WWII
British Guards Armoured Division

Aug-Sept 1944
NW Europe

List B187-188

by Mark Bevis

1. Teeth Arm

Grenadier Guards Battlegroup (5th Guards Armoured Brigade)

2nd Armoured Battalion Grenadier Guards

    Bttn HQ: 4x Sherman V, 1x Cromwell OP(artillery rear link)
    3 Squadrons@
      SHQ: 4x Sherman
      5 Troops@ 2x Sherman, 1x Firefly

    1 Recce Squadron:
      SHQ: 2x Stuart V, 2x Daimler S/C
      3 Troops@ 2-3x Stuart VI, 3x Daimler Scout Car

    1 maintenance Troop: 4x Sherman ARV Mk.2, 3x M5 REME H/T

1st Motor Rifle Battalion Grenadier Guards

    Bttn HQ: 4x M3 H/T, 3 rifle sqds
    3 Companies@
      CHQ: 2x M3A1 White S/C, 1 rifle sqd, 1 PIAT, 1x 2"
      1 Section: 2x 3" mortars, 2x Universal Carriers
      3 platoons@ 4x M3 H/T, 4(8 man) rifle sqds, 3 LMG, 1x 2", 1 PIAT
      1 platoon: 2x Loyd Carrier, 2(6 man) rifle sqds, 2 LMG
      1 platoon:
        PHQ: 2x Universal Carrier, 1 LMG
        3 sections@ 3x Carrier, 3 LMG, 1 PIAT, 1x 2", 1 rifle sqd

    1 Support Company:

      CHQ: 1x Carrier, 1x Daimler Scout Car
      3 platoons@ 2x 6pdr, 2x Loyd Carriers, 2 LMG
      2 MG platoons@ 5x Universal Carrier, 4x MMG

Irish Guards Battlegroup (5th Guards Armoured Brigade)

2nd Armoured Battalion Irish Guards:

    Bttn HQ: 4x Sherman V, 1x Cromwell OP(artillery rear link)
    3 Squadrons@
      SHQ: 4x Sherman
      5 Troops@ 2x Sherman, 1x Firefly

    1 Recce Squadron:
      SHQ: 2x Stuart V, 2x Daimler S/C
      3 Troops@ 2-3x Stuart VI, 3x Daimler Scout Car

    1 maintenance Troop: 4x Sherman ARV Mk.2, 3x M5 REME H/T

3rd Irish Guards Infantry Battalion:

    Bttn HQ: 2 rifle sqds, 2x trucks, 1 radio van(artillery rear-link)
    3 Companies@
      CHQ: 2 rifle sqds, 1 lorry
      3 platoons@ 1(4 man) rifle PHQ sqd, 1x 2", 1 PIAT, 2 lorries
      3(8 man) rifle squads, 3 LMG

    1 Support Company:

      CHQ: 1 rifle sqd , 1x truck
      1 platoon: 6x 3" mortar, 6x trucks or Carriers, 1x Carrier with radio
      1 platoon: 6x 6pdr, 7x trucks or Carriers, 2 LMG
      1 platoon: 3(6 man) rifle/engineer sqds, 3 trucks, 3 LMG
      1 platoon:
        PHQ: 1x Universal Carrier, 1x Daimler S/C, LMG
        4 sections@ 3 Carrier, 3 LMG, 1 PIAT, 1x 2" mortar, 1 rifle sqd

Coldstream Guards Battlegroup (32nd Guards Infantry Brigade)

1st Armoured Battalion Coldstream Guards:

    Bttn HQ: 4x Sherman V, 1x Cromwell OP(artillery rear link)
    3 Squadrons@
      SHQ: 4x Sherman V
      5 Troops@ 2x Sherman V, 1x Firefly Vc

    1 Recce Squadron:
      SHQ: 2x Stuart V, 2x Daimler S/C
      3 Troops@ 2-3x Stuart VI, 3x Daimler Scout Car

    1 maintenance Troop: 4x Sherman ARV Mk.2, 3x M5 REME H/T

5th Coldstream Guards Infantry Battalion:

    Bttn HQ: 2 rifle sqds, 2x trucks, 1 radio van(artillery rear-link)
    4 Companies@
      CHQ: 2 rifle sqds, 1 lorry
      3 platoons@ 1(5 man) rifle PHQ sqd, 1x 2", 1 PIAT, 2 lorries, 3(8-10 man) rifle squads, 3 LMG

    1 Support Company:

      CHQ: 1 rifle sqd , 1x truck
      1 platoon: 6x 3" mortar, 6x trucks or Carriers, 1x Carrier with radio
      1 platoon: 6x 6pdr, 7x trucks or Carriers, 2 LMG
      1 platoon: 3(6 man) rifle/engineer sqds, 3 trucks, 3 LMG
      1 platoon:
        PHQ: 1x Universal Carrier, 1x Daimler S/C, LMG
        4 sections@ 3 Carrier, 3 LMG, 1 PIAT, 1x 2" mortar, 1 rifle sqd

Welsh Guards Battlegroup (32nd Guards Infantry Brigade)

2nd Armoured Battalion Welsh Guards Armoured Recce Regiment:

    RHQ (Bttn HQ): 6x Cromwell IV, 2x Cromwell ARV
    3 Squadrons@
      SHQ: 2x Cromwell IV, 2x Cromwell VICS
      5 Troops@ 2x Cromwell IV or V, 1x Firefly Vc

    1 Recce Troop:
      THQ: 2x Daimler S/C, 2x Stuart VI
      3 Troops@ 3x Stuart VI, 3x Daimler S/C

1st Welsh Guards Infantry Battalion:

    Bttn HQ: 2 rifle sqds, 2x trucks, 1 radio van(artillery rear-link)
    3 Companies@
      CHQ: 2 rifle sqds, 1 lorry
      3 platoons@ 1(4 man) rifle PHQ sqd, 1x 2", 1 PIAT, 2 lorries
      3 (8 man) rifle squads, 3 LMG

    1 Support Company:

      CHQ: 1 rifle sqd , 1x truck
      1 platoon: 6x 3" mortar, 6x trucks or Carriers, 1x Carrier with radio
      1 platoon: 6x 6pdr, 7x trucks or Carriers, 2 LMG
      1 platoon: 3(6 man) rifle/engineer sqds, 3 trucks, 3 LMG
      1 platoon:
        PHQ: 1x Universal Carrier, 1x Daimler S/C, LMG
        4 sections@ 3 Carrier, 3 LMG, 1 PIAT, 1x 2" mortar, 1 rifle sqd

2nd Household Cavalry Regiment Divisional Armoured Car Regiment

    RHQ: 3x Staghound I, 1x White S/C (medic), 3 staff cars, 3 Jeeps, 5 M/C
    4 Squadrons@
      SHQ: 4x Staghound 1, 1x Daimler S/C, 1 Jeep, 1 staff car
      5 Troops@ 2x Daimler II, 2x Daimler Scout Cars
      1 Troop: 2x AEC MK.III, 1x Daimler S/C
      1 Troop: 3x M3 H/T, 3(8 man) rifle sqds, 3 LMG, 3 PIAT, 1x Humber S/C

    1 Liaison/Communication Troop:

      THQ: 4x Humber S/C
      3 Sections@ 3x Humber S/C

2. Brigade Support

    5th Guards Armoured Brigade HQ: 7x Sherman-HQ, 2x AEC 6x6 ACV, Air Liaison Team, 3x Sherman-OP, 3x Cromwell Dozer
      with:

      1 Defence Troop: 3x Sherman V
      1 Bridge Troop: 3x Valentine AVLB

    32nd Motorised Infantry Brigade HQ: 4 rifle sqds, 2 LMG, 2 lorries, 2 trucks, Air liaison team in radio van

3. Divisional Support

    Up to:

    1st Independent Machine Gun Company:

      CHQ: 1 rifle sqd, 1 truck
      4 platoons@ 4x Vickers MMG, 5x Universal Carriers or light trucks
      1 platoon: 4x 4.2" mortars, 8x Loyd Carriers, 4 LMG, OP Team in Carrier

    153rd Field Artillery Regiment:

      3 Artillery Batteries@
        BHQ: 1 radio van, 2 trucks, 2 rifle sqds, 1 PIAT, 4 AALMG
        2 Troops@ 4x Sexton, 1 radio van, 2 OP teams

    55th Field Artillery Regiment

      3 Artillery Batteries@
        BHQ: 1 radio van, 2 trucks, 2 rifle sqds, 1 PIAT, 4 AALMG
        2 Troops@ 4x 25pdr, 4x Quad tractors, radio van, 2 AALMG, 1 PIAT, 2 OP teams

    21st Anti-Tank Regiment:

      2 Anti-Tank Companies@
        CHQ: 2x M3 halftrack
        3 Troops@ 4x M-10 Achilles, 1x M3 halftrack or Crusader Tower

      2 Anti-Tank Companies@

        CHQ: 1x M3 H/T
        3 Troops@ 4x 17pdr with M3 H/T or Crusader Towers

    94th Light AA Regiment:

      2 Batteries@
        CHQ: 1 rifle sqd, 1 truck
        3 Troops@ 6x 40mm Bofors, 6 trucks, 2 LMG

      1 Battery:

        CHQ: 1 rifle squad, 1 truck
        3 Troops@ 6x 40mm Bofors on Morris

    14th, 615th Field Engineer Squadrons@

      SHQ: 4(11 man) rifle sqds, 1 LMG, 1 PIAT, 4 lorries, 1x Jeep
      3 Troops@ 1(17 man) PHQ squad, 4(12 man) rifle/engineer sqds, 4 LMG, 4 lorries or 6x M3 halftracks, 6x Humber Light Recce S/C

    148th Engineer Park Company:

      CHQ: 3 rifle sqds, 4 lorries
      1 Bridge Troop: 1x 40t 80' Bailey Bridge in 15x 3-ton lorries, 51 men
      1 Stores Section: 12 assault boats, 3 bulldozers, 3 tractors, 29 men
      1 Workshop Section: 44 men, recovery lorries

4. Notes

a) Radios are in all AFV and other PHQ.
b) Infantry squads have Hawkins 75 A/T grenades.
c) Several Cromwells in the 2nd Welsh Guards Armoured Recce Regiment have AA mount for single Bren AALMG with 100 round magazine or twin Vickers K AALMG.
d) The Division has the 5th Guards Armoured Brigade and the 32nd Motorised Infantry Brigade, plus the 2nd Household Cavalry Armoured Car Regiment at division attached from Corps. Each brigade has 2 Battlegroups each of Armour ed Battalion and one infantry battalion as shown. These were permanent combined arms groupings.
e) Divisional Artillery OPs are in Sherman V-OP or Universal Carriers or trucks.
f) Some Shermans and Fireflys in the 1st Coldstream Guards have 4.5" rocket rails on their turret sides.
g) Some Daimler II may have Littlejohn Adaptor firing APCNR squeezebore rounds.


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© Copyright 2004 by Mark Bevis and MicroMark.
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