The Australian Infantry Battalion, 1943
During 1942, as Imperial Japan attempted to conquer the Pacific Rim, Australian Divisions serving in the Middle East were gradually withdrawn to defend their homeland. The below provisional War Establishment was issued in late 1942 for units operating in the tropics.
The Infantry Battalion (Tropical Scale), circa 1943
Battalion Headquarters (5 Officers, 58 men)
Headquarter Company (10 Officers, 269 men), comprised of;
Company HQ (1 Officer, 14 men)
Signal Platoon (1 Officer, 34 men)
Anti-aircraft Platoon (1 Officer, 19 men)
Mortar Platoon (1 Officer, 53 men)
Carrier Platoon (2 Officers, 55 men)
Anti-tank Platoon (1 Officer, 31 men)
Pioneer Platoon (1 Officer, 20 men)
Administrative Platoon (2 Officers, 43 men)
Four Rifle Companies (5 Officers, 130 men), each comprised of;
Company HQ (2 Officers, 16 men)
Three Rifle Platoons, each comprised of;
Platoon HQ (1 Officer, 5 men)
Three Sections, each comprised of 11 men
Total strength of 882 all ranks (35 Officers and 847 men)
Points of note
The organisation was still largely based on the previous Higher Establishment table, but firepower was notably increased in Headquarter Company.
The elements of the Battalion
Battalion Headquarters - remained largely as before, though the Chaplain and his batman-driver were now carried on the strength of Brigade Headquarters. The Battalion commander also lost his Universal carrier.
Signal Platoon - maintained radio, wire and telephone communications between the Battalion and higher and parallel formations.
Anti-aircraft Platoon - was reduced to just two 15-cwt trucks, plus a Jeep or motorcycle. The Platoon still had four twin Bren light machine gun mounts, and a single anti-tank rifle.
Mortar Platoon - the Mortar Platoon was increased from six to eight 3-inch weapons. Each detachment was still carried in a modified Universal carrier, with a ninth such vehicle for the Platoon commander.
Carrier Platoon - the Carrier Platoon still had thirteen carriers, now of Australian manufacture, with one at Platoon HQ and four Sections of three vehicles each. The firepower of the Platoon was substantially heavier and in addition to the standard Bren gun each vehicle carried a Vickers medium machine gun. Oddly, there was still a motorcycle element of twelve men.
Anti-tank Platoon - the Platoon served four 2-pdr anti-tank guns, each carried either on a Portee or towed by a Jeep. A Bren gun was also included in each detachment.
Pioneer Platoon - remained effectively as before, but now had a 15-cwt truck for stores, and a handcart.
Administrative Platoon - drivers of vehicles were now counted in the strength of their subunits, and the Admin Platoon had a reduced allotment of nine 3-ton lorries.
The Rifle Company – each of the four Rifle Companies in the Battalion still consisted of a Headquarters and three Rifle Platoons.
The Rifle Section remained as eleven men, its armament now being two submachine guns, nine rifles and one Bren gun. Platoon HQ was made up of a Lieutenant, Sergeant, batman, orderly and two man crew for the 2-inch mortar. Each carried a rifle, including the officer, in addition to his pistol. During 1942 Australian troops in the Pacific gradually began to adopt the new Owen submachine gun to replace their Thompson and Sten guns. The Owen was a 9-mm weapon with a distinctive top mounted magazine and proved to be a popular choice due to its reliability and sturdy construction.
The Platoons lost their own transport, Company HQ now having three 15-cwt trucks and three handcarts. There were also three anti-tank rifles for allocation to the Platoons as required. Both Company officers also carried rifles.
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