move of 5 Inf. Bde. Gp. on that road.
(iii) Support remainder of Div. in Plans "A" "B" OR "C".
INTENTION.
7. MILFORCE will act as Div. Adv. Guard. and will take up a position covering the debussing of 5 Inf. Bde.
14. Speed.
8 m.i.h.
15. Density.
10 v.t.m.
(does vtm means Vehicle To Mile?)
2nd NZ Division and Seelöwe/Sea Lion
Re: 2nd NZ Division and Seelöwe/Sea Lion
Yes.
To add to Milforce Operation Instruction No.4 of September 20th
5. Grouping.
(a) MILFORCE.
Comd: Lt.Col. E.C.N. CUSTANCE
Tps:
"C" Sqn. Div. Cav.
7 A.Tk.Regt. less detts. (armed as Inf).
"C" Coy. 21 Bn.
M.G. Coy.
Sig. Dett.
"C" Sqn. 8 R Tanks (for period of adv. only).
(b) 5 and 7 Inf. Bde. Gps. - no change.
(c) 8 R Tanks and 157 Lt. A.A. Bty under Div.
H.Q. 7 A.Tk. Regt. Will constitute H.Q. Inf. and M.G. Gp. Using own Code Name.
METHOD.
8. Adv. Guard Mob Tps: "C" Sqn. Div. Cav.
Main Gd:
1 Tp. 'C' Sqn. 8 R Tanks.
MILFORCE HQ.
Comd. Inf. & MG. Gp.
'C' Sqn. 8 R Tanks (less 1 Tp.)
H.Q. Inf. & MG. Gp.
32 A/Tk. Bty. (8 vehicles)
MG. Coy. (10 vehicles)
'C' Coy. 21 Bn. (7 vehicles)
10. S.Ps.
Plan “A” X-rds. 452692.”B” Rd. Junc. 454641. “C” Ry. & Rd. Crossing 487652.
11. Routes to S.P.
By most direct route to S.P.
12. Time past S.P.
Adv. Mtd. Tps. Will arrange own time to pass S.P. But will be on 1st Bound at Zero.
“C” Sqn 8 R Tanks – Zero.
MILFORCE H.Q. - Z plus 20.
H.Q. Inf. & MG. Gp. - Z plus 23.
A.Tk. Bty. - Z plus 25.
M.G. Coy. - Z plus 30.
“C” Coy. 21 Bn. - Z plus 38.
AIM.
13. Order to move.
The order for MILFORCE to prepare to move will be sent in the form of “MILFORCE prepare to move and either a time past S.P. will be given, or at time at which to be ready to move.
Re: 2nd NZ Division and Seelöwe/Sea Lion
The Cassini grid references - 10. S.P.s - can easily be converted to modern mapping here https://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-translation.php
Prefix WR in this part of the country.
From Start Point for Plan B (I made it Sandyhurst Manor) to Lympne is 11.1 miles via Sellindge and a further 3.5 miles to the Hythe Ranges by Google Maps
From Start Point for Plan C (Tickled Trout, Wye) to Lympne is 12.9 miles via Postling and a further 3.5 to Hythe Ranges
Prefix WR in this part of the country.
From Start Point for Plan B (I made it Sandyhurst Manor) to Lympne is 11.1 miles via Sellindge and a further 3.5 miles to the Hythe Ranges by Google Maps
From Start Point for Plan C (Tickled Trout, Wye) to Lympne is 12.9 miles via Postling and a further 3.5 to Hythe Ranges