The British Infantry Division, 1941 to 1942
Divisional Troops
Divisional Headquarters
Defence and Employment Platoon
Field Security Section
Divisional Intelligence Section
Divisional Signals
Divisional Reconnaissance Battalion/Regiment - click on the
Machine Gun Battalion - with forty eight Vickers medium machine guns, divided into four Companies, with three Platoons of four MMGs per Company.
Three Infantry Brigades, each comprised of;
Brigade Headquarters
Defence Platoon
Three Infantry Battalions - click on The British Infantry Battalion 1941 to 1942 link for more detail.
Divisional Artillery
Headquarters, Divisional Artillery
Three Field Regiments - each with twenty four towed 25-pdr guns divided into three Batteries, with two Troops of four guns per Battery.
Anti-tank Regiment - with sixty four anti-tank guns, divided into four Batteries, with four Troops of four guns per Battery.
Light Anti-aircraft Regiment - with forty eight towed 40-mm light anti-aircraft guns, divided into four Batteries, with three Troops of four guns per Battery.
Divisional Engineers
Headquarters, Divisional Engineers
Three Field Companies
Field Park Company
Supply and Transport
Headquarters, Divisional Royal Army Service Corps
Divisional Petrol Company
Divisional Ammunition Company
Divisional Supply Column
Amended late 1941 into early 1942 to;
Headquarters, Commander, Royal Army Service Corps
Three Infantry Brigade Companies
Divisional Troops Company
Medical
Three Field Ambulances
Two Field Dressing Stations (introduced from mid 1942)
Field Hygiene Section
Repair
Divisional Ordnance Workshop
Divisional Ordnance Field Park
Light Aid Detachments
Amended late 1942 to;
Headquarters, Commander Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Three Infantry Brigade Workshops
Light Aid Detachments
Miscellaneous
Divisional Provost Company
Divisional Postal Unit
Points of note
The Divisional Anti-tank Regiment was increased with an additional Troop for each Battery. Through 1941 the standard anti-tank gun remained the 2-pdr, which was increasingly obsolete in the face of up-armoured German Panzers. During 1942 the more potent 6-pdr anti-tank gun began to reach Regiments in North Africa, gradually replacing the 2-pdr. A number of Infantry Divisions in the theatre however fielded a mixture of guns, with forty eight 6-pdr and sixteen 2-pdr weapons in their Anti-tank Regiments.
Comments
Most Infantry Divisions serving in North Africa deviated in some way or other from the Home Forces establishment. 50th Division was brought up to strength with a volunteer Greek Brigade Group following the capture of its own 150th Brigade, and had no Reconnaissance Regiment, while 44th Division substituted a Lorried Infantry Brigade for a normal Infantry Brigade.
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