Feb1945

15^th Army Group AFV Situation Report 14 February 1945

Cruiser Tanks – Sherman

	M4A1 75mm	M4A2 75mm	M4A4 75mm	M4A1 76mm	M4 17pdr	M4A4 17pdr	M4 105mm	M4A4 Crab	DD	Ark	B/L	Fascine	Inf Carrier	Grant Scorpion	Grant T.2 ARV
6 Armd Div		52		42	4		12								1
5^th Cdn Armd Div	46		135		12		18								2
6 SA Armd Div			76	129	7		18				2				1
2 Armd Bde	4		5	114	11		18			2	2	3			1
7 Armd Bde	47		24	61	12		19			3	2	3	6		2
9 Armd Bde		43			4		4		36				53		2
4 NZ Armd Bde		150			12					2		3			2
1 Cdn Amd Bde			152		11		18								2
2 Polish Armd Bde		160									2				1
21 Tank Bde	30	2									4
Assault Regt RAC/RE		14	5					5
Armd Ops RA	20	82	87
Tank Replacement Group	87	306	205	85	14		38		6	2	8	3			5
IN GREECE
23 Armd Bde		37	34
Total with Formations	234	846	723	431	87		145	5	42	9	20	12	59		19
Total Ordnance Stock Workshops & Training	339	818	505	175	68	6	133	37	39					24	2
TOTAL AFVs IN N AFRICA AND ITALY	573	1664	1228	606	155	6	278	42	81	9	20	12	59	24	21
Ex-UK (WO estimate)					70			5
Ex-North America				36
GRAND TOTALS	573	1664	1228	642	225	6	278	47	81	9	20	12	59	24	21

See notes on the 7^th April 1945 return for detailed comments.

The February return notes that 25^th Tank Bde figures were not recorded. In fact, by this date it had reorganised as 25 Armd Engr Bde. The Assault Regt RAC/RE, whose figures are recorded, was now 'A' Assault Regt (later 1 Armd Engr Regt) of the brigade and a second regiment was forming. It is possible that the Assault Regt figures in fact cover the other holdings of 25^thBde as they seem to include the Crabs of 51 RTR. This return was compiled during a period of re-organisation and re-equipping before the spring campaign, so some units are be understrength.

Deliveries of M4A1 76mm (Sherman IIA), M4 17 pdr (Sherman IC) and M4 105mm (Sherman IB) were still underway. It is interesting to note that the Sherman IIA were expected direct from America, whilst the IBs were coming via the UK (along the 17pdr Sherman IC conversions).

4^th NZ Armd Bde shows the 2 Sherman ARKs of 28 NZ Assault Sqn (which are omitted from the April return). The six Sherman Infantry Carriers of 7 Armd Bde are likely to be 'Sherman Cut-Downs" used to transport assault bridging parties, essentially they were similar to Kangaroos but most if not all were converted to fascine carriers by the time the spring campaign started.

Infantry Tanks - Churchill

	CS 95mm	CS 3"	6pdr	75mm	75mm Mk.VI	75mm Heavy	ARV	AVRE	B/L	Fascine	II Octopi
7 Armd Bde	2		6		7
21 Tank Bde	23		67	27		18	9		1
Assault Regt RAC/RE	4		2			30	2	21		13	36
Tank Replacement Group	12	1	52	37	5	1	4		3		12
Total with Formations	41	1	127	64	12	49	15	21	4	13	48
Total Ordnance Stock Workshops & Training	35	32	179	2	27	40	14		2		11
TOTAL AFVs IN N AFRICA AND ITALY	76	33	306	66	39	89	29	21	6	13	59
In Transit from UK				16	20	50			7
In Transit from US
GRAND TOTALS	76	33	306	82	59	139	29	21	13	13	59

The figures for the Assault Regt RAC/RE confirm that they do in fact represent the entire holdings of 25 Armd Engr Bde, the 75mm Heavy tanks shown actually being the Crocodiles of 51 RTR. The fascine carriers are not AVREs but are Churchill III gun tanks operated prior to December 1944 by the tank brigades. They were used for training by the Assault Regts, but not operationally by them.

The bridgelayers are recent arrivals (with more on the way) and replace the ARKs previously used for bridging by the tank regiments. Difficult to reconcile are the 16 75mm tanks listed as in transit from UK - as they are distinct from the 75mm MkVI and 75mm Heavy also in transit.

Other Tanks

	Valentine IX and XI DD	Valentine B/L	Stuart M3	Stuart M5A1	Stuart Recce	M24	AA Light Tanks	Cromwell IV 75mm
6 Armd Div		2			57
5 Cdn Armd Div		3			68
6 SA Armd Div					52
2 Armd Bde					32
7 Armd Bde		2			33
9 Armd Bde	26	3			27
4 NZ Armd Bde		3			33
1 Cdn Armd Bde		2			33?
2 Polish Armd Bde		2			33?
21 Tank Bde			11		23
Armd Ops RA			60
Assault Regt RAC/RE
Tank Replacement Group	24	8	19		81
IN GREECE
23 Armd Bde
Total with Formations	50	25	90		476
Total Ordnance Stock Workshops & Training	80	18	380	35	274		31	4
TOTAL AFVs IN N AFRICA AND ITALY	130	43	470	35	750		31	4
In Transit from UK
In Transit from US
GRAND TOTALS	130	43	470	35	750		31	4

9 Armd Bde's Valentine DDs are for training, by the time 7^th Hussars went into action they retained just 4 as supply carriers.

Stuart Recce figures for 1 Cdn and 2 Polish Armd Bdes are indistinct in the original return. This return shows the AA tanks to be Light Tanks.

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