British Army & CW ad-hoc 'Force' formations

[Andy H]

1) Roma Force (Lt Col GB Grant)
2) ?
3) July'45
4) Sept'45
5) RM Detachments from HMS Nelson, Nigeria, Ceylon and Phoebe
6) Around 400 RM's in total
7) Took part in Op.Zipper
8.) http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org ... e9uV9JViko

[Andy H]

1) Mela Force ?
2) 51st Highland Division
3) March 1st 1943?
4) ?
5) D Companies of the Seaforth and Cameron Brigade: 2nd Seaforth, 5th Seaforth and 5th Camerons less 154 Brigade
6)
7) Defence of Wadi Melah 1943
8 ) None Bolder by Richard Doherty

Regards

Andy H

[Andy H]

1) Eykyn Force
2) 49th Infantry Division
3) Oct'44
4) Oct'44
5) 11th Royal Scots Fusiliers (with AT-TK guns), 2nd Kensington MG Bn, Carrier Plt from 7th Duke of Wellingtons, part of the Belgian White Brigade and some RE units
6) ?
7) Holding a defensive portion of the line between Brecht and Poppel some 20 miles in total
8 ) The Polar Bears by Patrick Delaforce


1) Bob Force Lt-Col Bob Cory
2) 89th LAA Regt/49th Infantry Division
3) Oct'44
4) Oct'44
5) 89th LAA Regt, 49th Recce Regt (left 18th Oct), 2 BTYs of AT-TK guns from 89th Regt plus 1/2 2 Kensington MG Bn
6) ?
7) Holding a defensive portion of the line between Merxplaas and Ryckevorsel some 10 miles in total
8 ) The Polar Bears by Patrick Delaforce and Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg198

1) Bob Force ?
2) 52nd Recce, 52 (Lowland) Division
3) Apr'45
4) Apr'45
5) B Sqn 52 Recce
6) ?
7) Advance upon Hopsten and clearing an area east of the Dortmund-Ems canal.
8 ) Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg271




Regards

Andy H

[Andy H]

Updated several entries with additional or revised info

Regards

Andy H

[Andy H]

1. Baker Force (Lt JS Baker)
2. 1st Recce Regt, British 1st Infantry Division
3. 15th January 1944
4. 24th January 1944
5. 4th, 6th and 13th Troops A Sqn 1st Recce Regt
6. Approx 16 Armoured cars, White scout cars with 3-inch mortars fitted and 2 6Pdr AT-TK guns
7. Tasked to protect 2nd Inf Bde left flank upon landing at Anzio.
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg130-31

[Aufklarung]

Hi Andy

Still at it after what? 16 years! Well done.

I couldn't edit your post for additional data so here's a re-post of one of yours. Feel free to place it back into page 2 and delete. Post count isn't my goal!!

1) Sickle Force
2)
3) April'40
4) ?
5) 15th Infantry Brigade (22/04/40-06/05/40)(1st Battalion, Green Howards,1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment) +148th Infantry Brigade (26/04/40-30/04/40)(1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, 1/8th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters)and 168th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery, 260th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery, 55th Field Company, Royal Engineers
6)
7) Took part in the Allied intervention in Norway and landed at Åndalsnes, in Romsdal, to support Norwegian Army units defending the city of Trondheim.
8.) ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian ... ickleforce

Not much but soon will be the day that I'll have more time.

regards
A

[Urmel]

1. Baker Force (Lt JS Baker)
2. 1st Recce Regt, British 1st Infantry Division
3. 15th January 1943
4. 24th January 1943
5. 4th, 6th and 13th Troops A Sqn 1st Recce Regt
6. Approx 16 Armoured cars, White scout cars with 3-inch mortars fitted and 2 6Pdr AT-TK guns
7. Tasked to protect 2nd Inf Bde left flank upon landing at Anzio.
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg130-31

1944, shurely?

Hi
Duly changed Thanks for pointing out
Andy H

[Andy H]

1. Chavasse Force (Col Chavasse)
2. 56th Recce Regt, British 78th Infantry Division
3. 12th June 1944
4. 21st June 1944
5. Elements of 56 Recce Regt, Tank Sqn Warwickshire Yeomanry, 1st RIF, 1Bty 17th Field Regt RA, 2 Troops 315th AT-TL Bty and a RE Field Sqn.
6. ?
7. Principal task was to protect the flank of 6th SA Armd Div as it advanced along the Tiber river
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg208-209

1. Rec Force (Lt-Col Savill)
2. 12th Royal Lancers
3. 11th March 1945
4. 5th April 1944
5. 12th Royal Lancers & 44th Recce Regt
6. ?
7. Relieve of 1/22nd Bn Italian Cremona Division along the Old Lamone river.
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg233-234

1. Check Force (Lt-Col Birch)
2. 6th Cheshires
3. 5th April 1945
4. 12th April 1944
5. 6th Cheshires & 44th Recce Regt
6. ?
7. Derived from Rec Force, Check Force provided a target for German forces whilst 167th Bde attacked across the Reno River.
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg233-234

[Andy H]

1. Herman Force (Col Herman)
2. Kings Dragoon Guards
3. ? March 1944
4. 12th March 1944
5. Kings Dragoon Guards 2nd/4th Hampshires
6. ?
7. Holding the western slopes of Monte Camino's, east of Garigliano
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg209-210

1. Preston Force (Col Preston)
2. 4th Recce Regt
3. 12th March 1944
4. 12th April 1944
5. 4th & 44th Recce Regts 2nd/4th Hampshires? Italian Bafile Bn, Mortar Plt 3rd Support Group and 2nd BN RNF.
6. 4.2in Mortars
7. Derived from Herman Force, Preston Force was to hold the western slopes of Monte Camino's, east of Garigliano but also dominate the no-mans land through vigorous patrolling.
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg210

1. Corbauld Force (?)
2. Canadian Westminster Regt
3. 12th April 1944
4. ? 1944
5. 44th Recce, Can.Westminster Regt, Italian Bafile Bn, Mortar Plt 3rd Support Group and 2nd BN RNF
6. ?
7. As per Preston Force
8. Only the Enemy In Front (The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946 by Richard Doherty, Pg210

[Nick the Noodle]

1) Tod Force Lt-Col A.F.Todd
2) 11th Armoured Division
3) April'45
4) April'45
5) 2x SP 17Pdr Bty's/Sqn's and 2 'de-horsed' Bty's/Coy's
6) ?
7) Re-roled because of the lack of enemy tanks into offensive role. Advance from the Weser river to at least Elbe river
8.) British Armoured Divisions and their Commanders 1939-1945 by R.Doherty, Pg 201

Regards

Andy H

From British and Commonwealth Armies 1939-45 Supplement Vol 1 by Mark Bevis

6)
RHQ (2 Rifle Secs, 2 trucks, 1 staff car)
2 batteries each 1 HQ (M3 HT, rifle sec), 3 troops each 4 M10 Achilles, 1 m22 locust.
2 'companies' each 1 HQ (truck, rifle sec), 3 troops (2 lorries or 4 trucks) each 4 rifle sec, 4 bren, 1 2" lm, 1 piat.

[Sheldrake]

1) Tod Force Lt-Col A.F.Todd
2) 11th Armoured Division
3) April'45
4) April'45
5) 2x SP 17Pdr Bty's/Sqn's and 2 'de-horsed' Bty's/Coy's
6) ?
7) Re-roled because of the lack of enemy tanks into offensive role. Advance from the Weser river to at least Elbe river
8.) British Armoured Divisions and their Commanders 1939-1945 by R.Doherty, Pg 201

Regards

Andy H

6)
RHQ (2 Rifle Secs, 2 trucks, 1 staff car)
2 batteries each 1 HQ (M3 HT, rifle sec), 3 troops each 4 M10 Achilles, 1 m22 locust.
2 'companies' each 1 HQ (truck, rifle sec), 3 troops (2 lorries or 4 trucks) each 4 rifle sec, 4 bren, 1 2" lm, 1 piat.
From British and Commonwealth Armies 1939-45 Supplement Vol 1 by Mark Bevis

The battlegroups formed from anti-tank regiments remained gunner units and used their own equipment and men. 21 Anti tank regiment of Guards armoured division did something very similar. The "Infantry element" would have been the towed 17 pounder batteries and used their tractors as transport - with or without the guns.

This shows the organisation of towed batteries in armoured divisions
http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/di ... ery.23770/

The gun tractors for the 17 pounder towed equipment in armoured divisions were M14/M5 half tracks. The establishment seems to be three half tracks for each section of two guns, with a Bren gun for the ammuniton limber, giving two bren guns per troop. The Troop commander's vehicle carries an anti tank rifle or Piat. The half tracks may have come with 0.3 brownings as part of their CES.

So this Gunner battlegroup had two companies of mechanised infantry. Not sure where they would have got a light mortar from. They might also have brought the 17 pounders with them. Were these withdrawn?

[Nick the Noodle]

1) Tod Force Lt-Col A.F.Todd
2) 11th Armoured Division
3) April'45
4) April'45
5) 2x SP 17Pdr Bty's/Sqn's and 2 'de-horsed' Bty's/Coy's
6) ?
7) Re-roled because of the lack of enemy tanks into offensive role. Advance from the Weser river to at least Elbe river
8.) British Armoured Divisions and their Commanders 1939-1945 by R.Doherty, Pg 201

Regards

Andy H

6)
RHQ (2 Rifle Secs, 2 trucks, 1 staff car)
2 batteries each 1 HQ (M3 HT, rifle sec), 3 troops each 4 M10 Achilles, 1 m22 locust.
2 'companies' each 1 HQ (truck, rifle sec), 3 troops (2 lorries or 4 trucks) each 4 rifle sec, 4 bren, 1 2" lm, 1 piat.

From British and Commonwealth Armies 1939-45 Supplement Vol 1 by Mark Bevis

The battlegroups formed from anti-tank regiments remained gunner units and used their own equipment and men. 21 Anti tank regiment of Guards armoured division did something very similar. The "Infantry element" would have been the towed 17 pounder batteries and used their tractors as transport - with or without the guns.

Yep, although I'm confused why you edited the source from my post and added it to your own?

[Sheldrake]

Yep, although I'm confused why you edited the source from my post and added it to your own?

Finger trouble - corrected and updated with extra information.

[Sheldrake]

The history of the Guards Armoured Division mentions that Z and 2 Batteries of 21 Anti Tank regiment were re-roled as infantry and allocated carriers and half tracks in place of some of their original vehicles and organised like motor companies, while the SP batteries were treated as armoured squadrons. Within 5th Guards Brigade Q and Z battery became known as Buster force, working together like a company squadron group.

[Nick the Noodle]

Yep, although I'm confused why you edited the source from my post and added it to your own?

Finger trouble - corrected and updated with extra information.