Guys, would it be okay, if I switch to a Saladin? Or does the six-wheeler not qualify?
Should be ok as it says Vehicles, and RTR did use Saladins.
And apologies to Reynier @SableLiger for jumping in with a reply before you could ![]()
Not forgetting that during WWII there were the “numbered” RAC Regiments usually formed by converting infantry regiments.
My late father-in-law was commissioned from 2 RTR into 149th RAC which was converted from 7th Battalion KOYLI and sent to Burma. Many of these British “numbered” RAC Regiments actually served in what were Indian formations, 149th was in 50th Indian Tank Brigade and 254th Indian Tank Brigade at various times. One of the anomalies was that officers and men wore the cap badge of the original regiment on black tank berets and in the case of 149th at least used the same colour whistle cords as the original regiment.
They were equipped with Grants except for one Squadron which was equipped with waterproofed Shermans. The Shermans were originally destined for an amphibious assault on the Burma coast that never came off. The Regiment didn’t stay together all the time. The Squadron of Shermans was detached to go to Infantry School at Dehradun and thus missed Imphal and Kohima.
Hope, this is helpful and not too confusing. There is plenty of scope for depicting large and small units based on the use of RAC Regiments in Burma. I have an almost complete copy of the war diary for 149th excluding the detached duty of the Sherman Squadron.
Just for info, the 1st tank units in WWI were lettered companies A through D with 4 sections of 3 tanks. The Companies were expanded into Battalions still designated A through D. E was added for service in Palestine.
In 1939 these Battalions became numbered RTR regiments, A through E becoming 1 RTR, 2 RTR, 3 RTR, 4 RTR and 5 RTR.
I have a little more info on WWI tanks as my wife’s grandfather was Ernie Hayward DCM, MM and he served in the Motor Machine Gun Corp and D Battalion Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corp until wounded at Bullecourt. He remained at Bovington up to and through WWII before retiring as Captain having been Technical Adjutant at Bovington during WWII