WWII
British Airborne Division

1944-1945 All Theaters

List B7a

by Mark Bevis

1. Teeth Arm

Paratroop Battalion

    Bttn HQ: 2-3 rifle sqds, 1 LMG, 3 M/C, 2 PIAT, 3x Jeeps, 2x Universal Carriers
    3 Companies@
      CHQ: 2 rifle sqds, 1x 2", 1-2 PIAT
      3 platoons@ 4 rifle/SMG sqds, 3 LMG, 1x 2", 1-2 PIAT

    1 Support Company:

      CHQ: 1 SMG sqd
      1 platoon: 6x 3" mortars, 1-2 PIAT, 4 rifle sqds as crew
      1 platoon: 2 rifle/engineer sqds, 1 flamegun
      1 platoon: 4x Vickers MMG, 4x Jeeps

Divisional Recce Regiment (March-August 1944, 6th Division only)

    RHQ (Bttn HQ): 2x Tetrarch, 4x Tetrarch-CS, 1x Sherman ARV+4x Bren LMG
    1 Squadron:
      SHQ: 2x Tetrarch, 2x Tetrarch-CS, 1x M3A1 White Scout Car
      4 Troops@ 4x Tetrarch
      2 Troops@ 4x Cromwell (August 1944+)

    1 Squadron:

      SHQ: 4x Jeeps, 1 rifle sqd, 1x M3A1 White S/C
      4 Troops@ 2x Universal Carrier, 1x Daimler Scout Car
      or 1x Universal Carrier, 2x Daimler Scout Car

    1 Blitz Troop: 20 motorcycles, 2 SMG sqds
    1 Harbour Party: 2(8 man) SMG sqds

Divisional Recce Regiment (October 1944-1945, 6th Division only)

    RHQ (Bttn HQ): 2x Tetrarch, 4x Tetrarch-CS, 1x Sherman ARV
    1 Squadron:
      SHQ: 2x Tetrarch, 2x Tetrarch-CS, 1x M3A1 White Scout Car
      4 Troops@ 4x Tetrarch
      2 Troops@ 4x Cromwell or M22 Locust

    1 Squadron:

      SHQ: 4x Jeeps, 1 rifle sqd, 1x M3A1 White S/C
      4 Troops@ 2x Universal Carrier, 1x Daimler Scout Car
      or 1x Universal Carrier, 2x Daimler Scout Car

    1 Support Squadron:

      SHQ: 1x M3A1 White Scout Car, 1 lorry
      1 Blitz Troop: 20 motorcycles, 2 SMG sqds
      2 platoons@ 4x Vickers MMG, 5x Carriers or Jeeps
      1 battery: 4?x 4.2" mortars, 4 Jeeps, radio Jeep

Air Landing Infantry Battalion

    Bttn HQ: 2 rifle sqds, 3 M/C
    4 Companies@
      CHQ: 1(8 man) SMG sqd, 1 PIAT, 2x 3" mortars
      3 platoons@ 4 rifle/SMG sqds, 1x 2", 1-2 PIAT, 3 LMG

    1 Support Company:

      CHQ: 1(8 man) rifle sqd
      1 battery: 6x 3" mortars, 12 Jeeps, 1-2 PIAT
      1 platoon: 2 rifle/engineer sqds, 1 flamegun
      2 platoons@ 4x 6pdr, 6 Jeeps, 2 LMG
      2 platoons@ 4x Vickers MMG

2. Brigade Support

    Paratroop Brigade HQ: 6 rifle/SMG sqds
    Air Landing Infantry Brigade HQ: 6 rifle/SMG sqds, Jeeps, Air Liaison team

3. Divisional Support

Up to:

    1 Pathfinder Company:
      CHQ: 1 SMG sqd, radio beacon
      2 platoons@ 6 rifle/SMG sqds, flare markers

    2 Engineer Companies@

      CHQ: 2 rifle sqds, 6 M/C
      3 platoons@ 4(12 man) rifle/engineer sqds

    1 AA Company:

      CHQ: 1 SMG sqd, 2 Jeeps
      3 platoons@ 6x 20mm Polsten, 7 Jeeps

    3 Artillery Batteries@

      BHQ: 4 SMG sqds, 1 PIAT, 2 LMG, 4 OP teams, 16 Jeeps
      2 Troops@ 4x 75mm M1A1 pack howitzers, 5 Jeeps, 1 LMG

    2 Anti-Tank Companies@

      CHQ: 1 SMG sqd, 2 Jeeps
      2 Platoons@ 4x 6pdr, 2x LMG, 4 Jeeps
      2 Platoons@ 2x 17pdr, 2x 6pdr or 17pdr, 2 trucks, 2 Jeeps/trucks, 2 LMG

    1 Recce Squadron:

      SHQ: 1 rifle sqd, 3x Jeeps (not 6th Airborne Division)
      3 Troops@ 6x Jeep/Vickers K MG, 2 SMG sqds

4. Notes

    a) Radios are in all AFV and other PHQ, when working.
    b) Infantry squads have Hawkins A/T grenades.
    c) Up to 1 Tetrarch or M22 per platoon can have LittleJohn Adaptor firing APCNR. 2pdr fires APCBC, HE. 6pdr has 1 load APCBC and APCR in late 1943, APDS and HE in 1944. 17pdr has APCBC and HE, and APDS from Oct'44. 75mm M1A1 has 1 load of HEAT.
    d) Can replace Tetrarch with M22 Locust in May 1945.
    e) The division has 2 Paratroop Brigades each of 3 battalions, and 1 Air Landing Brigade of 3 battalions usually dropped in gliders.
    f) If used in ground role, can be fully motorised and can have Corps and Army support.
    g) In 1945 the Air Landing Battalion has 3 batteries each of 4x 3" mortars in the Support Company, and none in the other 4 CHQs.
    h) A Paratroop Battalion is airlifted in 34x C-47 Dakota, 7x Horsa and 1x Hamilcar gliders.


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© Copyright 2002 by Mark Bevis and MicroMark.
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