REPLACEMENTS

Armoured Replacements

The United Kingdom receives armoured replacement points beginning with the Jan 11940 turn. Armoured RPs are received on the first turn of each month at the following rates:
Jan I 1940 1
Feb I 1940 0
Mar I 1940-Jun I 1940 1
Jul I 1940-Sep I 1940 2
Oct I 1940-Dec I 1940 3

Costs to upgrade armoured units:
2-1-8 Lt Arm X to: 3-1-8 Arm X 1 Arm RP
2-1-8 Lt Arm X to: 4-3-6 Tank X 2 Arm RP
2-1-8 Lt Arm X to: 3-2-10 Arm X 2 Arm RP plus 1 Inf RP
2-1-8 Lt Arm X to: 3-8 Tank X 2 Arm RP plus 1 Inf RP
3-1-8 Arm X to: 3-2-10 Arm X 1 Arm RP
1-10 LtArmXor 1-10 mot MG X to 3-2- 10 Arm X or 3-8 Arm X 2 Arm RP plus 1 Inf RP
1 -10 mot MG X to: 4-3-6 Tank X 2 Arm RP

Costs to replace armoured units:
0-1 -4 Tank II or 1-6 Tank II1 Arm RP
2-1-8 Lt Arm X 1 Arm RP plus 1 Inf RP
3-1-8 Arm X 2 Arm RP plus 1 Inf RP
3-2-10 Arm X 3 Arm RP plus 1 Inf RP
3-8 Arm X 3 Arm RP plus 1 Inf RP
1-10 LtArm X 1 Aim RP
1-10 mot MG X 1 Inf RP

Notes: The British began the war with 8 "battalions" of the Royal Tank Regiment; 18 mechanized "regiments" of cavalry (3 in India); and Territorial Army units consisting of 12 battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment and 12 or so mechanized yeomanry regiments. No new armoured battalions were raised until 1941. Thus, except tanks, the 1939-1940 Royal Armoured Corps is in existence on 3 Sep 1939.

In theory there were three types of armoured brigades: heavy armoured brigades with 3 battalions of "heavy" cruiser tanks and light tanks (3-1-8 Arm X); light armoured brigades with three battalions of "light" cruiser tanks and light tanks (2-1-8 Lt Arm X); and army tank brigades with 3 battalions of infantry tanks (4-3-6 Tank X).

In practice most of the armour the British Army had on 3 Sep 1939 consisted of light tanks (over 1,000) plus some obsolete, 192os-vintage medium tanks (thus all arwoured and tank brigades start as 2-1-8 Lt Arm X). There were only enough modern cruiser tanks and infantry tanks to equip one battalion of each. The infantry tanks were of the Matilda I type with heavy armour, two man crew and a .50 calibre machine gun (0-1 -4 Tank II). Later, the Matilda II with even heavier armor and 2pdr gun became available in numbers (1 -6 Tank II and 4-3-6 Tank X).

Subsequently, the distinction between light and heavy armoured brigades was abolished, with an armoured brigade to consist of 3 battalions of cruisers (still 1 x 3-1 -8 Arm X). It was not until October 1940 that the armoured brigades received a motor battalion as part of the T/O (3-2-10 Arm X). British tank production was such that infantry tanks (namely the "Valentine" type) were used as initial equipment for some armoured brigades (3-8 Arm X). Initially a British armoured division was to consist of two armoured brigades and a support group. Again due to equipment and tank shortages only two incomplete armoured divisions were in existence in 1939 (the 1st in the United Kingdom and the 7th in Egypt).

The 2nd Armoured Division was formed early in 1940. The 6th, 8th and 9th began forming late in 1940. Specialized equipment and training requirements force the Support Groups (2-10 SG X) to appear as part of GHQ-Home Forces. Training delays the ability of the British to assemble their first armoured divisions (8-7-10 Arm XX) until late 1940.

Other armoured units: 2x 1-10 Lt Arm X 1 R and 2 R, formed by the divisional cavalry regiments of the B.E.F. (equipped with light tanks and armoured cars); 3x 1-10 mot MG X 1, 2, 3, armoured and tank brigades raised or reorgarized with light armoured cars armed with machine guns.

The values of the British armoured units have been adjusted to reflect actual equipment and further research. The army tank brigade has been revalued (6-4-6 Tank X to 4-3-6 Tank X) to reflect the fact that an I tank had the same pop-gun as a cruiser tank but did have more armor. Armoured brigades with "Valentine" infantry tanks are revalued for the same reason (from 4-3-6 Tank X to 3-8 Arm X). All armoured and tank brigades begin as 2-1-8 Lt Arm X to reflect the actual disgraceful state of affairs: (only 79 cruisers and 67 infantry tanks available to go with over 1,000 light tanks)

Artillery Points

Note: The British Army started the war with very limited artillery resources and production was slow to reach war levels. Divisions and artillery units may be created or rebuilt only through the expenditure of artillery points. Artillery points are received on the first turn of each month and are used to assemble, convert, and/or replace units in the United Kingdom. Artillery points from India are periodically received as noted below and are used to assemble, convert, and/or replace units in GHQ-MEF and in West/East Africa.

Artillery replacement-point rate:
Available Sep I 1939 2
Sep I 1939-Dec I 1939 2
Jan I 1940-Jun I 1940 3
Jul I 1940 6
Aug I 1940-Dec I 1940 9

From India:
Jan I 1940 1 -
Apr I 1940 2
Jul I 1940 2
Oct I 1940 3

Artillery points needed to activate units from the assembly pool or from the replacement pool.

All Artillery X 2
All Heavy AA X (to replace only) 2
7-8 or 8-8 Infantry XX2 (plus 1 x 8 Inf XX HQ, 3x 3-8 or 2-8 Inf X)
5-8 Motorised XX2 (plus 1x 8 Inf XX HQ, 2x 2-8 Inf X, 1 transport point)
4-6 Infantry XX 1 (plus 1 x 8 Inf XX HQ, 3x 1-6 Inf X)
2-10 SG X 2

No artillery points are required to form the four regular divisions of the B.E.F.; but they cannot be assembled until Sep II 1939. Divisions, artillery and armour in GHQ-MEF and Africa require that the necessary artillery points and armoured RPs be shipped to those theatres, or received from India.

Infantry RP costs to upgrade second line Territorial Army units:
1-6 Inf X to: 2-8 Inf X 1 Inf RP
4-6 Inf XX to: 7-8 Inf XX 2 Inf RP plus 1 artillery point

This was the period in which the Army became the 'Cinderella' Service.
--from Grand Strategy, Volume I, page 445.

Bibliography

Chamberlain, Peter & Chris Ellis. British andAmerican Tanks of World War II, New York: Arco Publishing Co., Inc., 1975.
Churchill, Winston S. The Gathering Storm, New York: Bantam Books, 1961. Their Finest Hour, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1949.
Crow, Duncan (ed.). British and Commonwealth AFVs 19401946, Garden City: Doubleday, 1972.
Fleming, Peter. Operation Sea Lion, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1957.
Joslen, H. F. Orders of Battle (two volumes), London: HMSO, 1960.
League of Nations. Armaments Year Book 1937 and 1939, 1940.
Mileham, P.J.R. The Yeomamy Regiments, Turnbridge Wells: Spellmount Ltd., 1985.
Ordnance Survey. The Ordnance Survey Atlas of Great Britain, 1985.
Rollo, Andrew. The Armed Forces of World War fl, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1981.
White, B. T. British Tank Markings and Names, Warren MI: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1978.
Zaloga, Steven J. Blitzkrieg, Carrollton TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1980.
E.T.O. Nos. 4 and 47
Plus many other sources reviewed by the authors over years of research including official British histories; official Indian Army histories; British and Indian regimental histories; memoirs; etc.

Glossary of Abbreviations

A African
Aus Australian
1 Ches 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment
Cyp Cyprus
EA East Af rican
G Gibraltar
Gds Guards
GHQ General Headquarters
IL Iraqi Levies
Ind Indian
JA Jerusalem Area
L London
LD London District
LS The Lovat Scouts
M Malta
NC Northern Command
1 NF 1st Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
NID Northern Ireland District
NZ New Zealand
ODF Orkney Islands Defense Force
Pal Palestine
R Reconnaissance
RT Royal Tank Regiment
SC Southern Command
SCC Somaliland Camel Corps
SDF Shetland Islands Defense Force
SDF (Col) Sudan Defense Force
SEAC SDF Eastern Arab Corps
SEC SDF Equatorial Corps
5 SG 5th Battalion Scots Guards
SH Super Heavy
SWAC SDF Western Arab Corps
T Army Tank
W 'W Force"
WA West African

The British Army Order of Battle September 1939 to December 1940

Overview
Commands and Initial Forces
Reinforcements and Reaction Forces
Replacements and Glossary