7th Survey Regiment R.A. February 1945

SITTARD 1 Feb   Location of RHQ 700689
MAASBREE       Location of 53 Bty HQ 823079
STAHE       Location of 54 Bty HQ 804667
STRAETEN       Location of 12 Corps S Rg Tp HQ 849695
        Day 1
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Maintenance party at 825092. Remainder tp resting at 714 961. NTR
78580328-       S Rg. In action on lines 1 - 6, Peter and Queen. Lines low sensitivity.
86001160       External lines to 104 Medium Bty RA, 53 Hy Regt RA and 25 Fd are dis
        CBO taking action. Nil HBs. M1 78580328 - M7 86001160, P 837034 Q 871083.
        Svy. NTR
        54 Bty
        F SP. NTR
        S Rg. Nil HBs. Line 1 dis and mic posn 893673 temporarily inaccessible
        owing to mines. Path being cleared. HB location check gave the following :
        Reported Found
        L 181 B Seven U/K A 2 x 105mm
        L 3 A Mortar A 2 mortars
        L 191 BA two U/K Tracks ( SP ? )
        L 286 B 2 Fd Tracks ( SP ? )
        Svy. All BPs checked and handed on. Additional BPs provided in areas
        required. Report many mines and 2 cas due to schumines at 786674 : Gnr/Surs
        COLLINS and BURT. Roads blocked due to mines at 772702, 789697, 798697,
        778698.
        12 Corps S Rg Tp No 1 Sec. Two active periods 0700 - 0715 ( W 21 ) and
        0800 - 1000 ; hy gun firing at 5 min intervals. High adverse wind prevented
        location. No 2 sec Nil locations. AP shelrep : adverse conditions ; wind
        speed 29 fs.
        night 1/2
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. Locations Nil. In action on 5 and 2. Line 3 dis. Quiet night
        Svy NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp. 9 single bearings
        S Rg. Locations Nil, Comns good
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. No 1 sec NTR. No 2 sec locations NIL. Adverse conditions
        Wind speed 30fs. No activity
  2     day 2
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. In action on 2 and 6. Locations NIL. Very little activity. Conditions
        bad, wind 36fs. Peter Mic 1 and Mic 3 relaid. 53 Hy Regt RA and 25 Fd Lines
        still out of action.
        Svy. Radar refixed and data issued ( Radar moved 100x West ). Resection at 879216
        ( F Sp tower posn ) observed and computed. Recce in square 8816, 8817, 8918
        completed.
        54 Bty
        F Sp. NTR. Preparing to hand over to A Bty 291 Obsn ( US Army ) at 1700 hrs
        tomorrow and to concentrate then area GANGELT
        S Rg. V slight activity and 1 location obtained. Difficulty with line.
        Handing over tomorrow as above and joining tp near HQ at GILRAITH. D Tp
        locations checked today
        REPORTED FOUND
        L69 A 1 U/K A 2 mortars
        L295 B mortar Old gun posn
  2     REPORTED FOUND
        L 63 Z 5 or 6 Med A Sp posn
        L 118 A 1 Fd
        L 136 C Sev U/K A Sp and unfinished gunpit
        L 303 BA Sur To LH gun of 4 x 88mm
        ( 2 guns still in posn and damaged by
        our fire )
        L 41 A 3 U/K Posn latter occupied by own Fd guns.
        possible SP
        L 135 D Sev U/K Unidentified - possible AA
        Svy. NTR
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. No 1 sec, 1 location obtained. Strong adverse wind. No 2
        sec, locations Nil. Off-base wind 40fs. Conditions very bad.
  2/3     night 2/3
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. In action on 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 and Peter and Queen. Locations NIL.
        Adverse met conditions. Little activity.
        Svy. NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp. Locations NIL Single bearings 4 . Shelreps 3.
        S Rg. Locations NIL Lines to 1, 6 and V dis . External good.
        Svy. NTR
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. No 1 sec NTR. No 2 sec. Adverse S Rg conditions at 1900
        hrs. Ground wind speed 40fs. 2 AP personanel unable to return owing to
        impossible roads. Lines 2, 3 and 4 out of actiion 2250 hrs. 3 and 4 repaired
        0110hrs. All lines cut by bogged carriers and half tracks. All lines
        repaired, base and AP in action by 0320hrs. No activity reports throughout night.
  3     day 3
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. In action Mics 0-5, Peter and Queen. Fair amount of activity
        since 1600hrs. South of Peter, not recording on more than 2 mics
        330o
        Svy NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp. Handover completed, otherwise NTR
        S Rg. Handover completed at 1700hrs. All mic lines being maintained with
        difficulty but in action when handed over, otherwise NTR.
        Svy NTR
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. No 1 sec : locations 4, base closed down 1800 hrs. No
        2 sec : M2 and M4 lines cut again by bogged tracked vehicles. M2 repaired
        1230 hrs. Shelreps reported to CBO during period base out of action.
        Instructed to close down 1800hrs base closed down.
  3/4     night 3/4
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg In action lines 0-5. Radio comns. Peter and Queen - night quiet,
        locations 3.
        Svy NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) Bty now out of action preparing to move, B tp at 782679
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. NTR
  4      
  4     day 4
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. In action on mics 0 - 5. Peter and Queen, poor conditions, quiet
        day. 5 sound bearings.
HOLSBEEK       Svy. NTR move as RHQ, mr TP HQ 905620
"       54 Bty
"       F Sp. NTR. Moved to rest area, mr Tp HQ 905620
"       S Rg. NTR. Moved to rest area, mr Tp HQ 899619
"       Svy. NTR, Moved to rest area, mr Tp HQ 895616
"       12 Corps S Rg Tp. Moved to rest area mr Tp HQ 907621
        RHQ Location 905621
        night 4/5
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. In action lines 0 - 6 excluding line 2, and on line to Peter and
        Queen. Very quiet night. ! Sound bearing. Locations NIL
        Svy. NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) out of action. NTR
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. Out of action NTR.
  5     day 5
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Tower practically completed. Wiring of new posn completed
        Obliques received at BHQ from CBO
        S Rg. In action mics 1 - 6, P and Q. Fault on mic 0 being repaired
        New posn of Peter mr 810020 wef (with effect from) 061130A. V quiet day. 7 sound bearings.
  5     Svy. NTR O/A
        54 Bty
        F Sp. )
        S Rg. ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR
        night 5/6
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. In action lines 1 - 6, Peter on line and Queen on radio. V quiet
        night. Locations NIL
        Svy. O/A. NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp. )
        S Rg. ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR
  6     day 6
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Tower at 831040 occupyable. Camouflage to complete. Survey from
        BP "APPLE" within 200x of tower. Tower Rest Centre progressing. Lines OK.
        S Rg. In action mics 1 - 6 Peter and Queen, now at 810020. Many line
        faults occurred caused by bogged vehicles. Fairly quiet period. 12 sound
        bearings. Locations - 2 AA.
        Svy. O/A. NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp. )
        S Rg. ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
  6     12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR
        night 6/7
        53 Bty
        F Sp. NTR
        S Rg. In action on lines 1 - 6 and Peter and Queen. Little enemy
        activity during night. Number of locations 2.
        Svy. O/A NTR.
        54 Bty )
        S Rg. )
        F Sp. ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy. )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
  7     day 7
        53 Bty
823081       F Sp. Base in action. Communications OK. Rear comns OK. Able short
        base also in action. Locations : Able main 487492 511614.7. Able
        487318.4 511399.2 Baker at 485552 509514. Charlie at 484017
        505485. Dog at 483055.2 503959.3 Tp HQ at 823081
        S Rg. In action 0 - 5, Peter and Queen on line. Lines at present in
        order but constantly giving trouble. Locations 1.
        Svy. O/A NTR.
        54 Bty )
        F Sp )
        S Rg. ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy. )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR
        night 7/8
        53 Bty
        F Sp. V quiet night. No enemy activity repored. Visibility approx
        2000x Internal and rear link comns OK. All posts deployed
  7     Sr. In action on lines 0 - 5 and Peter and Queen. No enemy activity
        during the night. Locations and sound bearings, Nil.
        S Rg. O/A NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg. ) O/A NTR
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A NTR.
  8     day 8
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Slight activity on front with visibility varying from 2000x to
        15000x . Internal and rear link comns OK. Proposed HAB with 77 Med
        Regt RA Cancelled. Results - single bearing HBs 10, single bearing
        mortars 3, shelreps 1. Intelligence reports 1. OP zones of obsn A
        57o - 201o, B 27o - 197o, C 47o - 152o, D 30o - 170o.
        S Rg. In action on mics 1 - 6, Peter and Queen. More activity then
        of late. Results 8 mortar bearings, 20 HB bearings, 1 location.
        Ranging shoot with 77 Med Regt RA. Comns with D Post, "A" Tp estab-
        lished
        Svy. O/A NTR
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) P/A NTR
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A NTR.
        night 8/9
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Slight activity ob front. Visibility good. Comns OK. Results,
        HBs 1, single bearings 3. Int Reps 1.
  8     S Rg. In action on mics 1 - 6 Peter and Queen. Night 8/9 v quiet
        Locations Nil.
        Svy. O/A NTR.
        54 Bty.
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A NTR
        Svy )
  8     12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A NTR.
  9     day 9
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Fairly quiet day. Visibility 6000 - 7000x . Comns good. Results
        HB single bearings 1 . Mortar single bearings 1. Intelligence reports 4
        S Rg. In action 0 - 5, Peter and Queen on line. Gen Lines 77 Med Regt
        RA RHQ and 104 Bty. Extremely quiet day. Locations NIL.
        Svy. O/A NTR.
        54 Bty.
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A NTR
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A NTR.
        night 9/10
        53 Bty
        F Sp. V quiet night. Good Visibility. Comns OK, Resultes - shellreps 1.
        HB single bearings 3. HBs ( area ) 2. Intelligence reports 1. Base
        checkedon star parallelism.
        S Rg. In action on lines 1- 6, Peter and Queen. Five shots reported
        before midnight but no further enemy activity. Locations NIL.
        Svy. O/A NTR.
        54 Bty.
  9     54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR.
  10     Day 10
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Slight activity on front, with visibility 20,000x . Able and Baker
        on line, with Charlie and Dog on wireless. Maintenance proceeding. Rear
        comns ok. Results : single bearings 11,
        S Rg. In action on mics 0 - 5, Peter and Queen ( Peter on Radio ). Some
        activity from 1600- 1730 hrs. But poor S Rg conditions, Results : 1 Location
        and 10 sound bearings.
        Svy. O/A NTR.
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR.
        night 10/11
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Quiet night with small amount of activity in early evening. Visibility
        4,000x . Comns OK, Results : HB single bearings 11. Shelreps 1.
        S Rg. In action on lines 1 - 6 , Peter and Queen. Number of locatins 1.
        No activity reported since 2012 hrs
        Svy. O/A NTR.
        54 Bty
        F Sp. O/A NTR
        S Rg ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR.
  11     day 11
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Slight activity on front during day . Visibility 3000x . Comns
        and line ok. Results : HB single bearings 8, shelreps 1.
        S Rg. In action on mics 0 - 5 and Peter and Queen. Locations 3. Sound
        bearings 32. One ranging shot carried out on K 12 and one in progress at
        1800 hrs on K 14, both with 77 Med Regt RA
        Svy. O/A. NTR.
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR.
        night 11/12
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Slight activity onfront, with visibility 4000x . Comns OK, Results
        HB single bearings 7.
        S Rg. In action on lines 1 - 6, Peter and Queen. No of locations 1. No
        activity reported since 2300 hrs.
        Svy. O/A. NTR.
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR.
  12     day 12
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Slight activity on front. Visibility approx 1000 . Comns OK.
        Results HB single bearings 5. Mortar bearings 1.
  12     S Rg. In action on 1 - 6, Peter and Queen, all on line. Ranging attempted
        on K 16 but abandoned owing to activity on Northern front. Generally quiet
        day. Locations 1.
        Svy. O/A. NTR.
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        12 Corps S Rg Tp. O/A. NTR.
        night 12/13
        53 Bty
        F Sp. No activity during night. Visibility 9000 - 10000x , Comns OK
        Results NIL
        S Rg. In action on lines 1 - 6 Peter and Queen. Very little activity
        during night. Location NIL.
        Svy. O/A. NTR.
        54 Bty
        F Sp )
        S Rg ) O/A. NTR.
        Svy )
        S Rg Tp )
  13     day 13
        53 Bty
        F Sp. Slight activity on front, visibility 15000x - comns good 2 HAB
        shoots carried out with 61 Med Regt RA. HB single bearings 3.
        S Rg. In action on 1 - 6, Peter and Queen on line. Extremely quiet
        day, met conditions unfavourable ( 20 fs at 221 ) with wind up to 27 fs
        at 246. Results : locations, 1. Sound bearings 18, mortar bearings 1.