Post by Diarist on Jul 30, 2016 22:46:27 GMT 1
At TRADOC I had a chat with General Gort and explained that the idea of brigade-sized BG's is new and that's why we hadn't discussed it. George Patton, Harry Crerar and I had talked about it in Salisbury last week but nothing has been formalized.
"So what do you think of four armoured divisions by the end of 1938, Sir?"
"I like it but why so late?"
"Let's talk about the tank guns. The 6-pdr prototype will hopefully be available within the next 6 months. The 17-pdr for the tank hunter version will be available 12 months later at the earliest. That's again the prototype. To get these guns in decent numbers will take another 6 months minimum. That's already two years and we are only talking about pre-production equipment."
"I understand."
"Really, Sir? One could argue that we already have the infantry component. We do but they don't have the necessary vehicles to keep up with the tanks. Our lorries are useless cross-country. Why aren't we using that captured German 4x6 chassis as a basis for our own motor vehicles and armoured cars? We've had that the design for four months but nothing is happening. Why hasn't Nuffield snapped this up if he is so great? Are we at TRADOC the only people with initiative in this country?"
"We're not but sometimes it appears to be so. So the Spring of '38 is an optimistic date?"
"Yes, but if we use the current ISV's and 6-pdr versions of the ISV as tank hunters we should have a division available by the summer of '37. But we need the infantry to be motorized. We can work on mechanizing them later."
"Good. So we are talking about an armoured brigade, an infantry brigade plus divisional troops for a division?"
"Not quite. An armoured brigade, TWO infantry brigades, an artillery brigade, a support brigade plus divisional troops."
"A support brigade PLUS divisional troops? Elaborate please. What's in the support brigade?"
"ISV Bn, Tank Hunter Bn, AA Bn and an Infantry Bn and before you ask the divisional troops are Recce Bn, MG Bn, Engineer Bn, Signals Bn and Medical Bn. That's the peacetime organization. At war we would have 3 or 4 brigade-sized BG's with units assigned to the division being attached to the BG's to meet the operational situation. As you can imagine it will be a powerful division. Then think about having four of them."
"I'm impressed. So what's the plan?"
"We are already working on it at the Annex. Can I have George, Jean and Harry temporarily assigned there? We also need BG Hobart. Can you arrange that, please?"
"No problem. Anything else?"
"I need Edward to do some aviation work for me." I explained the R-2600 situation. "I'm expecting a call from America this evening."
"The R-2600 is an engine we need but don't have and it's important."
"Very. The German aircraft engines are less than 1,000hp, i.e. less than the Merlin. The R-2600 is 50% more powerful than the Merlin. That'll give us a qualitative advantage which could offset their numerical advantage."
"I agree. Go home and take that call, Bob."
"Yes, Sir. Could your Lordship talk with his Lordship Nuffield and tell him to build some decent trucks yesterday?"
"Go home."