British Lig in France 1940 Peter Brown describes their deployment with the British Expeditionary Force and the actions of two of the armoured regiments from the Divisional Cavalry ht Tanks Ch. This was a totaly new design with ‘eturbished over 108 Light Tonks fom entrees Secondo fom he ‘Stacia ig onto sd oft ure, ion comple the ante would Srorena Taek amr pocal tthe outbreak ofthe Second Wid Wa, the re ‘reat par of Beth tank strength vas made up of Light Tks. Of the "moder types, there ‘were 678 Light Tank Mk\VIB pus 156 ofthe ear M&M and VIA mods along with just 77 Cruiser and (66 Infantry Tanks. Orders or 872 Mk VIB had been pacod pus 168 ofthe smi, fnal type Mk VIC armed wth 15mm and 7.92mm Bese ai-cocied machine guns instead of the 5” and 203" wateccooled Vickers ofthe ‘eather versions. (ee Table 2 for weapon performances) Unike the heavier tanks, the Lights were nearing the end oftheir production run withthe last VIB ‘completed in Apri 1940, though VIC production ‘continued unt! November, The replacement was tehave been the Light Tank Mk.II later called dtlerent suspension and a 2pdr gun, it was not to become availabe unti the end of 1940 Not surprisingly, the Light Tank VIB was the ‘most numerous type of tank sent to France in 1939 and 1840, serving with all but one of the Roya Armoured Comps units which fought there. The exception was 12th Lancers who operated as an ‘armoured car unt, see IMM Vol 42 No.11 for deta. Divisional Cavalry Regiments When the British Expeditionary Foree mov to France, each of ts Infantry Disions had its ‘own armoured unt replacing the horsed cavaly Table 1 ‘A Divisional Cavalry Regiment - ‘War Establishment I/1931/6/2 25th May 1938 Regimental Headquarters - Fourx Light Tanks and two x Armoured Scout Cartier Headquarters Squadon Motorcycle tr00p- pool of motorcyclists fr allotment to Squadrons ‘2s required ‘Administrative Troop - 17 x various Bowt and 1Scwrt truck, seven x ‘wheeled and one x 6wheeled 20ewt lrties, one x water tale Tiree Squadrons, each Squadron HO) Fighting portion -1wo x ight Tanks and two x Armoured Scout Caries. ‘Administrative portion - thee x TScw trucks and three x 30cwt ‘Gewheeled lorries ‘Two Light Tank Troops, each “Throo x Light Tanks, Four Carrer Troops, each - 24 ‘Three x Armoured Scout Carers. Total vehicles - 28 x Light Tanks, 44 x Scout Carrier, 41 x motorcycles, five x Bewt trucks, 15 x 1Bowt trucks, 16 x 30owt ‘4-whealed lores, one x 30ew" G-wheeled lorry, one x 1Sewt 2.whesled water tank tal. Total manpower 21 officers, 21 Sergeants and Warrant Officers, 275 other ranks. Attached Foyal Signals section - one x 15cm 4-wheeled truck, one x Ston G-wheoled tuck Royal Army Ordnance Corps Light Aid Detachment - one x ‘motorcycle, ane x car, one x 3-109 wheeled stores lorry, ane x 3400 S:wheeled breakdown lary. Royal Army Service Corps detachment - wo x ton 4wheced lores, ‘This War Establishment was superseded by li/1931/63 dated 9th (October 1940 which was similar except the Carriers wer listed as ‘Carers Universal (Scout), cars replaced rost ofthe lighter tucks, ‘some ofthe lorry types were chenged and the water tralr was replaced by a Truck, 1Sewt, fourheeled, water tank. Military Modelling Vol.43 No.3 2013,Table 2 ‘Test Performances ‘Machine Guns & Boys Ant-tank Rifle Projectile Weight | Penetration in mm ‘a A soyards | 100yeds | 200yers | ao0%yards [sooyerds | Saaentmecenal tana depots Vekers 303i 7 [sa [oa aa lar FE] igs nt ray ode Weters Son semiaP [500 [va [a2 __|a7a__—| se. aa ‘Rot Say a paces by Pes Exner burns Shen oak Vickers 50m AP sao [ve [92 [15 128 108 Fin es Besa Taam AP ves [105 [oa foe [ar 7 Besa 15mm AP 1170 [zea [28 za (262 252 Besa TSmmAPTacer [i.ta as [2a [272 ___| asa we Boye sonATemte [7 [na [aaa [aia [ras [wa regiments that had served in the Great War, anda! 1st Army Tank Bi the Lis were mechaised cavaly regiments. These were: This Brigade consisted of tree Battalions of the swthe Light Tank 1st Divison -F2tVIth oval Hussars (38H) Royal Tank Regiment, ath, 7th and th, Inially '* 2nd Division - 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards (4/7DG) _only the 4th Battalion travelled to France. Its VIB was the most SSrsbwsen-1SIvian Kegs Roy Hussar SIGH) man tank was the Matsa ori Infancy Tank, mamerous typeof tartk ‘4th Dvsion Sth Royal Innsiling Dragoon 50 of which were the first to move when the Guards (5 Innis OG) Battaion sailed in September 1999 withthe ight sent to Frmntee.. + dat Dvision: Ist Lothian & Border Yeomanyy LEY) Tanks following. When the Battalion landed at {Stet highland) Division Ist ie & Forfar, Cherbourg onthe 21st it had seven Light Tank Yeomanry FFM) MK-VIB as well sits establishment of ATs, in adion, East Riding Yeomanry came under four in Bataion HO slong with two ANT, while Genel Headquarters. tach of its three companies had one Light Tank “These regents were equpped with Light Teksard in Company HQ, There were also several Carrie, Cori, Sau aed wth Boys antares, See Cavalry’ for vansporting crews without tanks. seperate Tobe | for their War Estabiehent details) The Battalion tained ove the winter of 1939/40 At the end of March 1940 the Dvsionl and during the early months of 1940, Ccavay Regiments were removes from thar Brigade HO id not move to France unt the parent Dvsions end formed into two Armoured end of Api 1940 Tei offeal War Establishment Reconnsissance Brigades, Officially these were didnot include any tanks, But on mablsaton they organised as feceived tree Ligh Tanks in lev of an Armoured = Tat Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade Command Veh: 7th Bataonfolowed them by ‘151 East ding Yeomanry {erty to Dunk on Sth May, They had the same { 13tFife & Foriar Yeomanry faterwansferred to complement of seven Light Tanks but with 27 2nd Armoured Reconnsissonce Brigade) Mic and 23 Mk Mats, ATR didnot depioy to + Swv7th Royal Dragoon Guards France before the German atack on 10 May Saviat Royal Hussars “Thus the Brigade had the folowing armoured * 2nd Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade ‘vehicles as it moved into Belgium by tan on 13th + 5th Royal nnsiling Dragoon Guards td 14th May to counter the German advance + 1BtH9th King’s Royal Hussars * Brigade HO- three Light Tonks 5 ist Fite &Fortar Yeomanry {ART Batalon HO = four Light Tanks, two However, some Regiments continued to work Tanks, two Carers, with thei orginal sons or were aster to +’A, Band C Companies each one Light Tank, 16 others as the campsign progressed. Afullaccount Tanks, two Cates, Of each of them would be foo much for this ertcle, + 7ATR Batalon HO four Light Tanks, two Infantry atthough one for ¥2WTBth Husers is provided. "Tanks Mkil four Car. » yww.militarymodelling.com 25ig bli ian gn ES 6m I Et GN Bary ale nthe faders poaton of son AAC Cane "Bathe Dey vent n ihe 8605 iM regular conpbuto Por Brown He il romembers how frotank flowed he ground. Biche abut Command on ‘era has writen on aren ‘wpape (Mp) 26 + A.B and D Companies - each one Light Tank, nine Infantry Tanks Mk, seven Mil and two Carriers, ‘Overall strength was 17 Light Tanks, 77 Mk. and 23 Mk Infantry Tanks plus 16 Carters and various motorcycles, cars and transport vehicles. ‘Thor stayin Belgium was short. On the 16th May Corps HO ordered a general withdrawal back to France, which was caried out by oad. After 5-days on the road ther tank strength was reduced to 12 Light Tanks, 58 Mk. and 16 MkII Matidas. With these vehicies they were ordered to carry out ‘an attack near Arras with 181 Brigade from 50th Division and a French Division Legere Mechanique. ‘The Brigade was organised into two columns. Some Mk. Matias were transferred from 7ATR to ARTA so the composition was: * ight Column - 7ATR supporting 8th Durham Light infantry with five Light Tanks, 23 Mk. and 10 Mil Matic. * Left Column - 4RTR supporting 6th Durham Light Infantry with seven Light Tanks, 36 Mk and six Mk Matias. ‘The Light Tanks were used for scouting and ‘communeation. Scand Leutenant Pater aus, who ‘commanded aRTR's Recee Troop, commanded one, butane of his tanks had been taken over by the Commanting Officer, another by the Adjutant and a thd was detached for laizon. After unevenesstuly trying to get a French tank to shoot ata “very lvoe Gorman tank with 69 gun” which lucky moved of, he rejined the column where he fought alongside the ‘Agjtart. By tis tene the CO was dead along with his crew, as were many other tank crews. Lieutenant ‘Vaux sunived, bt sadly bythe end ofthe day the Brigade was greatly reduced in strength ‘On the 25th May a composite 4/7 Batalion was formed. Tank strength was four Light Tanks from ‘each Battalion, 12 Mik Matida from 4RTR and six Mkt and two Mk.II Matidas from 7RTR, though not all were in good mechanical condition, The Composite Batalon was organised as +" Tank Company - one Mic forthe Company Commander, a Light Tank for the Reece Oificer and five Sections each of thee Mik. One Mk.ll and three Mk held in esorve, + Recce Group - one Light Tank forthe Section Commander, two Sub-Sections each with tres Light Tanks. “These fought as best they could until the tanks were knacked out or broke down, Survivors rales ‘at Dunkik where they were evacuated, 1st Armoured Division ‘The War Estabishment ofa Bish Armoured Division from May 1939 gave an overall tank strength of 349, made up of 108 Light Tanks and 189 Light, 8 Heavy and 24 CS Cruisers. (Note that Light Cruisers’ were A@ and A1S while was the Heavy Cruiser’ was the 410). In deta, these were ‘organised as: * Division HO -nine Car Scout, three Light and five Heavy Cruisers, five Armoured Command Vehicles * One Light Armoured Brigade consisting of — ‘Armoured Brgade HO - six Car Scout, six Light and four Heavy Cruisers, one Armoured Comrand Vehicle. + Three Light Armoured Regiments, each ~ 12 Car Scout, two Squadkons with 18 Light Tanks each and ‘one Squadron with 22 Light Cruisers * One Heavy Armoured Brigade consisting of ‘Armoured Brgade HO - si Car Scout, si Light and four Heavy Cusers, one Armoured Comrand Vehicle. + Three Heavy Armoured Regiments, each -12 Cer Scout, 26 Light, 15 Heavy and six CS Cruisers, with the two Cruiser types mixed in each Squadron and the CS tanks in Squadron HOs, ‘Although the ‘Mobile Division’ in Egypt was ‘almost an Armoured Division, by the outbreak of ‘war only 1st Armoured Division had been formed. Its armoured units were * 2nd Light Armoured Brigade - Queen's Bays, Sth Lancers and 10th Hussars + 3d Heavy Armoured Brigade -2nd, 3d and Sth Battalions Royal Tank Regiment Military Modelling Vol.43 No.3 2013,13th/18th Royal Hussars 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards 15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards Ist Lothian & Border Yeomanry RED WITH WHITE OUTLINE Ist Fife & Forfar Yeomanry NONE Ist East Riding Yeomanry BER, INFANTRY DIVISIONS fecurty measure insignia was later removed from uniforms ‘thd vehicles. The stag head edge was annotated with the Set Highland Division, additional to their usual HD’ badge. In November 1998 the actual strength of the Division was much less than authorised, Division HQ had no tanks, 2nd Light Armoured Brigade had five Light Tanks in Brigade HO plus another 147 in the three Regiments while 3rd Heavy Armoured Brigade had two Light and one Cruiser af is own, plus 47 Light end 46 Cruisers in its Battalions giving 8 grand total of 201 Light and 47 Cruisers In January 1940, some Light Tank Mi.VIG were ‘exchanged for then new VIC as these became available, while others were sent for overhaul ‘A new Establishment brought in in March 1940 replaced the Light and Heavy Armoured Brigades with two identical Armoured Brigades with only Cruiser, it was intended that this would be achieved by November but unt these arrived from, the factories all Regiments and Battalions had @ ‘mixed compliment af whatever was avaliable. Thus when the Division was ordered to France in May 1940 it stil contained many Light Tanks, Generally, the RTR Battalions in 3rd Armoured Brigade had Light Mk VIB while the Cavalry Regiments in 2nd Armoured Brigade had Light MKNIC. Their actions have previously been covered in MM; see Vol40 Nos.12, 14 and 15. Performance, losses and returns ‘A report by 1st Armoured Division on vehicles used Contained jst one sentence on the Light Tank MkM- “Satistactory mechancaly, but tacteaty useless against armoured fighting vehicles or ant-ank ‘9uns; 10 noisy fer an ideal reconnaissance veh. ‘Appendix M’ of the RAC Hea-Yeary Report for December 1941 records “Losses with BEF” as 407 Light Tanks ~ 346 Light VIB and 62 Light VIC- plus www militarymodelling.com 158 Cruiser and 126 infantry Tanks. Of these, 1st ‘Armoured Divsion reckoned they lost 143 Light Tanks, which would include all the VIC. They state that they brought back six Light and seven Cruiser tanks, although another source says 12 Light and rine Cruiser tanks were landed at Southampton on 19th June, Whether any were of these were Light Tank VIC isnot recorded, but asthe retuned tanks were from 2rd Armoured Brigade that is unikely The Technical Adjutant of SATR listed the serials fof the tanks of his Battalion which were sent to Workshops on 25th June included four Light Tank Mk VIB - 12083, 12119, 12221 and T2493. Photographs of 2RTR returning from France show ‘one was T2028 in addition, 4tV7th Royal Dragoon Guards Wer Diary recorded thet they returned one Light Tank trough Calais after it had become separated from the Regime Colours and markings British army vehicles of the eaty-war period wre painted in G3 ‘khak-green’ with bands of Gé ‘ark green’. Miltary Training Pamphlet No.20 Comoutlage- Disruptive Painting of Vehicles of June 1829 stated that the sides, front and back should have roughly equal amounts of the tivo shades with the top having more of the darker shade. ‘At this time vehicles had a civilian registration ‘number in white on black background as well as fan army seval number, for tanks and carniers this ‘was prefixed withthe lett 'T though photos show some tanks hed these painted out. Divison signs of cifferent designs were painted conto a suitable surface atthe font and back; «vehicles had a civilian registration number in white ona black background. 27Tactical markings ‘were a system of shapes usually on the turret, ght Tonk Mk Vs of 1380 Hossare Ith Vimy Ridge rea, 12 Octebor 199816 Keating! Note the ack Steere on tase ace the ‘elsraon mbes ew Bon vod ant Museum phot unit markings were on small metal plates carried in holders atthe back and front. One side was painted withthe unit number in white on # coloured background -for example, most Dvisionsl Cavalry Regiments used 2 on back while 4RTR use 4 on fed with the word PASS on the other side to be sisplayed when a vehicle was broken down ducing ‘2 march, 1st Armoured Division vehicles had unit numbers painted directly onto ther tanks Tactical markings were a system of shapes usually on the turret. A diamond denoted HO! with “A Squadron using a triangle, ‘8! @ square and 'C’a cle, Photos show some Divisional Cavalry Units used alight colour for these, most likely ‘white, though some used darker shades, while 1st ‘Aemouted Dwvision units used red forthe “Senior Regiment in each Brigade, yellow forthe ‘second! ‘and blue for the juni’ ‘Some units used names in white or a darker shade outined in white Te most obvious marking on tanks with the BEF ‘was the white square denoting an AV. This wascovered in detail in the GHO AFV Branch War Diary as an Appendix tothe October section. The relevant parts read Identification of Own AFVs, 1, Subject to further tial and experiment, it has been decided thatthe identification marks forthe following vehicies of the B.E.F shall be a white rectangle painted on the vehicle as directed below: “V Tanks Mks.l and A Light Tanks Mi, VIA and VIB Armoured Carters - all Marks ‘Moris Armoured Reece Cars For Light Tanks the marking was to be: Front-A white square, sides 9", painted on the Centre ofthe front pate carving the towing eves. Offside -A write square, sides 9", painted below the silencer tailpipe with the centre ofthe square below the centre ofthe tailpipe Nearside -A white square, sides 9", painted on the ‘neat side pate in a positon corresponding to that of the square on the offside, Back -A white rectangle, 9x 12", painted onthe ‘ear side ofthe upper sloping back plate with the 12" side verte. Note that no Light Tanks VI or VIA appear to have been used in France and that 1st Armoured Division's tanks did not carry these markings. Oa ue Ko The 13th/18th Royal Hussars in France 1939-1940 This account is taken from otalsn the Regiment's orginal War Diary atthe National Archives, Kew file reference WO.167/453. Place names are asin the original soure. “The outbreak of war found 19/18H stationed at Shorncitein Essex. They were brought upto strength in men as reservists arrived including over 100 from the Royal Tank Corps though they didnot have thai full complement of vehicles, reporting that they were short three Light Tanks when they moved o Bilingshurston 15th F Seprmber tough tne was putcownte est” 4 Lhe following months rout caus vig va Fesoy ey were taken up with ‘embarked at Southampton on the 18th, antving at 5 Brest herext cay The mon moved toLangomeas ——_Eadnting and moves with their vehicles folowing over the next few days Gnthe25ivone light Tonk secordedas having’ spite the cold aventhen “mt with an accident and is unserviceable” while replacements fr the the tanks left behind had bbeen requested, After some work onthe ranges they moved to the Pas de Calais area int billets around Boisleux. The folowing months were taken up with training and moves despite the cold weather. They were now up to full vehicle strength, four Light Tanks and a 1Sowt truck being taking over on Ist November and three new tanks were recorded onIno Kang) bau be Kaya" aign of nd Baton mating ita inant pote? . and was not expected to be able to hold for much longer. 30 14th January. By early May they were in the area ‘around Laverdere, Molpas, Merignies and Avincourt winere at 07:30 hrs on the 10th they were placed on ‘4-hours notice to move. Crossing the Belgian frontier at 14.20 hes they ‘advanced past Brussels to take up postions on ‘the River Dyle around 20.16 hs after a joumney of ‘around 75 miles with C’ Squacron on the right ‘and 8! Squadron on the lft with 7’ Squadron in reserve, Eay next morning ‘8 Squadron with one Troop from each ofthe other Squadrons advanced ‘2st ofthe Dyle to establish an outpost line from La Bruyere to Bruel. Communications were established ‘with 4/76 on their ight, and 15/19H on their left. Alot of time was taken up with interrogating suspected saboteurs, spies and parachutists wio al proved to be just refugees. Enemy infanty were reported advancing by No.2 Teoop 'C’ Squadton in the early hours ofthe 12th Infantry units atved and took over the protection ‘ofthe river. 1st Division ordered the Regiment 10 reconnoitre an antitank position around the Foret- ‘de-Meerdael, which was stl being built with no apparent urgency. A Squadron moved back to be replaced by B and C Squadrons, Shorty betore ‘midday onthe 13th the Belgians were reported to be in full retreat north of Tiremont, a French D LM. ‘as reported as having been “severely handle! by German tanks and was not expacted to be able to hald for much longer. The Regiment was holding ‘an observation line; orders to prepare to move back ‘across the Fiver Dyle were issued around 15.00 hrs. ‘Around dawn on the lth the Freneh D.L.M. ‘was withdrawing as wes 4/7DG, C’ Squadron ‘ound some orders and documents in a crashed German bomber. Throughout the morning German tanks and armoured cars were reported. Around midday orders to withdraw by 12.48 hrs were given ‘with the bridges to be destroyed after crossing [Av 12.18 hrs a Tank Troop from ‘A’ Squadron shot Up some enemy motorcylsts, shorty afterwards ‘another Tank Troop and a Cartier Troop fred on some armoured cars. Two Carriers were lost but the remainder of the Regiment was back across the river by 13.30 ns and the bridges were blown, The 15th May was a quieter day with vehicles being maintained, guns cleaned and batteries changed. Their orders were to prepare to hold the line ifthe infantry withdrew, the Regiment being at 30-minutes notice to move. Tris was reduced to 2-nours the folowing day, during the evening they took up ther positions. ‘May 17th saw the Regiment moving back as planned including a pause on the main Brussels ‘Water road, Two Carriers of "8° Squadron were lost on British ant-tank mines but the crews were unhurt By 16:20 rs they had aed at the wood ‘at Groanendae! from where they were ordered to cover the withdrawal of the Gusrds Brigade to the River Dende. This they did over the next day ‘without serous hindrance although the enemy were seen, They crossed the river at Lust by 16,00 hvs ‘andthe bridge was blown, By 17.00 hs they were in the wood at Den Hook ‘A composite squadon was formed based on "A Squadron with vehicles from the other two squadrons. They fel ack during the 19th, crossing the French frontier at Tours around midday. By this time they had lost 16 tanks and 24 Carers Moving to La Verderie to reform, they were paced under command of 48th Division. Now organised as two composite Squadrons with °C’ Squadron made up of dismounted crews in lomias they moved to Planard than Aix on the Military Modelling Vol.43 No.3 2013,