Australian/New Zealand OOB

[TDR]

Some basic information on the Australina aspect.

Up to end 1942 AMF, (Militia), Battalions had the following structure:

Bn HQ
HQ Coy
Coy HQ
1 Pl (Sigs)
2 Pl (AA) – 4 x twin AA LMGs
3 Pl (Mortar Pl) total of 6 x3 inch Mors, wheel based transport
4 Pl (Pioneer)
5 Pl (Admin)
6 Pl (Carrier), 4 sect, 3 carriers each with .303 MMGs, Bren(AA), also ATR per sect, Pl Hq 1 carrier.
A – D Coy (Rifle) each with:
Coy HQ
3 x Inf Pl.
each Pl with Pl HQ and 3 Sections.
Sects as 10 men, SMG, rifle and initially Lewis LMGs. In combat, Kokoda, Lewis changed to Bren.
Pl HQ 4 men 4 x rifle.
Also 2” mor team with Pl. Some AMF Bns did not have this.
ATR was a Bn/Coy issued weapon not organic to the Pl
E Coy (MMG)
Coy HQ
3 x MMG Pl, as pl Hq and 2 Sect per Pl. Each Sect with 2 x MMGs

In 43 AMF units in combat areas came closer to AIF units in structure.
Early 1943 E Coy was removed from the AMF establishment. And the Bns had the following structure:
Bn HQ
HQ Coy
Coy HQ
1 Pl (Sigs)
2 Pl (AA)
3 Pl (Mortar Pl)
4 Pl (Pioneer)
5 Pl (Admin)
6 Pl (Carrier)
A – D Coy ( Rifle) each with:
Coy HQ
3 x Inf Pl
Also in PNG and SWP the AMF/AIF Bns did not have the carrier Pl as part of the establishment.

In 1944 2 main Bn structures AMF/AIF:
Tropical AMF & AIF:
Bn HQ
HQ Coy
Coy HQ
Sigs Pl
MMG Pl – 2 sects with 2 MMGs per sect, total of 4 MMGs
Mortar Pl - 4 sects with 2 x3 inch Mors per sect , total of 8 x 3” Mors
Tank Attack Pl, (Tnk/Atk)- 2 sects with 2 x 2Pdr AT Gun and 1 LMG, total of 4 x 2 Pdr At Gun & 2 x LMG
Pioneer Pl
Admin Pl
A – D Coy (Rifle) each with:
Coy HQ
3 x Inf Pl.
each Pl with Pl HQ and 3 Sections.
Sects as 10 men, SMG, rifle and Bren LMGs. I
Pl HQ 4 men 4 x rifle.
Also 2” mor team Under Comd of Pl HQ. Also a PIAT per Pl.
PIAT carried in one of the sections.

44 Standard Bn, (Home land)
Bn HQ
HQ Coy
Coy HQ
Sigs Pl
AA Pl – 4 x twin AA LMGs
Mortar Pl total of 6 x3 inch Mors, wheel based transport
Pioneer Pl
Admin Pl
Carrier Pl, 4 sect, 3 carriers each with .303 MMGs, Bren(AA), also ATR per sect, Pl Hq included in a carrier Sect.
Tank Attack Pl, (Tnk/Atk)- 2 sects with 2 x 6 Pdr AT Gun and 1 LMG, total of 4 x 6 Pdr At Gun & 2 x LMG
A – D Coy (Rifle) each with:
Coy HQ
3 x Inf Pl.
each Pl with Pl HQ and 3 Sections.
Sects as 10 men, SMG, rifle and Bren LMGs.
Also 2” mor team Under Comd of Pl HQ. Also a PIAT per Pl.
PIAT carried in one of the sections.

Source:
(a) Australian Army School of Infantry
(b) ‘Red Coats to Cams, A History of Australian Infantry, 1788 – 2001’; Ian Kuring, Australian Mil History publication, 2004
(c) Australian War Memorial Collections.


1941 Divsional Cavalry Regiment
Regt HQ - 4 light tanks & 2 cariers
3 x Sqn as:
HQ - 2 light tanks & 2 universal carriers
3 x carier tp: 1 Offr, 10 OR 3 carriers
2 x light tank tp: 1 Offr, 12 OR, 3 light tanks
Admin Sqn
Source:
(a) Australian War Memorial Collections.

Equip as:
6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment
Vickers Light Tanks Mark IIB Machine Gun Carriers Vickers and Bren guns - October 1940
A Squadron partially re-equipped with M11/39 and M13/40 - January 1941
Vickers Light tanks Mark VIB and Machine Gun Carriers of various types - April 1941
French R35 Renault Light Tanks May 1941

7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment
Vickers Light Tanks VIB, Carriers, and trucks fitted with 2pdr Anti-Tank Guns - May 1941 to August 1941
Vickers Light Tanks Mark VIB, Universal carriers and Renault R35 tanks - August 1941

9th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment
Light Tanks Mark VIB and various types of Machine Gun Carriers Renault R35 tanks - June 1941
British Crusader Mark 2, M3 Stuart Light tanks as well as Machine Gun Carriers July 1942

Again just for information.