OB15 Autralia and New Zealand - comment
Small comment:
ANZAC OOB : The pre 1940 Inf Coys - formations 003, 004 & 005
There was no formal AIF/NZEF till late 1939, about October 39 for both countries.
So is it relevant to have these in place pre Oct 1939?
Hence for “reality”, formations 003, 004 & 005 should not exist till at best Oct 39, ie AIF/NZEF Infantry Coys.
It may though be an inconvenient thing to implement with any what if type scenario.
AMF/CMF Coys formations 260 262 &264
The pre 40 units AMF did not reflect the then British structure. The AIF and NZEF reformed to reflect the British structure late Dec 39/ Jan 40 when they arrived in Egypt. Prior to that they had the same structure as the militia, (AMF for Australia).
This was:
Coy HQ
2 Offr, 17 ORs
Inf Pls x 4 as:
Pl HQ
1 offr 5 Ors
1 x 2” mor (when issued if available)
Rifle Sect x 2 as
7 OR – rifle
LMG Sect x 2 as
7 OR
1 x LMG (Lewis gun)
In 1939 the 2 inch mor was more of an establishment value item than actually an issued one as there were none till the AIF/NZEF landed in Egypt
In late, Dec 1939, there was an order issued in Australia to move the AIF Inf Bns to the current British structure. This was not implemented till the start of 1940 when the AIF took on the British Bn/coy structure. 6 Div was the first to be converted. AMF units did not till much later. This later adoption was due to equipment availability.
In 1941 there was further restructure with the AMF and an Inf Coy looked like:
Coy HQ
2 Offr, 5 ORs
Inf Pls x 3 as:
Pl HQ
1 offr 5 Ors
1 x 2” mor (when issued if available)
1 x AT Rifle (when issued if available)
Rifle Sect x 3 as
1 x LMG (Lewis or Bren depending on the “battalion’s grading as more Brens were available the Lewis was fully withdrawn.)
10 or 11 ORs
The AMF Bn was different to the AIF Bn at this time, but the coys were looking like each other structure wise. Training and equipment was the significant difference.
In 1944 there was a further complete restructure of both AIF and AMF. This brought them fully inline. It was based on 3 Divisional structures, that were, Inf Tropical, Inf Normal and Armoured.
Inf tropical and Inf Normal Bns were different but the only formal difference between a tropical and normal Coy was transport. A Normal Pl had local transport, 1 truck.
The AMF/CMF coys did not have 3inch mor sects or MMG sects embedded as an organisational structure. They were allocated to the Coy based on operational needs.
Mg Coys – formation 1056
These were formed in late 39 as indicated in the OOB.
Org as:
Coy HQ
2 Offrs, 24 Ors
Mg Plat x 3 as
Pl HQ
1 offr, 8 Ors
MG Sect x 2 as
16 Ors
2 x MMG
There was no 3 inch mor establishment to these Coys, nor within the MG Bns.
Ref
1. ‘Redcoats to Cams, History of the Australian Infantry 1788 – 2001’, Ian Kuring, Australian Army history Unit, 2004.
2. Infantry Minor Tactics – Australia, 1941, Notified in AAOs dated 31 Dec 1941.
3. Official War Diaries HQ 6 Div AIF, (GS Branch), Australian War Museum.
Now whether it is worth implementing this is a different issue as it may have side effects on current scenarios.
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