Raree Exercise 9 June 1942, Appendix A

APPENDIX 'A' C O P Y

Subject: War Establishment - Survey Regiment, R.A. Ref: 7SR/573 RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT TO PROPOSED WAR ESTABLISHMENT BY LIEUT-COLONEL K.F. Mc.K. LEWIS, M.C.R.A. Headquarters, R.A. 12 Corps --------------

With reference to your RA/157/209 dated 9 Jun 42. 1. The trials referred to in G.H.Q. Home Forces Letter were carried out during 46 Div "RAREE" exercise 24-27 Jun 42. Only one Composite Battery was available, the other. less Svy Tp being at SENNYBRIDGE camp. as both composite batteries are identical, the trial was not affected in so far as the divisional battle is concerned.Regtl H.Q. and Survey Bty H.Q. carried out loading and movement trials in the area in which exercise "RAREE" was being held. It is considered that a fair test was thus given to the proposed War Establishment. The trials were umpired by officers of the 1st Canadian Survey Regt R.C.A. on special instructions issued by me with reference to the proposed W.E. (copy of instructions attached). Since the proposed W.E. has as it's basis the minutes of the committee called by H.Q.R.A.Home Forces,this reports framed on the relevant points of these minutes, and with reference to the special instructions to umpires.

2. In general, the reduction in men is fully accepted, and the reduction of heavy 3-ton vehicles fulfils a long-standing demand. With the exception of the Ranging Section of the Flash Spotting Battery, all elements of the regiment can carry out their tasks adequately on the basis of minute 1. Before dealing with the points brought out on the trial, I would call attention to the reduction of a second-in-command in the W.E. I submit that this reduction is unsound. Unless, under present conditions, the C.O. can sometimes be relieved of the multifarious administrative duties at Regtl H.Q. he will not be able to supervise the training of his heterogeneous regiment. A Second-in-Command, as has been recently laid down in A.C.Is. is the C.O's assistant on the technical side of training is essential. SUGGESTED: INCREASE 1 Major (2 i/c) with car and driver.

3. COMMAND and CONTROL a) Regtl H.Qs. In the divisional battle, once the elements of the regiment have been grouped and decentralised by C.C.R.A., 3 D.Rs. are the C.O's. sole means of control for any re-grouping that may be required. The introduction of four 11 H.P. wireless sets into G1098 does not assist the C.O. as experience (c.f. "TIGER") shows that composite batteries will be out of 11 H.P. set range more often than not. It is proposed that these 11 sets should supplement the C.B.O's. net and be used by F.S. and S.R. Tps (see (b) below).

b) Composite Bty H.Q. Proposed W.E. gives the Comp Bty Comdr. 2 D.Rs. These are totally inadequate for him to exercise tactical control over his Tps once they are deployed. No increase, however, is required provided that Comp Bty H.Q. get 1 11 H.P set from C.B.O. instead of two as at present, Comp Bty Cmdrs set must control the Bty H.Q., F.S., S.R. and A/C.B.O. net.

c) F.S.Tp Observation Section No remarks if (a) and (b) above are accepted. Ranging Section - no remarks.

d) S.R. Tp No remarks, but see DEPLOYMENT para reference M/Cs.

e) Svy Bty H.Q. and Svy Tp No remarks, but see DEPLOYMENT para reference added requirement in M/Cs.

4. MOVEMENT The proposed W.E. shows a great improvement on road movement owing to the introduction of more light vehicles in place of few heavy ones. I all 15-cwts were to be made 4 wheeled-drive type cross-country performance which is what is required in a Survey regt would be improved. Svy Tp was handicapped by having a 3-ton vehicle as its computing centre. It is most desirable that artillery recce units (of which a Svy Tp is an example) should have small light vehicles. Many occasions will arise when forward movement of 3-ton vehicles will not be permitted by either Cs.R.A. or the physical conditions of the routes. SUGGESTED; DECREASE two 3-tonners (serials 2 and 4) and INCREASE two 15-cwt (office) trucks for Computing Centre. Loading tables can be adjusted with serials 3 and 5 and these two vehicles kept back with A.2 transport.

5. DEPLOYMENT a) Regtl H.Q. No remarks. Satisfactory. b) Comp Bty H.Q. No remarks if allotment of wireless sets in para 3 (a) and (b)is agreed to. c) Svy Bty H.Q. The B.S.M should be capable of independent movement, as are all other B.S.Ms. and the R.S.M. He requires a M/C. The subaltern and Section No 1 (Segt) travel in the same vehicle. They should be capable of separation if recce is to be effective. The new establishment appears to be illogical in this respect, as all other subalterns in the regiment have motor cycles. (see para 6 of minutes). The officer and N.C.O. who should be carrying out recce simultaneously have to tour the divisional artillery area together in the same utility and considerable time is wasted. When guns are wanted on the grid, speed is essential. I consider that the addition of one M/C for each Section Sgt in a Svy Bty H.Q. and Tp is required. SUGGESTED: INCREASE two M/Cs for Bty H.Qs.

d) Svy Tp see (C) above. SUGGESTED: INCREASE four M/Cs (two per Tp). TOTAL INCREASE SURVEY BTY - SIX M/Cs.

e) S.R. Tp. The No 1 (Sgt) of the Field Section requires a M/C. His duties require him to visit all A.Ps. and microphones, and in each deployment of the base in the mobile phase he travels some 8 to 10 miles. He must have a M/C to carry out his duties. SUGGESTED: INCREASE two M/Cs (one per Tp).

f) F.S.Tp Observation Section No change. The principle of mounting the Sgt on a M/C, so that he is separated from his section vehicle, has been followed here with good results. Ranging Section This unit is the only one which requires serious reconsideration. A ranging section is invariably deployed as a separate element in conjunction with the guns which employ it. Para 1(c) of the minutes accept a slight increase in time of deployment, but the proposed W.E. imposes a very considerable increase. On the existing W.E. it was realised over 18 months ago that two vehicles for post personnel were insufficient and two 15-cwts were taken from F.S. Bty H.Q. and allotted one to each ranging section. x This vehicle is not now available, A reduction of 6 men was also made. This again affects considerably the speed of deployment. The Ranging Section is now the slowest element to deploy in a Survey Regt and the proposed W.E. should, I consider, be revised so that the survey of the ranging section base and the linking of this base with the allotted gun can be done in time to be of use. Meteor is stale after 3 to 4 hours and it will take this time to deploy a ranging section. The vehicle suggested will serve a double purpose (see ADMINISTRATION below). SUGGESTED: INCREASE 4 Gunners (Line & W'less) 2 per section. These men can lay line and be trained to assist in the survey of the base. To be carried in one 15-cwt truck (see ADMIN. para below).

6. EMPLOYMENT The accuracy of technical results are not affected by the proposed W.E. No advantage or disadvantages.

7. ADMINISTRATION No remarks on any element except F.S. Tp Ranging Sec. I refer to para 5(f) above. This section must be self contained. It operates completely separated from it's Tp H.Q. and must therefore have it's own cook and vehicle for rations and cooking equipment. This has been standard practice up to the present. No increase in cooks is required, as one can be taken from the two given in Obs, Sec. A 15-cwt truck with it's driver is required. This vehicle would also carry the two men asked for as an increase in para 5(f) above. The one cook and his equipment can be dismounted on arrival at the R.V. in deployment area and the truck made available for either survey or line laying, as the situation demands. SUGGESTED: INCREASE 2 trucks 15-cwt. 2 drivers i/c (one truck and driver for ranging section). The total increase asked for on the proposed W.E. are therefore : -

Regtl H.Qs. 1 Major (2 i/c) 1 car utility 1 driver F.S.Bty (Two Ranging Section) 4 Gnrs Line & Wireless Note Transfer 1 cook from Obs 2 Drivers i/c Sec. to Ranging Section. 2 15-cwt trucks S.R. Bty No 1 Field Section in each Tp. 2 M/Cs. Svy. Bty B.S.M to be mounted separately 5 Sec Nos 1 to be mounted separately 6 M/Cs. TOTAL REGIMENT.

1 officer. 7 O.Rs. 8 M/Cs. 2 - 15 cwts.

(signed) K.F.Mackay Lewis Tongswood House, Hawkhurst. Lieut Col R.A. 29 Jun 42. commanding 7th Survey Regiment R.A.