The British Armoured Car Regiment
As well as the The British Reconnaissance Regiment a second type of armoured reconnaissance unit existed in the Armoured Car Regiment.
The Armoured Car Regiment underwent a number of reorganisations during the war, a number of variants never seeing active service. By late 1943 the final format had been agreed upon, and this is given below. It was intended that the Regiment would report directly to a Corps HQ, however by late 1944 they were operating as a part of the Armoured Divisions.
The Armoured Car Regiment, circa 1943 to 1945
Regimental Headquarters (5 Officers, 22 men)
Headquarter Squadron (7 Officers, 133 men)
Squadron HQ (2 Officers, 4 men)
Anti-aircraft Troop (20 men)
Inter-communication Troop (1 Officer, 26 men)
Administrative Troop (4 Officers, 83 men)
Four Squadrons (11 Officers, 139 men), each comprised of;
Squadron HQ 'fighting portion' (3 Officers, 22 men)
Squadron HQ 'administrative portion' (1 Officer, 44 men)
Heavy Troop (1 Officer, 9 men)
Support Troop (1 Officer, 19 men)
Five Troops, each comprised of 1 Officer and 9 men
Total Strength of 767 all ranks (56 Officers and 711 men)
Points of note
The Regiment had an usually high number of officers for its size, and operated a variety of armoured and scout cars. While previous versions, as used by the BEF and later in North Africa, deployed three Squadrons, that used in Northwest Europe and Italy fielded four, each with their own fire support and dismounted elements.
The elements of the Regiment
Regimental Headquarters - along with the usual Commander, 2-in-C, Adjutant and Intelligence officers was a Signals Officer, while the MO was counted with the Admin Troop. Three armoured cars, plus Jeeps and motorcycles provided transport.
Anti-aircraft Troop - as with The British Armoured Regiment there was a small AA Troop for the Regiment, here with five armoured cars, preferably the US produced Staghound mounting twin .50 cal heavy machine guns. It seems likely this Troop was disbanded as were those in the Armoured Regiments post D-Day, as the threat from the Luftwaffe proved less than feared.
Inter-communication Troop - another commonality with the Armoured Regiment, this Troop operated no less than thirteen scout cars, each with a two man crew and mounting a single Bren gun. The vehicles could have been either Daimlers or Humbers. A Subaltern commanded one car, with a Signal Sergeant on a motorcycle.
The Armoured Car Squadron - the four Squadrons were each effectively capable of independent operations.
The five Troops each comprised of two scout cars and two armoured cars. The scout cars were generally intended to be the Daimler Dingo, a small vehicle with a two man crew and mounting a Bren gun. The armoured cars were also to be Daimlers, with a three man crew and mounting a 2 pdr gun, though in both cases Humber vehicles could be found. A Sergeant and Corporal commanded the scout cars, Subaltern and Corporal the armoured cars.
The Heavy Troop operated a single scout car and two AEC heavy armoured cars. The AEC mounted either a 6 pdr or a 75 mm main gun, giving it the punch of a tank, and had a four man crew. Some Regiments substituted M3 halftracks mounting a 75 mm gun instead, perhaps more so in Italy.
The Support Troop provided a small dismounted elements. Its commander had a scout car, with three Sections each of an NCO and five troopers. As with the Reconnaissance and Motor units, their transport was changed from 15cwt trucks to halftracks by 1944, though White scout cars could also be found. It seems one Section had a Bren gun, possibly that lead by the Troop Sergeant.
Troop HQ was officially divided between fight and admin portions. The former had four armoured cars and a single scout car, while the latter had the usual collection of trucks and lorries.
Summary
Along with the Reconnaissance Regiments, the Armoured Car Regiments provide the leading edge for the British formations advancing into France, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Germany. Their vehicles, as with all such machines allied or axis, could only offer minimal protection, and crews were more dependent on their own instinct and speed of reaction for survival.
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British Divisional Organisations