{"id":3621,"date":"2024-02-10T11:33:20","date_gmt":"2024-02-10T11:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3621"},"modified":"2025-08-09T12:30:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T12:30:07","slug":"ww2-63-oxf-yeo-anti-tank-regiment-ra-ta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3621","title":{"rendered":"WW2 &#038; 63 (Oxf Yeo) A\/Tank Regt RA TA"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3621\" class=\"elementor elementor-3621\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d62836c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d62836c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element 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data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"561\" height=\"185\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/qooh.org_.uk_-e1571656072549.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-750\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/qooh.org_.uk_-e1571656072549.jpg 561w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/qooh.org_.uk_-e1571656072549-350x115.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-104a4723\" data-id=\"104a4723\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-651\" id=\"mega-menu-item-651\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=648\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-651\">Unit History<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-651'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-692\" id=\"mega-menu-item-692\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=686\">Brief History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-691\" id=\"mega-menu-item-691\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=689\">Regimental Lineage<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-708\" id=\"mega-menu-item-708\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=693\">Battle Honours<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-707\" id=\"mega-menu-item-707\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=696\">Operations &#038; Honours<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-706\" id=\"mega-menu-item-706\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=699\">2nd Anglo-Boer War<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-705\" id=\"mega-menu-item-705\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=702\">First World War<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-655\" id=\"mega-menu-item-655\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=653\">Regimental Records<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-659\" id=\"mega-menu-item-659\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=657\">Page Turning Ceremony<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-663\" id=\"mega-menu-item-663\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=661\">Soldiers of Oxfordshire<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-667\" id=\"mega-menu-item-667\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=665\">142 (QOOH) Veh Sqn RLC<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-671\" id=\"mega-menu-item-671\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=669\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-671\">Churchill\u2019s Funeral<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-671'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1364\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1364\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1342\">Personal Memories<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1363\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1363\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1344\">MV Havengore<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1362\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1362\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1346\">Funeral Train<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1361\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1361\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1348\">St Martin\u2019s Church, Bladon<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-1608\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1608\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1607\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-1608\">Liberation of Belsen<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-1608'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1639\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1639\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1624\">Before Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1638\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1638\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1629\">Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1637\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1637\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1633\">After Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1863\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1863\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1861\">Bergen-Belsen Trial<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-676\" id=\"mega-menu-item-676\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=673\">Oxfordshire Blue Plaque<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-3745\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3745\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3621\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-3745\">WW2 &#038; 63 (Oxf Yeo) A\/Tank Regt RA TA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-3745'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3773\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3773\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3700\">1939 \u2013 1940<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3822\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3822\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3764\">1941 \u2013 1942<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3872\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3872\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3817\">1943<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3905\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3905\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3867\">1944<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3920\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3920\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3900\">1945<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3983\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3983\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3918\">1946<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-5087\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5087\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4936\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-5087\">251(OY) Bty &amp; 85th Anti-Tank Regt, RA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-5087'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5091\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5091\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5013\">Into Battle<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5095\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5095\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5063\">Captivity<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5119\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5119\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5099\">Japan\u2019s Surrender<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-680\" id=\"mega-menu-item-680\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=678\">Clippings<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-684\" id=\"mega-menu-item-684\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=682\">Useful Links<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3399\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3399\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3383\">Our Cookie Policy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-privacy-policy mega-menu-item-3407\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3407\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3403\">Our Privacy Policy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-70b4010e elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"70b4010e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23bc1cd\" data-id=\"23bc1cd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ea46d9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ea46d9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WW2 &amp; 63 (Oxf Yeo) Anti-Tank Regiment RA TA<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d39119a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d39119a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-784b350\" data-id=\"784b350\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-508d4db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"508d4db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0These pages expand on the era covered by World War Two.\u00a0 Much of the information has been collected from the Regiment&#8217;s six War Dairies, plus appendices, covering their time of activities from when they were mobilized on 2<sup>nd<\/sup> September 1939 to 25<sup>th<\/sup> March 1946.\u00a0 Recording of these events then ceased, whilst the Regiment had been stationed at Kiel, North West Germany.\u00a0 Other information has come from ex serving members of the Regiment, written for publication in the QOOH Association&#8217;s newsletters, and the &#8220;Yeomanry Memories&#8221; book.<\/strong><\/span><br \/><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The accompanying pages cover the nearly eight years of WW2 describing where the Regiment was and what they were doing.\u00a0 These pages cover the years &#8211; 1939-1940;\u00a0 1941-1942;\u00a0 1943;\u00a0 1944;\u00a0 1945;\u00a0 1946.<\/strong><\/span><br \/><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The second part of this page explains the anti-tank artillery tactics and gunnery used by the Royal Artillery<\/strong><strong>.\u00a0 <\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">[<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>source \u2013 Nigel F Evans at www.britishartillery.co.uk<\/em>]<\/span><\/span><br \/><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0But first an introduction to how the \u2018Queen\u2019s Own Oxfordshire Hussars\u2019 unit\u2019s title reorganised to the \u2018Oxfordshire Yeomanry\u2019 after the First World War in 1920.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ac5556 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ac5556\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f28633e\" data-id=\"f28633e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a355b3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a355b3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In 1920, the Territorial Force (TF) was reconstituted and officially named the Territorial Army (TA).\u00a0 The title &#8220;<strong>Queen&#8217;s Own Oxfordshire Hussars<\/strong>&#8221; had been changed to &#8220;<strong>Oxfordshire Yeomanry<\/strong>&#8221; though they still kept their badge bearing the Queen Adelaide cypher.\u00a0 The men now formed the 399<sup>th<\/sup> (Oxford) and 400<sup>th<\/sup> (Banbury) Batteries of the <strong>100<sup>th<\/sup> (Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (TA)<\/strong>, with their sabres and rifles now replaced with 18pdr field guns and 4.5&#8243; howitzers.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A further change in role came in November 1938, when the Regiment was converted from its field artillery role to that of an anti-tank artillery unit, and again merged with the Worcestershire Yeomanry into the renamed <strong>53<sup>rd<\/sup> (Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA)<\/strong>.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This decision for a change in their role would have heartened the traditional Yeomanry\/Hussar soldier, because anti-tank gunnery was more akin to them than their previous role with field guns.\u00a0 Field artillery was, in a Battery\/Regiment formation, firing at larger targets which were mainly unseen by the guns themselves, their fire being directed by observers closer to the targets.\u00a0 Whereas anti-tank gunnery was usually in a Troop formation (or even an individual gun), firing directly at its target directed by the gun&#8217;s No 1 (sergeant or bombardier).\u00a0 They chose their own target and could see their results (much like an infantry soldier), relying on concealment and surprise.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The guns were now 2pdr anti-tank guns and the batteries renumbered 211 at Oxford and 212 at Banbury.\u00a0 War with Germany was looming again (after the Munich Crisis of September 1938) and there was a demand for increases in the armed forces.\u00a0 Prime Minister Chamberlain decided to double the establishment of the Territorial Army and this resulted in the QOOH\/OY becoming a separate regiment again.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0On mobilization they now became the <strong>63<sup>rd<\/sup> (Oxfordshire Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA)<\/strong>\u00a0with its Headquarters in Oxford, with 2 batteries (249 and 250) in Oxford and 2 batteries (251 and 252) at Banbury.\u00a0 Along with this change in title came the decision to make them a second-line regiment, and part of the 61<sup>st<\/sup> Infantry Division.\u00a0 The Regiment was charged with the responsibility of home defence and of training men to feed into the first-line.\u00a0 The Worcestershire&#8217;s however, retained their title of the 53<sup>rd<\/sup> Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA), becoming a first-line regiment and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).\u00a0 With this increase in the quantity of regiments the guns and equipment had become a scarce commodity, and one of the 63<sup>rd<\/sup> AT Regt&#8217;s first actions was to hand over all their 2pdr guns and associated equipment to the Worcesters to enable them to be an efficient part of the BEF. This must have had some effect on morale, and with new recruits wondering just what sort of unit they were joining.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1fa917f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1fa917f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1f7777a\" data-id=\"1f7777a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e8b4a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e8b4a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><u>To move on, this next section covers the anti-tank artillery tactics and gunnery<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The need for anti-tank artillery arose with the emergence of tanks.\u00a0 Since tanks were &#8216;point targets&#8217;, and moving ones at that, the obvious way of engaging them was with <u>direct<\/u> fire [<em>much the same as an infantryman would do with his rifle<\/em>].\u00a0 This meant having the guns deployed where they could see and engage tanks.\u00a0 Of course, from an artillery perspective this meant abandoning firepower mobility, although during World War 2 both concentrated and destructive indirect artillery fire was used effectively against tanks [<em>the essence of <u>indirect<\/u> fire means that guns can attack any target in range not merely in view from the gun position, but requires an observer watching where the shells fall and corrects them onto the target<\/em>].<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In mid-1940 the British view was &#8220;<em>tanks, well served and boldly directed, have established a superiority on the battlefield which is out of all proportion to their true value<\/em>&#8221; and &#8220;<em>It has been proved that tanks, for all their hard skin, mobility and armament, achieve their more spectacular results from their moral effect on half-hearted or ill-led troops<\/em>&#8220;.\u00a0 The latter was encouraging to the cavalry traditionalists, the great believers in &#8216;shock action&#8217;.\u00a0 It is often forgotten that in WW2, tanks were not the primary anti-tank weapon.\u00a0 This was the role of anti-tank guns, whether self-propelled (SP) or towed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7db1d51 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7db1d51\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6949f48\" data-id=\"6949f48\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be08276 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be08276\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0During the First World War anti-tank was regarded as just another role for normal field artillery.\u00a0 In the 1920s the British Infantry Division organisation included a &#8216;light brigade&#8217; (regiment) equipped with the 3.7-inch Howitzers, its task being &#8216;accompanying artillery&#8217; for the infantry and one of its roles was anti-tank.\u00a0 This organisation was abandoned in 1935\/6 and the light brigades were converted to army Field Brigades.\u00a0 However, the traditional role of the RHA [<em>Royal Horse Artillery<\/em>] was supporting mobile formations and when the first &#8216;mobile division&#8217; was formed in 1937 it was supported by two RHA regiments with 3.7-inch Howitzers [<em>fig 1<\/em>]. This was most unsatisfactory, not least because the 3.7-inch was useless for anti-tank (until new ammunition arrived in 1944), and it was swiftly changed in 1938.\u00a0 The anti-tank role remained a secondary role for field and anti-aircraft batteries, as a primary role it meant they deployed as individual guns or sections as part of an anti-tank plan.\u00a0 The primary anti-tank weapons until 1938 were anti-tank mines and rifles<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c30de2a\" data-id=\"c30de2a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e38983 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6e38983\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/3.7-Howitzer.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"3.7 Howitzer\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzYzMiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL3d3dy5xb29oLm9yZy51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMDJcLzMuNy1Ib3dpdHplci5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"775\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/3.7-Howitzer.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3632\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/3.7-Howitzer.jpg 670w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/3.7-Howitzer-289x350.jpg 289w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">3.7\" Howitzer<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f6c216 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f6c216\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1580044\" data-id=\"1580044\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb0727a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb0727a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In 1938 British Infantry Division anti-tank regiments, with 4 batteries, were formed by converting five Regular and five TA Field Regiments, and five TA Infantry Battalions to the new role by 1939, and then doubling the number of TA regiments that year.\u00a0 This gave 100 anti-tank batteries formed or forming at the outbreak of war.\u00a0 They were equipped with the new 2-pdr anti-tank gun designed in 1935.\u00a0 The result was that at the outbreak of war anti-tank practices were under-developed because it was not a well-established specialist discipline and specialist units had existed for barely a year.\u00a0 Unit organisation and doctrine for anti-tank deployment, tactics and gunnery all evolved rapidly during the following three years.\u00a0 Nevertheless, key elements of doctrine had been established.\u00a0 First, anti-tank guns used defilade or reverse-slope positions whenever possible to provide defence in depth on the most likely tank approaches.\u00a0 They accepted a field of fire limited to 500 yards if necessary.\u00a0 Second, anti-tank tactics emphasised not opening fire too soon.\u00a0 While the obvious reasons were doubtful-accuracy and penetration at longer ranges, the critical factor was that guns were stationary and could be out-manoeuvred by the attacking tanks.\u00a0 Although not well recognised before the outbreak of war another issue was that an anti-tank gun that revealed itself too soon was vulnerable to neutralisation by both indirect and direct fire including machine guns.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-306100c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"306100c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>Organisation<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; Whereas field artillery organisations were stable from 1940 onwards, the situation for anti-tank regiments was similar to Armoured Divisions; organisations evolved throughout the war.\u00a0 Of course, part of the issue was that anti-tank gun technology evolved to meet the threat of increasing armour protection and the need for both offensive and defensive tactics.\u00a0 Added to this was the introduction of more powerful but heavier towed and self-propelled (SP) anti-tank guns.\u00a0 The unit structure followed the artillery pattern, albeit with more guns than field artillery.\u00a0 Regiments comprised of 3 or 4 batteries, each with 3 or 4 troops, which in turn had 2 sections each with 2 guns.\u00a0 Total strengths varied with the number and type of guns.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In the aftermath of Dunkirk, in 1940 the Bartholomew Committee recommended the introduction of Corps Anti-Tank Regiments.\u00a0 At the beginning of 1943 the scale of anti-tank regiments was fixed at one per armoured and infantry division and one per corps formation.\u00a0 In mid-1943 the regimental structure for anti-tank regiments in Europe was finally fixed at 4 batteries, each with 3 troops, totalling 48 guns.\u00a0 The standard army wide organisation was to be 4 batteries, each with 12 guns, with \u2153 being 17-pdrs rising to \u2154 when stocks permitted. \u00a0\u00a0However, after Dunkirk there was a severe shortage of anti-tank guns.\u00a0 Anti-tank equipment priority was given to formations in the UK and the mainly Dominion Divisions arriving in the Middle East from 1940.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0By September 1943 the official position for European Theatres was :-<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Regiments in Infantry Divisions &#8211; 4 batteries, each with 8 \u00d7 6-pdr guns and 4 \u00d7 17-pdr guns in 3 troops.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Regiments in Armoured Division &#8211; 2 batteries each of 12 \u00d7 6-pdr, and 2 batteries each of 12 \u00d7 M10 (SP) in 3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 troops.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Corps Regiments &#8211; as for Armoured Divisions.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0At the beginning of 1944 the official War Establishment permitted the following :-<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Regiments in Infantry Divisions &#8211; 4 batteries, each with 8 \u00d7 17-pdr guns and 4 \u00d7 6-pdr guns in 3 troops.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Regiments in Armoured Division &#8211; 2 batteries, each 12 \u00d7 17-pdr, and 2 batteries each 12 \u00d7 M10 (SP) in 3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 troops.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Corps Regiments &#8211; as for Armoured Divisions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a368706 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a368706\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-16a5191\" data-id=\"16a5191\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f17458 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4f17458\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>Ammunition<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; Most British anti-tank ammunition during WW2 was solid shot [<em>much the same as a rifle bullet<\/em>], which relied on kinetic energy (KE) to penetrate armour.\u00a0 KE is the product of the mass (<em>weight<\/em>) and velocity of the shot.\u00a0 Wartime developments in anti-tank (<em>and tank<\/em>) gun ammunition addressed two matters, improving penetration of shot and flashless propellant.\u00a0 The importance of concealment for anti-tank guns meant that their flash and smoke was significant because it made them easier to spot when they fired, particularly at night.\u00a0 Flashless propellant, using added mineral salts became available in WW2.\u00a0 The problem was that while salt additives reduced the amount of flash, they also increased the amount of smoke, which hindered the layer [<em>gun-aimer<\/em>] and betrayed them in daylight.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0However, in early 1944 high-explosive (HE) ammunition was authorised for direct fire tasks.\u00a0 The concern had been that too much HE would mean too much wear to the gun-barrel of anti-tank guns and consequently loss of accuracy for their anti-tank role.\u00a0\u00a0 This led to anti-tank guns being used in their secondary role for direct fire against hard targets such as bunkers, &#8216;pill-boxes&#8217;, machine gun posts, snipers in houses, OPs, etc.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0d72ae0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0d72ae0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f0912a7\" data-id=\"f0912a7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41c96d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41c96d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>Equipment \u2013 Guns<\/u><\/strong><br \/><strong>2-pdr Mk II<\/strong>, selected in 1936 from prototypes designed by Vickers Armstrong, trials showed its armour penetration was some 50% better than its equivalent German 37-mm.\u00a0 The 2-pdr had a 5-man detachment and weighed 1760 lbs in action.<br \/><strong>6-pdr 7-cwt Mk II,<\/strong> production deliveries started at the end of 1941, and reached N Africa in about April 1942.\u00a0 The 6-pdr gun had a 6-man detachment, weighed 2520 lbs in action and a top-traverse of 45 degrees left and right.<br \/><strong>17-pdr Mk 1, <\/strong>design of this 3-inch gun started in early 1941 and deliveries started to N Africa at the beginning of 1943.\u00a0 The 17-pdr had a 7-man detachment, weighed 4625 lbs in action and a top-traverse of 30 degrees left and right.<br \/><strong>3-inch M10<\/strong>, the need for a SP anti-tank gun led to the US M10 being introduced in mid-1943, mounted on a M4 medium tank carriage with an open top turret giving all-round traverse.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e433ac8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e433ac8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bf874a2\" data-id=\"bf874a2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80d9a18 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80d9a18\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ec1f4e\" data-id=\"0ec1f4e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ed1e7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9ed1e7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"302\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2-Pdr-gun.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3638\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2-Pdr-gun.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/elementor\/thumbs\/2-Pdr-gun-qjgr8po8ccu06au02q7nxux81em62p2k1q9fwb3524.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/elementor\/thumbs\/2-Pdr-gun-qjgr8po6vqaa8p1is169ekb6slk7ol7ozkr8imih0s.jpg 30w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/elementor\/thumbs\/2-Pdr-gun-qjgr8po7fgqogspp9jkacssg9egg2vnrmvtka9881a.jpg 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">2 Pdr A\/Tank Gun<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-78b115b\" data-id=\"78b115b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb3a7ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fb3a7ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"170\" height=\"170\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/6-Pdr-gun.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3639\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/6-Pdr-gun.jpg 170w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/6-Pdr-gun-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 170px) 100vw, 170px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">6 Pdr A\/Tank Gun<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-86f7892\" data-id=\"86f7892\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09c4604 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"09c4604\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"179\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/17-Pdr-gun-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3645\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">17 Pdr A\/Tank Gun<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-828c41c\" data-id=\"828c41c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117bb21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"117bb21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/17-Pdr-gun.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3637\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">M10 (SP) A\/Tank Gun<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-802495f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"802495f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c3e6b5d\" data-id=\"c3e6b5d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-786f188 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"786f188\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>Mobility<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; British anti-tank doctrine emphasised the need for tactical mobility equal to infantry.\u00a0 This meant fast reconnaissance and battle procedure, rapid cross-country movement and rapid obstacle crossing.\u00a0 However, anti-tank guns also needed good concealment and therefore sometimes had to be man-handled into position.\u00a0 The 17-pdr, being larger still, presented another challenge, making any manhandling hard work.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0However, anti-tank gun tractors were the real problem and a good one did not appear during the war.\u00a0 The problem was the need for a vehicle that had the necessary tactical mobility for the forward areas while towing the gun, and carrying its detachment and ammunition.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The 2-pdr gun was towed by an 8-cwt truck, and one of the problems with 2-pdr towing was the gun\u2019s small diameter wheels, which required a lowered towing hook on the vehicle.\u00a0 Various vehicles were tried for towing the 6-pdr, and eventually, the Loyd Carrier became the norm and a re-configured Lloyd carrier with the engine forward instead of at the rear gave more space.\u00a0 Before this, towers included the Field Artillery Tractor [<em>Quad<\/em>]. \u00a0An armoured 15-cwt, that was unable to carry the full detachment and first line ammunition, was also used in the mid-war period.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The 17-pdr provided further challenges, not least because it was heavier than a 25-pdr gun and its ammunition was a lot larger and heavier than the 6-pdr.\u00a0 Initially \u20183-ton portee\u2019 were used for towing, but the Field Artillery Tractor was used, as was a modified 3-ton with lowered body and a 30-cwt 4 \u00d7 4.\u00a0 Lloyd Carriers were also employed, and when M5 halftracks became available in the summer of 1944 these were used as both tractors and section ammunition vehicles.\u00a0 However, the innovation was to use tanks.\u00a0 Most of the work centred on the Crusader Mk 3, although stocks were limited.\u00a0 It involved removing the turret, providing seating and ammunition space, and adding tow hooks, back and front (for pushing the gun into a concealed position).\u00a0 They eventually entered service with some Corps Anti-Tank Regiments as the Crusader Gun Tower Mk 1 in mid-1944.\u00a0 M10s were also modified to enable them to tow 17-pdr.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 Three SP [<em>self-propelled<\/em>] forms emerged :-<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Archer, a new design based on a Valentine tank carriage entered service in late 1944.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Re-gunned M10 named Achilles entered service in mid-1944.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 SP using the A30 Cromwell tank carriage, did not complete trials until the war was over.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-248eba3 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"248eba3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b7dcf6\" data-id=\"6b7dcf6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cafdd51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cafdd51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"537\" height=\"324\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/8-cwt-truck.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3636\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/8-cwt-truck.jpg 537w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/8-cwt-truck-350x211.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">8 cwt Truck<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e1ab86\" data-id=\"6e1ab86\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3555235 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3555235\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"583\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Loyd-Carrier.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3635\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Loyd-Carrier.jpg 583w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Loyd-Carrier-350x223.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Loyd Carrier<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b1932a3\" data-id=\"b1932a3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92d809a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"92d809a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"261\" height=\"215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Field-Artillery-Tractor.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3634\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Field Artillery Tractor<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e8a2ae9\" data-id=\"e8a2ae9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19df450 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"19df450\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"495\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Crusader-Gun-Tractor.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3633\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Crusader-Gun-Tractor.jpg 495w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Crusader-Gun-Tractor-331x350.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Crusader Gun Tractor<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d7aa8de elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d7aa8de\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c617ec4\" data-id=\"c617ec4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c94d20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c94d20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>Ancillaries and Small Arms<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; A useful ancillary was the 2-inch mortar.\u00a0 One was issued to each anti-tank section starting in 1943, and provided with smoke and illuminating ammunition.\u00a0 The former enabled the gun to screen itself if it had to move, the latter gave a capability to engage targets at night.\u00a0 However, it wasn&#8217;t until mid-1942 that every man was issued with a small arm.\u00a0 Until that time each gun detachment had a LMG and 2 rifles. \u00a0Use of enemy anti-tank guns was part of anti-tank training.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0One of the problems with the open top Crusaders was their vulnerability to HE bursting in the trees above them as well as normal airburst shells.\u00a0 The edges of woods were good places to hide because they provided concealment.\u00a0 In consequence steel plates were fitted to some Crusaders about a foot above the top of the fighting compartment.\u00a0 Because surprise was a key element in anti-tank tactics, camouflage and concealment was vital, and guns had to conceal themselves against both air and ground observation.<\/p><p><strong><u>Communications<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; Anti-tank units were not well endowed with wireless.\u00a0 Regiments had a rear-link detachment provided by a Section of the Divisional Signals Regiment, this linked Regimental HQ to Divisional HQ.\u00a0 Wireless was also provided to link Regimental HQ to each Battery HQ.\u00a0 However, the battery was not in wireless contact with Brigade HQ (whom it was supporting), neither did Troops have wireless to communicate with local Infantry Battalions.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There were changes in mid-1944, by this time SP guns were issued and were fitted with wireless sets.\u00a0 Wireless sets were issued to towed guns in the Corps Anti-Tank Regiments.\u00a0 The need for wireless sets with towed guns in Divisional Regiments was recognised, but the resultant need to increase the number of repair technicians in the Divisional Signal Regiments made it impossible due to manpower shortages.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Line remained the means of communication from Troop HQ\u2019s to guns.\u00a0 However, in early 1943 a pair of sound powered telephones with head and chest sets had been authorised for each gun to enable fire control when the detachment commander was positioned some distance to the flank of his gun.<\/p><p><strong><u>Gunnery<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; Anti-tank gunnery was primarily concerned with laying [<em>aiming<\/em>] and the drills the detachment should use.\u00a0 Anti-tank gun detachments numbered from 5 to 7 men depending on the equipment.\u00a0 The 3 most important members were :-<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 No 1 who commanded the gun, selected the targets and controlled the fire.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 No 3 who layed [<em>aimed<\/em>] the gun according to the No 1&#8217;s orders.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 No 2 who loaded the gun to achieve a rate of fire of up to 12 rounds per minute if required.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The other detachment numbers ensured that No 2 had ammunition and were ready to move the gun-trails if required.\u00a0 However, Number 6 might also act as &#8216;link number&#8217; immediately behind the gun to relay orders from the No 1 when he was observing from his gun&#8217;s flank, to confirm that the layer had acquired the correct target and that the opening range was correctly set on the range drum &#8211; duties of the No 1 when he was at his gun.\u00a0 The key was that the No 3 did exactly what the No 1 ordered.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Target selection evolved during the war, but it was always stressed that tanks operated in groups, not individually, so anti-tank engagements were not assumed to be one-to-one.\u00a0 This also reflected the tactical reality that tanks could concentrate far more easily than anti-tank guns could.\u00a0 Initially the general principle was to engage the nearest tank when it reached a range at which the No 1 was confident it would be hit.\u00a0 However, tactics evolved so the principle became to engage tanks in the order of the threat they presented.\u00a0 2-pdrs were supposed to open fire at a range of not more than 500 yards, and have a maximum range of 600 yards.\u00a0 The corresponding ranges for 6-pdr were 800 and 1600 yards; and 17-pdr were 1600 and 10,000 yards.\u00a0 However, the tactics of an anti-tank engagement were also critically important.\u00a0 These were the responsibility of the Number 1. \u00a0These circumstances of an NCO always engaging the enemy according to his own judgement, without immediate direction or orders from his Troop or Platoon Commander, appears to have been unique to anti-tank.\u00a0 The Troop Commanders&#8217; role was mostly reconnaissance and administration, he did not control the fire of his Troop when engaging tanks. \u00a0By 1943 experience had taught that there was usually an hour or two&#8217;s warning of a tank attack and its direction, this gave time to adjust anti-tank positions to meet the threat.\u00a0 In defence the gun tractors were held in Troop wagon-lines, although were ready to move guns to other positions.<\/p><p><strong><u>Training<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; In 1939 it was stated that the <em>&#8216;essence of anti-tank artillery tactics is surprise action from well concealed positions at effective range<\/em>&#8216;.\u00a0 This placed a premium on well-trained detachments that operated independently once battle started.\u00a0 Anti-tank guns selected their own targets and engaged them independently.\u00a0 This all meant that the training of the Numbers 1 of anti-tank guns was of paramount importance.\u00a0 Of course, training the Numbers 3 (layers) was also vital, although British doctrine was that <em>&#8216;the Number 1 hits the tank aided by the layer&#8217;<\/em>.\u00a0 A 1942 artillery training instruction described the Number 1 as being <em>&#8216;what the eyes and brain are to the rifleman&#8217;<\/em> while Number 3 was &#8216;<em>as the muscles and co-ordination of eye and hand are to the rifleman&#8217;<\/em>.\u00a0 It also emphasised <em>&#8216;selection of the correct type of NCO for training as a No 1 is the first essential.\u00a0 Requirements are, a stout heart, a quick eye, and plenty of common sense<\/em>&#8216;.\u00a0 Anti-tank gunnery was not easy, in the first years of the war first-round hits occurred in less than 50% of occasions in training, but in the second half it rose to over 70% as training methods improved.\u00a0 The main problems were bad judgment of distance and speed, incorrect fire orders by Numbers 1, bad loading and Numbers 3 not continuing to traverse after firing.\u00a0 The key skill for the layer was to be able to keep the telescope and hence the gun continuously on correct point of aim at a tank moving in his arc of fire.\u00a0 The Number 1&#8217;s job was to judge range and speed so that he could give the correct orders to his Number 3, and order corrections instantly.\u00a0 He also had to prioritise his targets and judge the moment to open fire.\u00a0 None of this was as easy as it sounds.\u00a0 Besides the variety of military skills required of any soldier involved in direct fire against the enemy and plenty of training in tank recognition, the main emphasis of anti-tank training was on gunnery and fire control.\u00a0 Units in UK undertook monthly live firing on anti-tank ranges.\u00a0 Non-firing exercises were also vital to teach range estimation. \u00a0Finally anti-tank gunners were routinely trained to use captured enemy equipment.<\/p><p><strong><u>Higher Level Tactics<\/u><\/strong> &#8211; Generally, the Batteries of an Anti-Tank Regiment in an Infantry Division were assigned one Battery to each Infantry Brigade with their Battery Commanders receiving orders from the Brigade Commanders.\u00a0 This left one in reserve in a 4-battery regiment.\u00a0 Brigade Commanders and the CRA [<em>Commander RA<\/em>] would coordinate the anti-tank guns and any anti-tank tasks for field guns.\u00a0 Later it became usual for artillery anti-tank Troops to be allocated to Infantry Battalions, with the artillery Troop Commander being the overall anti-tank advisor for the battalion.\u00a0 Battery Commanders had this role at Brigade level and the anti-tank Regiment Commander at Divisional level.\u00a0 Corps Anti-Tank Regiments&#8217; tasks included accompanying covering forces, flank protection with other arms, reinforcing Divisional anti-tank layouts, give depth to the defence of a Corps area, guarding HQs and administrative areas and defending bottlenecks on main Line of Communication.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Anti-tank guns were not decentralized to Armoured Regiments in Armoured Divisions.\u00a0 Their usual tasks were flank protection (armoured formations were likely to have open flanks), supporting the motorised brigade or establishing a fire base.\u00a0\u00a0 SP anti-tank guns would accompany the Reconnaissance Regiment\u2019s advance guard.\u00a0 With the motor brigade they would secure &#8216;pivots&#8217; that provide the base for attacks.\u00a0 Unlike tanks, SP anti-tank guns did not use hull down positions, they sought defiladed ones.\u00a0 Of course, there was sometimes a tendency for SPs to act as if they were tanks.\u00a0 However, they were far more lightly armoured, which also made them vulnerable to short range infantry anti-tank weapons.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0All-Arms planning and coordination was vital and artillery anti-tank guns were allocated to where the ground was most suitable for enemy tanks.\u00a0\u00a0 The need for both concealment and for the detachment to administer themselves meant that villages and woods were preferred to positions in the open.\u00a0 However, anti-tank guns were vulnerable to infantry attack and this meant that they were generally sited within defended localities.<\/p><p>Post World War 2, in 1949, anti-tank ceased being a Royal Artillery task and all responsibilities were transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) and Infantry.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4641192 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4641192\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9088487\" data-id=\"9088487\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcb7ac5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fcb7ac5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008080;\">Please also look at the further pages which depict :<\/span>&#8211;<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>1939<\/strong> &#8211; <strong>1940<\/strong>;\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<strong>1941<\/strong> &#8211; <strong>1942<\/strong>;\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<strong>1943<\/strong>;\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<strong>1944<\/strong>;\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<strong>1945<\/strong>;\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<strong>1946<\/strong>.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The <strong>1944<\/strong> page also details the merger with the 91<sup>st<\/sup> (A&amp;SH) AT Regt.<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In the <strong>1946<\/strong> page can be found more information as to what happened to 250 and 252 Bty\u2019s post the merger.\u00a0 There is also a list of the Commanding Officers of the 63<sup>rd<\/sup> AT Regt.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0One part of the Regiment\u2019s history in WW2, covering the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp and its liberation, involving <strong>249 Bty, 63rd A\/Tank Regt, RA,<\/strong> has been covered more fully on the pages of the QOOH\/OY website &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1607\">Liberation of Belsen \u2013 qooh.org.uk<\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A further page will cover the outcome of the 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt RA at the hands of the Japanese when Japan \u00a0entered WW2 on 7<sup>th<\/sup> December 1941 with the attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbour, and the invasion of Malaya on the 8<sup>th <\/sup>December. \u00a0Then with the fall of Singapore on 15<sup>th<\/sup> February 1942, and Japanese forces capturing all the Allied Forces there.\u00a0 <strong>251 Bty, 63<sup>rd<\/sup> A\/Tank Regt, RA<\/strong> had been transferred into the new <strong>85<sup>th<\/sup> A\/Tank Regt RA<\/strong> in September 1941, being formed (along with batteries from three other regiments) at Clacton-on-Sea.\u00a0 The 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt had been in a sea convoy heading for Basra, Iraq, then re-directed to Singapore to reinforce the Garrison there.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1eac3192 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1eac3192\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column 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href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=665\">142 (QOOH) Veh Sqn RLC<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-671\" id=\"mega-menu-item-671\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=669\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-671\">Churchill\u2019s Funeral<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-671'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1364\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1364\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1342\">Personal Memories<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1363\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1363\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1344\">MV Havengore<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1362\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1362\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1346\">Funeral Train<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1361\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1361\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1348\">St Martin\u2019s Church, Bladon<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-1608\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1608\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1607\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-1608\">Liberation of Belsen<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-1608'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1639\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1639\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1624\">Before Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1638\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1638\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1629\">Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1637\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1637\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1633\">After Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1863\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1863\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1861\">Bergen-Belsen Trial<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-676\" id=\"mega-menu-item-676\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=673\">Oxfordshire Blue Plaque<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-3745\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3745\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3621\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-3745\">WW2 &#038; 63 (Oxf Yeo) A\/Tank Regt RA TA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-3745'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3773\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3773\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3700\">1939 \u2013 1940<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3822\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3822\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3764\">1941 \u2013 1942<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3872\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3872\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3817\">1943<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3905\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3905\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3867\">1944<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3920\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3920\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3900\">1945<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3983\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3983\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3918\">1946<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-5087\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5087\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4936\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-5087\">251(OY) Bty &amp; 85th Anti-Tank Regt, RA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-5087'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5091\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5091\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5013\">Into Battle<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5095\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5095\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5063\">Captivity<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5119\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5119\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5099\">Japan\u2019s Surrender<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-680\" id=\"mega-menu-item-680\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=678\">Clippings<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-684\" id=\"mega-menu-item-684\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=682\">Useful Links<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3399\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3399\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3383\">Our Cookie Policy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-privacy-policy mega-menu-item-3407\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3407\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3403\">Our Privacy Policy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-68e784ba elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"68e784ba\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28df648b\" data-id=\"28df648b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a2173ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a2173ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>\u00a9 qooh.org.uk\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2019-2024\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 All rights reserved<\/strong><\/p><p><strong><em>Designed &amp; written by Mick Luxford\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 with help from LCN Hosting and WordPress.org<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b37b6e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b37b6e8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-83fe41e\" data-id=\"83fe41e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WW2 &#038; 63 (Oxf Yeo) Anti-Tank Regiment RA TA \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0These pages expand on the era covered by World War Two.\u00a0 Much of the information has been collected from the Regiment&#8217;s six War Dairies, plus appendices, covering their time of activities from when they were mobilized on 2nd September 1939 to 25th March 1946.\u00a0&hellip;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3621\" title=\"Continue reading &lsquo;WW2 &#038; 63 (Oxf Yeo) A\/Tank Regt RA TA&rsquo;\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","iawp_total_views":162,"_xspeed_no_cache":false,"_xspeed_expiry_hours":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3621","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3621\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}