7th Survey Regiment R.A. January 1945

AMSTENRADE 1 Jan 45   Location of RHQ 725616
         
HEIJTHUIJZEN       Location of 53 Bty 716963
         
GROTENRATH       Location of 54 Bty 824615
         
OIRSBEEK       Location of 12 Corps S Rg Tp 723625
         
        Day 1
        53 Bty
        F sp - ranging shoots carried out with 107 Hy AA and 59 Med Regts
        S rg - slight enemy activity, but recording conditions unsatisfactory.
        Nil HBs - unsuccessful attempt made to record shoot by 61 Med Regt
        Svy - 3 BPs established, points issued to 151 Fd Regt
        54 Bty
        F sp - good visibility but very slight enemy activity ; 1 HB. Cali-
        bration shoot with 3 Super Hy unsuccessful, burst OU ; 4 datums fixed.
        S rg - quiet day ; 1 HB reported active
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base - very quiet indeed, one gun heard, too
        distant to be recorded. Line cut by another unit attempting to talk
        to the mics. HB base - steady period 5 HBs located
        night 1/2
        53 Bty
        F sp - very quiet night
        S rg - 1 location only which was ranged on to by 61 Med Regt
        54 Bty
        F sp - 1 HB, visibility good
        S rg - very quiet night, 4 HBs
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base - very quiet night, nothing heard by AP ; HB
        base very little activity ; 1 HB location, 1 line cut for 20 mins
        during night
  2     Day 2
         
        53 Bty
        F sp - quiet day, nil HBs, visibility poor
        S rg - slight activity, 1 HB
        Svy - 3 fresh points fixed
        54 Bty
        F sp - visibility very good during early morning, resulting on location
        of 1 Hy gun. Recce carried out for base for calibration shoot
        S rg - quiet day, some activity from distant guns, 3 HBs
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base - no activity reported
        HB base - very little activity 1 location
        night 2/3
        53 Bty
        F sp - very quiet
        S rg - 1 HB ranged on by 61 Med Regt
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        SRg - 1HB and 3 activity reports
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base - moderate activity, 3 HBs 1 HM located ;
        HB base - 4 HBs located, lines cut during night ; one mic disappeared
  3     day 3
        53 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - very quiet day, 1 HB located, 1 mic missing suspected stolen
        Svy - 4 points fixed
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR ; calibration with Super Hy postponed owing to bad
        visibility.
        S rg - no fresh locations, 1 activity report
  3     12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base, no activity BY AP. HB base
        no activity reported. Some trouble with communications
        night 3/4
        53 Bty
        F sp - NTR ; quiet night, very bad visibility
        S rg - no activity reported
        Svy - one BP fixed
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S rg - 2 HBs and 1 activity report
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base, NTR
        HB base, wind conditions prevented locations being
        obtained
  4     day 4
        53 Bty
        F sp - quiet day, 5 single bearings only
        S rg - NTR
        54 Bty
        F sp - poor visibility, NTR
        S rg - more activity than of late, 8 HBs located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base, considerable activity, 11 locations obtained
        between 0900 - 1100hrs . 1 mortar which fired during afternoon area
        STRAETEN 8469 was effectively silenced. HB base, considerable
        interference caused by electric mains supply, partly eliminated by
        relaying 1 base. 2 HBs suspected to be fakes.
        night 4/5
        53 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S rg - stormy wind made film-reading difficult - nil HBs.
         
  4     54 Bty
        F sp - NTR. Visibility 100x
        S rg - quiet night, 3 HBs located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base, mortars fairly active, 5 HMs and 2 HBs ;
        HB base - 6 HBs located, interference caused by mains appears to
        have been eliminated
  5     day 5
        53 Bty
        F sp - visibility bad, quiet day. Positions for HAB ranging wired
        and surveyed
        S rg - very quite. 10 Sound bearings only
        Svy - 6 BPs fixed
        54 Bty
        F sp - bad visibility, calibration shoot with 9 Med Regt cancelled
        S rg - quiet day, 4 HBs located with 1 activity report ; fall of
        shot satisfactorily recorded for 9 AGRA.
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base, slight activity only, some mortars
        located and successfully bombarded. HB base - 3 HBs located
        night 5/6
        53 Bty
        F sp - very quiet. NTR
        S rg - very quiet, NTR
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S rg - 2 HBs
        12 Corps S Rg Tp : CM base, no activity reported : HB base, very
        little activity, 2 HBs and 1 HM
  6     day 6
        53 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
  6     S rg - 2 HBs - ranging shoot carried out on one HB, scale 12 fired.
        Svy - 3 BPs fixed, 4 cards issued to 59 Hy and one to 25 Fd Regt.
        54 Bty
        F Sp - visibility bad, calibration shoot with 3 Super Hy postponed.
        S rg - little activity - one location obtained which was responsible for
        dud shells which landed near "U" AP
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base, 1 mortar which fired a few rounds was the only
        location obtained
    1145   HQ at 865647 received a sharp stonk, cutting 7 lines
        HB base, 1 location obtained early in day, trouble due to electric mains
        now apparently cured
        night 6/7
        53 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - slight activity only produced sound bearings
        54 Bty
        F sp - 1 HB reported active
        S Rg - 2 HBs and 1 reported active
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - CM base - gusty wind made recording difficult, very
        slight activity . HB base - 4 locations obtained, 2 breaks in line caused
        interruptions during the night
  7     day 7
        53 Bty
        F sp poor visibility - no locations. New base recced with OPs in churches at
        KESSENICH 6685 THORN 6786 and HEEL 7188
        SRg - slight activity 1 HB located and ranged on by comparator with 61
        Med Regt
        Svy - one new point fixed and BPs issued to 13 RHA and 4 RHA
        54 Bty
        F Sp - NTR - visibility still too bad to permit of calibration of Super Hy
        guns
        S Rg - slight activity resulting in 3 HB locations
        Svy - NTR
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 Sec - 2 HBs located and large explosion reported
        No 2 Sec - Little activity reported 1 HB located
        Svy Sec -2 BPs est
        night 7/8
        53 Bty NTR
        54 Bty - very quiet night
        F sp - NTR
        S rg 1 HB located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 2 Sec - 2 HBs reported active
        No 1 Sec - NTR
  8     day 8
        53 Bty
        F sp - NTR - visibility 1000 yards only
        S rg - NTR - unfavourable wind
        Svy - 1 BP issued to 72 Med Regt
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - very quiet - adverse wind
        Svy - NTR
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 Sec - few guns or mortars believed to have been active, but base
        stood down from 1200 hrs due to adverse wind
        No 2 sec - no activity
        night 8/9
        53 Bty F sp NTR
        S rg NTR
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - 2 HBs located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - strong adverse wind prevented location enemy shelling in
        area of No 2 sec - no cas or damage
        53 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - calibration of two tps 61 Med Regt attempted but not successful due
        to adverse S Rg conditions
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - only one burst of activity producing 6 HB locations, on one of
        which - a HAA gun - a bombard was carried out by CBO
    1300   12 Corps S Rg Tp - Nos 1 and 2 secs changed over bases. Svy sec fixed 2 BPs
        night 9/10
        53 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - heard guns firing once during night but recording on film was so
        poor no locations were obtained
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR, visibility poor
        S Rg - 2 HBs located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 Sec - trouble with comns due to MT mov - no activity reported
        No 2 Sec - quiet night - one microphone line relayed - no HBs recorded
  10     day 10
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - rather more activity reported than on previous days, but only 1 HB
        located due to outside interference making film reading difficult
        Svy - check on orientation of Bty directors of 4 RHA, 13 RHA, 151 Fd, 72 Med
        59 Hy and 90 HAA Regts
        54 Bty
        F Sp - sunshine failed to increase visibility sufficiently for calibration
        to be carried out. Recce for new Ops carried out
        S Rg - 4 new HBs located and 2 old ones active
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 Sec - NTR
        No 2 Sec - 1 HM located
        night 10/11
        53 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - quiet night - 2 HBs located
        54 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - 3 HBs located and 2 old ones active
        12 Corps S Rg Tp -
        No 1 sec - only guns heard were too distant to locate
        No 2 sec - 2 HB locations - line comns gave trouble
  11     day 11
        53 Bty
        F sp - NTR - poor visibility
        S Rg - guns too distant to locate
        54 Bty
        F sp - NTR
        S Rg - quiet day - 1 HM and 1 HB located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 sec - very quiet - NTR
        No 2 sec - NTR
        Svy sec - BP issued to 11 Med Regt
        night 11/12
        53 Bty
        F sp - visibility 1000 yrds - NTR
        S Rg - some sound bearings obtained believed to be own guns in
        GEILENKIRCHEN area
        54 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - 1 HM located and 7 HBs reported active
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - NTR
  12     day 12
        53 Bty
        F Sp - calibration attempted with 61 Med Regt but abandoned due to bad
        visibility
        S Rg - considerable increase in activity - 6 HBs located of which 3 were
        bombarded
        54 Bty
        F Sp - visibility improved to 5000 yards, otherwise NTR
        S Rg - fair amount of activity about midday - 1 HB located and engaged by
        own Super Hys
        12 Corps S Rg Tp-
        No 1 sec - 1 HB located
    1400   No 2 sec - out of action and moved to rest
        Svy Sec, BPs issued to 79 Fd and 186 Fd Regts
        night 12/13
        53 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg- ranging shot and bombard carried out on one HB
        54 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - 2 HBs and 2 HMs located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp - NTR
  13     day 13
        53 Bty
        F Sp NTR
        S Rg Successful ranging shoot carried out with 61 Med Regt
        54 Bty
        F Sp NTR
        S Rg 3 HBs located. Some mortars also heard but not located due to
        noise of own guns
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 sec NTR
        Svy Sec BPs issued to 107 and 59 Med Regts. 2 new points fixed
        night 13/14
        53 Bty
        F Sp NTR
        S Rg No locations - SP gun appeared to be firing during night
        54 Bty
        F Sp NTR
        S Rg 4 HBs located and 4 old ones reported active
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 sec Very little activity - some trouble with line comns due to MT mov
  14     day 14
        53 Bty
        F Sp NTR
        S Rg 1 HB and 1 HM located. The HB was ranged on by 61 Med Regt
        54 Bty
        F Sp Calibration shoot again impossible due to bad visibility
        S Rg Some Hy guns located early morning, afterwards NTR
        Svy, svy of new S Rg base from 883643 - 852674 completed
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 sec, 1 HB located: Svy sec, BPs issued to 6 Fd
        night 14/15
        53 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg 1 HB located
        54 Bty
        F Sp - visibility bad - base stood down
        S Rg - 3 HM located
SITTARD 15 0830   12 Corps S Rg Tp, Tp HQ moved
681961       No 1 sec - NTR
        day 15
        53 Bty
        F Sp - Visibility 500 yards - NTR
        S Rg - NTR
        Svy - assisted fd and med regts with calibration of mag compasses
        54 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - 3 HBs located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp,
        No 1 sec 2 HBs located
        Svy Sec - RC est with tp HQ, 2 BPs fixed
        night 15/16
        53 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - very quiet - no locations
        54 Bty
        F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - quiet night, single bearings only obtained
        12 Corps - S Rg Tp, NTR
        day 16
        53 Bty
        NTR visibility 200 yards.
        S Rg - 7 HBs located - all too distant to be bombarded
OIRSBEEK 16 1000   54 Bty - Tac HQ opened
722628       F Sp - NTR
        S Rg - some activity - 3 HBs located
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 sec - NTR
        night 16/17
        53 Bty
        F Sp - HAB shoot carried out with 90 HAA Regt
        S Rg - night activity only - 3 HBs located
        54 Bty
        F Sp - increased activity, 5 HBs located and 3 reported active
        S Rg - 13 HBs located and 7 reported active
        12 Corps S Rg Tp
        No 1 sec - increased activity also notited here - 3 HBs located and 3
        reported active. Hy gun shelling SITTARD from range 23000metres also