Initial Forces: September I 1939

ETO: Britain:
Tac Air OB: 1x Harrow

MTO: Middle East:
Tac Air OB: 1x Bombay

Note: These two units represent the very limited air transport capacity available in the first two years of the war. Actually most of the aircraft represented by these counters were not capable of air-dropping troops. Purists may wish to restrict them to landing cargo!

July I 1940

ETO: Britain: Forming: Ix 1-5 Para II 1

Note: After the Germans proved the value of airborne units in Belgium and the Netherlands, Churchill called for the formation of a British version. Some 500 men belonging to the newly formed Commandos created a unit called 11 SAS. This was soon separated from the Commandos, and was renamed 1 Para Battalion prior to the completion of its training.

July II 1941
ETO: Britain:
Formed: 1x 1-5 Para II 1

The unit had carried out a drop as early as Feb 1941, but only some 50 men were involved.

Tac Air OB: Add. 1x Whitley 5T

Note: This is the first appearance of air units capable of dropping parachutists. Mind you, the capability was marginal, since they dropped through a hole in the cabin floor!

September I 1941
ETO: Britain:
Forming: 2x 1-5 Para II 2,3

Note: The German success in Crete triggers an expansion in British airborne units. Two more battalions are formed from volunteers and a complete airborne division is planned, but the RAF has no interest in providing additional transport aircraft.

October I 1941
ETO: Britain:
Convert. 1x 2-8 Inf X 31 to:
Forming: 1x 4-5 Air Lndg X 1

Note: The 31st Brigade consisted of regular battalions brought back from India in the summer of 1940.

Far East: India:
Forming: 1x 1-5 Para II 156
Note: This unit represents the initial formation of 50th Indian Parachute Brigade. The 156th battalion was its British component, numbered the 151st at this point of its varied career. The Gurkha and Indian battalions were to take much longer to get organized.

November I 1941
ETO: Britain:
Forming: Ix 6 Abn/5* Para XX HQ 1

February I 1942
ETO: Britain:
Formed: 1x 1-5 Para II 2
Note: The battalion was employed in the Bruneval raid in this month.

April I 1942
ETO: Britain: Formed: 1x 1-5 Para II 3

June I 1942
ETO: Britain:
Arrive: 1x 1-5 Para II 2/503 (US)
Note: This unit was placed under command of the lst Airborne Division. However, the lack of transport aircraft made this a somewhat nebulous proposition. The appearance of later US units is ignored in this OB.

July I 1942
ETO:
Tac Air OB: New: 1x Horsa
Note: Some 300 glider pilots have now been trained.

August I 1942
ETO: Britain:
Forming: 1x 2-5 Para X 2
Special: Any turn up to March 11943:
Convert. 3x 1-5 Para III, 2, 3 to: 1x 3- 5 Para X 1
Once converted, the 3-5 Para X may not be broken down again into the three battalions.
Note: The lst Para Brigade now exists, however, with only one British air unit of adequate range available, the presence of a 1 RE unit is somewhat academic!

September I 1942
ETO: Britain:
Forming: 1x 4-5 Para X 1 (Pol)
Note: The brigade is formed from volunteers from the Polish exile troops in Britain. At this time it is intended to have three battalions, equating to a 3-5. However, a fourth battalion is added in early 1943.

October I 1942
ETO: Britain:
Formed: 1x 4-5 Air Lndg X I
US: Tac Air OB: New: I x C-47 (US)
Note: US transport units are now available in the
ETO. Later arrivals are ignored.

Far East: India:
Formed: 1x 1-5 Para H 156

November I 1942
ETO: Britain:
Formed: 1x 6 Abn/5* Para XX HQ 1
Forming: 1x 2-5 Para X 3
Transfer to MTO: North Africa: 3x 1-5 Para II 1,2,3

Any Theatre:
Available for Assembly:
1x 9-6 Abn XX 1

MTO: Middle East:
Arrive: Forces from Far East.

North Africa:
Arrive: Forces from ETO

Far East: India:
Transfer to MTO: 1x 1-5 Para II 156

Jan I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Special: Once per Game, Any Turn:
Convert. 1x 7-8 Mtn XX 52 Low to:
1x 5* Air Lndg XX HQ 52 Low
2x 3-5 Air Lndg X 52 Low/155, 52 Low/156
1x 2-8* Inf X 157
Add to Available for Assembly:
1x 6-8* Air Lndg XX 52 Low

March I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Transfer to MTO: North Africa:
1x 4-5 Air Lndg X 1
1x 6 Abn/5* Para XX HQ 1
Tac Air OB: Remove: 1x Whitley 5T
Add. 1x Albemarle, 1x Horsa
Note: There are now 900 glider pilots available.

MTO:
Tac Air OB: Remove: 1x Bombay
Add: 1x C-47, 1x CG-4A

Any Theatre:
Convert. 3x Para II 1, 2, 3 to: 1x 3-5 Para X
This conversion may already have been made.

Far East: India:
Forming: 1x 2-5 Para X 50 (Ind)
Note: The brigade is reorganized after the departure of its British battalion.

April I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Forming: 1x 2-5 Para X 5
Note: The decision is made to form a second airborne division.

May I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Forming: 1x 4-5 Air Lndg X 6

MTO: Middle East:
New: 2x 1-5 Para Cmdo II 1 SAS, 2 SAS
Convert. 1x 1-5 Para II 156 and 1 Br Inf RP to: 1x 2-5 Para X 4
Note: The 156th is expanded to brigade size by calling on volunteers from the Middle East.

June I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Forming: 1x 6 Abn/5 *Para XX HQ 6

July I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Full. 1x 2-5 Para X 3
Note: The 1st Canadian Para Bn is assigned to this brigade on its arrival in Britain.

August I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Full: 1 x 2-5 Para X 5

Far East: Australia:
Forming: 1x 1-5 Para II 1 (Aus)

September I 1943
ETO: Tac Air OB: New: 1x Horsa

October I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Full: 1x 4-5 Para X 1 (Pol)

November I 1943
ETO: Britain:
Full. 1x 4-5 Air Lndg X 6
1 x 6 Abn/5 * Para XX HQ 6
Tac Air OB: New: 1x Horsa

Any Theatre:
Available for Assembly:
1x 9-6 Abn XX 6

MTO: Tac Air OB: Remove: 1x Horsa

December I 1943
ETO: Arrive: Forces from MTO

MTO: Transfer to ETO:
1x 6 Abn XX HQ 1
1x 3-5 Para X 1
1x 2-5 Para X 4
1x 4-5 Air Lndg X 1

January I 1944
ETO:
Tac Air OB: New: 1x Stirl 4

Far East:
Tac Air OB: New: 2x CG-4A (US)
Note: Used by the Chindits. US transport planes in the Far East are ignored in this OB.

February I 1944:
ETO: Britain: Convert. 1x 4-5 Air Lndg X 1 to: 1x 5-5 Air Lndg X 1

Any Theatre:
Available for Assembly:
1x 10-6 Abn XX I

March I 1944
ETO:
Tac Air OB: Remove: 1x Harrow
New: 1x C-47, Ix Halfx C, 1x Hamilcar
Note: Training with the Hamilcars commenced in Feb 1944. By now there are some 1500 Glider Pilots available.

Far East: India:
Full: 1x 2-5 Para X 50 (Ind)
Note: The unit is thrown into the Imphal battles in a ground role.

May I 1944
ETO:
Tac Air OB: New: 1x C-47

MTO:
Tac Air OB: New: 1x C-47 (SA)

Far East: Australia:
Full: 1x 1-5 Para II 1 (Aus)

July I 1944
ETO: Tac Air OB: Remove: 1x Albemarle New: 1x Stirl 4, 1x Horsa
Note: Glider Pilot Regiment strength peaks at about 1900.

September I 1944
Far East:
Tac Air OB: New: 1x C-47

October I 1944
Far East: India:
Convert. 1x 2-8* Lt Inf X 14 to:
Forming: 1x 3-5 Air Lndg X 14
Note: A decision is made to form 44th Indian Airborne Division from the Chindit Brigades and the Headquarters elements of the 44th Armoured Division
Tac Air OB: New: 1x C-47 (Can)

November I 1944
MTO: Tac Air OB: Transfer to Balkans: 1x C-47 (SA)

December I 1944
Far East: India:
Forming: 1x 6 Abn/5* Para XX HQ 44 (Ind)

January I 1945
Far East: India:
Convert. 1x 2-8 Lt Inf X 77 (Ind) to:
Forming: 1x 2-5 Para X 77 (Ind)

Far East:
Tac Air OB: New: I x Horsa
Note: These have RAF pilots!

May I 1945
Far East: India:
Full. Ix 3-5 Air Lndg X 14 (Ind)

June I 1945
Far East: India:
Full: 1x 5 Abn XX HQ 44 (Ind)
1x 2-5 Para X 77 (Ind)
Available for Assembly:
1x 8-5 Abn XX 44 (Ind)

Far East:
Tac Air OB: New: 1x Horsa

Unit Breakdowns and Assemblies