TO&E (Table of Organization and Equipment) is a term used in
the United States Armed Forces, specifically the Army and Marine Corps. The British Army uses the term Order of Battle (OOB) and Table of Basic Allowances (TB/A). It
includes authorized personnel strength as well as equipment. In as much as
there are numerous and detailed Order of Battles available on the Internet of
the WWII Airborne Forces of the British Army, this article is confined to their
equipment. The detailed allocation and assignment of armament and equipment to
lower echelons is not included at this time.
The following tables attempt to detail the weapons and transport
of both the British 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions at Operation Market Garden
(Arnhem) and Operation Overlord (Normandy) respectively. Where possible the standard complete
nomenclature of the armament or transport has been given. These are nominal
quantities, and as the reader will readily understand, subject to variance
given time, circumstances, and individual unit mission requirements for the two
operations. The first list is as published in Lt Col H.F. Joslen’s book, Orders
of Battle, Second World War, 1939 -1945, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1960,
with additions and modified only to provide more detailed nomenclature,
specifically identifying arms and equipment. The quantity of a given item, if known, is
indicated in parentheses.
The reader is cautioned that while every attempt for completeness
and accuracy has been made, the author accepts full responsibility for any
errors or omissions. The spectrum of specific mortar bombs, and demolitions has
not been included at this time. Any corrections or additions will be gratefully
accepted, acknowledged and incorporated in the revision of this article. Photographs
and more details of the vast majority of the items listed can be found in
following articles within this blog:
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| Pack Howitzer 75mm M1A1 Carriage M8 |
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| 75mm Pack Howitzer in action Oosterbeek/Arnhem 1944 |
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| Same 75mm Howitzer in action Oosterbeek/Arnhem 1944 |
BRITISH AIRBORNE DIVISION CIRCA 1944
(Divisional Standard Table of Basic Allowances)
Pistol, Colt, .45cal Self-loading M1911A1, Enfield, .380cal No.2
Mk I* or Inglis Browning, 9mm, No.2 MkI* (Inglis only after Fall 1944) (2,942)
Rifle, Enfield .303cal, No.4 Mk I or MkI* (limited No.4 Mk I (T)
Sniper) (7,171)
Machine Carbine, Sten, 9mm, MkII, MkIII, (but predominately) MkV,
(6,504)
Light Machine Gun, Bren, 303cal Mk II (966) **
Medium Machine Gun, Vickers, .303cal, Mk I (46) *
Medium Machine Gun, Vickers, 'K', .303cal (22)
Grenade, Hand, Anti-tank, Gammon, No.82 (unk)
Grenade, Hand, Anti-tank, Hawkins, No.75 (unk)
Grenade, Hand, WP Smoke, No.77 (unk)
Grenade, Hand, Mills, No.36M Mk I (unk)
Grenade, Hand, Offensive, No.69 (unk)
Camouflet Set, Light (Cratering charge) (unk)
Mortar, 2in M.L. Mk VII* or VIII (474) **
Mortar, 3in M.L. Mk II (56) *
Mortar, 4.2in M.L. Mk II mortars (6)
Projector, Infantry Anti-Tank (PIAT) Mk I (535) **
Gun, Anti-aircraft, Polsten, 20mm No.2 MKII (airborne) guns
Mounting, Airborne, 20mm Gun No.2 Mk2 or Hispano, Oerlkon license (23)
Flamethrower, Ack Pack (Marsden Portable) (38)
Howitzer, Pack 75mm M1A1 Carriage M8 (27) **
Ordnance, Q.F.,6pdr Anti-tank Gun Mk IV (L/50) Carriage Mk III
(Airborne) (84) **
Ordnance, Q.F.,17pdr Anti-tank Gun Mk II Carriage Mk II (16)
Wireless Set, No.68P (man-pack) (15+spares)
Wireless Set, No.68R/T (man-pack) (unk)
Wireless Set, No.68R/T (man-pack) (unk)
Wireless Set, No.22 (vehicle borne)
Wireless Set, No.19HP
Wireless Set, No.18 (unk)
Wireless Set, No.42 (unk) XXI Pathfinder Company only
Wireless Set, No.18 (unk)
Wireless Set, No.42 (unk) XXI Pathfinder Company only
Wireless Set, No.76
Wireless Set, SCR-536 BC-611 (TRX) (unk)
Wireless Beacon, Eureka/Rebecca, Mk 2 (unk)
Light Warning Set (Radar), AMES, Type 2 (2)
Parachute, Personnel, GQ, X-Type Statichute (unk, but in the thousands)
Container, C.L.E. Mark I ***
Container, C.L.E. Mark I.T. ***
Container, C.L.E. Mark III ***
Container, Type E ***
Container, Type F***
Dropping Apparatus, Type D***
Dropping Apparatus, Type Q***
Stretcher, Airborne (unk)
Wireless Beacon, Eureka/Rebecca, Mk 2 (unk)
Light Warning Set (Radar), AMES, Type 2 (2)
Parachute, Personnel, GQ, X-Type Statichute (unk, but in the thousands)
Container, C.L.E. Mark I ***
Container, C.L.E. Mark I.T. ***
Container, C.L.E. Mark III ***
Container, Type E ***
Container, Type F***
Dropping Apparatus, Type D***
Dropping Apparatus, Type Q***
Stretcher, Airborne (unk)
Bicycle, BSA Standard, Mk V (1,907) **
Bicycle, Airborne, Folding (1,362) **
Motorcycle, Lightweight, Royal Enfield WD/RE 125 light ("Flying Flea") or Matchless G3L (529) *
Motorcycle, Solo, Triumph, Model 3 SW, James ML or Ariel, Model W
NG (704) **
Motorbike, Lightweight, Welbike (unk)
Jeep, 5 cwt (various configurations including (22) armed units of
the 1st AB Recce Sqn) (904) **
Miscellaneous Cars (115)
Scout Car, Daimler “Dingo" (25)
Carrier, Universal, Mk III (Airborne) (25) **
Ambulance, Heavy, 4x2, Bedford MI (24)
Truck, 15 cwt, General Service, 4x2 (129)
Lorry, 3 ton, 4x4, Troop Carrier or Lorry, 3 ton, 4x2, Bedford OYD
(438)
Truck, Humber FWD, 4x4, Heavy Utility (unk)
Tractor, Artillery, 30cwt, Morris C.8/AT Mk III (26)
Cruiser Tank, Cromwell, Mk IV, V, VII (6th AARR) (11)
Light Tank, Mk VII Tetrarch and Locust M22 (11)
Trailers (935)
Trolleys (Handcarts) Fixed wheel and collapsible (450) **
Tractor, Light, Bulldozer, International or Caterpillar, 5
ton, (3)
Tractor, Crawler, Gasoline, Light, Airborne, Bulldozer, Clark CA-1
The above list should be considered the best, most comprehensive, and most accurate. It takes precedence over all other lists of arms and equipment contained in the entirety of this blog, regardless of date of issue. As it does not apply, it does not take precedence over lists of personnel. In the event of any further additions or corrections, they will be reflected in modifications to this list.
Footnotes:
Double asterisks (**) reflect an increase from other or previously cited documentation.
Single asterisks (*) reflect a decrease from other or previously cited documentation.
Triple asterisks (***) A single parachute battalion required an aggregate of 274 containers of all types.
Tractor, Crawler, Gasoline, Light, Airborne, Bulldozer, Clark CA-1
The above list should be considered the best, most comprehensive, and most accurate. It takes precedence over all other lists of arms and equipment contained in the entirety of this blog, regardless of date of issue. As it does not apply, it does not take precedence over lists of personnel. In the event of any further additions or corrections, they will be reflected in modifications to this list.
Footnotes:
Double asterisks (**) reflect an increase from other or previously cited documentation.
Single asterisks (*) reflect a decrease from other or previously cited documentation.
Triple asterisks (***) A single parachute battalion required an aggregate of 274 containers of all types.
At some limited variance to the above list, is a published British
Army Staff Table (dated 1944) of an Airborne Division, which was personally
transcribed handwritten, and provided to me by Maj Geoff G. Norton, very early
in my then developing interest in Operation Market Garden. Unusual then, even
more so this day in age. At the time (1974), Maj Norton was a serving officer
of the Parachute Regiment, and Curator of the Airborne Forces Museum, then
located at Aldershot, Hampshire.
Readers can probably understand that differences in the numbers
can be attributed to both the delay cycle in wartime publication (security and
priorities) and the evolving requirements of the Airborne Forces gained from
combat experience. The first list, while citing 1944, obviously reflects much
later historical research. Here is Maj Norton's list as conveyed (It did not include any quantities on rifles, Sten guns or pistols);
Bicycles 1806
Bicycles
(folding) 1162
M/C
Solo 601
M/C
Lightweight 587
M/C
Combination 41
Cars 5 cwt (jeeps) 693
Handcarts 15
Carriers,
Universal 9
LMG
(Bren) 701
(+ 60 Pool Reserve)
Mortars
3” 88
Mortars
2” 451
MMGs
(Vickers) 48
PIAT’s 258
6 pdr ATk
guns 56
75mm
guns 24
17 pdr ATk
guns 16
The following photographs are of some of the more specialized and unique equipments used by the airborne divisions:
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| Light Tank, Tetrarch Mk VII |
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| Cruiser Tank, Cromwell Mk VII |
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| Morris C.8/AT Mk III (Airborne configuratiomn) used to tow 17 pdr Anti-tank Gun |
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| Tractor, Crawler, Gasoline, Bulldozer, Clark CA-1 |
1. Parachute, Personnel, GQ X-Type Statichute and
Harness
2.
Denison Smock
and over (jump) smock
3.
Toggle rope
4.
Battledress blouse, Pattern 37, with wrist watch and dog tags placed on sleeves
5.
Individual Soldier's Service/Pay Book
6.
Braces, trousers, pair
7.
Gators, web, pair
8.
Socks, pair
9.
Ammunition
Boots, pair
10.
Gloves, wool,
pair
11.
Wallet, leather
12.
Shield (Veil), face,
camouflaged (scarf)
13.
Battledress trousers, Pattern 37 (Airborne modified), colorless shirt, undervest, underpants
14. Haversack, Pattern 37, with mess tin, mug,
water bottle, two 24 hour ration kits
15.
Kitbag,
Parachutist, Mk II, with handling line and sleeve
16.
Shovel (in
kitbag)
17.
Cutlery, “Housewife”,
spare boot laces, wash towel
18.
Entrenching tool head
19.
Haft (handle)
for entrenching tool
20.
Ammunition pouches, Universal, Pattern 37, pair
21. Web
belt and braces,
22.
9mm Machine
Carbine, Sten MkV and cleaning kit (below)
23.
Bayonet, No.4 Mk II, with scabbard
(and Frog, web, airborne)
24.
Pocket loading tool for Sten
25.
Magazine, Sten,
32 rounds of 9mm ammunition (28 rds usually loaded)
26.
Bandoleer, web, with 7 magazines for Sten
27.
Cigarettes,
matches, playing cards
28. Haversack, Respirator, Lightweight, Mk II
29.
Grenades, Hand, No.
36M Mk I and No. 69
30.
Fighting knife,
Fairbairn-Sykes, with scabbard
31.
Cape, gas, in
roll
32.
Respirator (gas
mask), Lightweight No.5 Mk I
33.
Ointment,
anti-gas
34.
Hood, anti-gas
35.
Eye shield,
anti-gas
36.
Ground cloth,
with sewing kit/thimble from “Housewife” on top
37.
Beret, maroon (“Red”),
Airborne Forces, with Parachute Regiment cap badge
38.
Torch (flashlight)
39.
First field
dressing
40. Helmet, Steel, Airborne, Troops (HSAT) Mk I, leather harness/chin cup, camouflaged netting
40. Helmet, Steel, Airborne, Troops (HSAT) Mk I, leather harness/chin cup, camouflaged netting
References:
Norton, Maj G.G. (personal correspondence), Airborne Forces
Museum, Altershot, Hants., 6 April 1974
Joslen, Lt. Col. H.F., Orders of Battle, Second World War,1939
-1945, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1960
11 comments:
Do you mind if I use your information in a wiki post for the Post scriptum wiki? I will cite your blog above the information so they are aware it is from you. Along with your references.
Hello s2421d,
No problem whatsoever, as long as you realize that the arms and equipment were different between 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions, and between Operations Overlord, Market-Garden, and Varsity. Unfortunately the list currently doesn't provide that differentiation. Appreciate your interest.
Very impressed by much of the detailed information on this site. I have a question - do you know which unit was issued with the five 4.2" mortars listed above? I know they were issued to the machinegun battalion in a standard infantry division but I didn't think the airborne divisions had an equivalent.
Hello John,
You pose an intriguing question, and one that is going to cause me to seriously reconsider the number of 4.2 in M.L. Mortar Mk II in the TO&E of both the 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions from 5 to 6.
As indicated in my blog article the earliest figure acquired during my initial research came from correspondence with Maj G.G. Norton, who at that time was curator of the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot, Hants. He did not include any 4.2 in. mortars in his rather cursory TO&E in 1974.
The figure of 5 comes from Jean Bouchery’s research included in a table for a British Airborne Division, in his work, THE BRITISH SOLDIER, FROM D-DAY TO VE-DAY, Vol 2, and is not further corroborated/confirmed. The 4.2 in. mortar is not even mentioned in his companion work, D-DAY PARATROOPERS. As you are probably already aware the weight of the mortar (213 kgs [469 lbs]) (One source cites a weight of 257 lbs) dictates only being carried in a “Lloyd Mortar Carrier”, i.e. variant of a Universal Carrier, consequently precluded from air transport by anything other than a Hamilcar glider. For Operation Market-Garden this fact would place them in the First Lift Hamilcars, Chalk No. 322-324 (1,2,3 Para Bn- 6 carriers), Chalk No. 325-326 (7 KOSB and 1 Border- 4 carriers), and the Second Lift Hamilcars, Chalk No. 909-911 (10, 11, and 156 Para Bn - 6 carriers) and Chalk No. 912 (2 S. Staff- 2 carriers), for a grand total of 18 Universal Carriers. None of these lifts were aborted.
The more probable alternative would be that the Lloyd Mortar Carriers were in the follow-up SeaborneTail, and not included in either the First, Second or Third Glider Lifts. This theory would tend to be reinforced by the fact that there is no inventory listing of 4.2 in. mortar rounds included in the bulk stores delivered by Hamilcars Second Lift (Chalk No. 913- 915). Military tactical and logistics logic would further strongly indicate that with a division comprised of 6 Para Bns and 3 Airlanding Bns that 6 mortars rather than 5 seems far more likely. Also see; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/06/hamilcar-gliders-at-operation-market.html and http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/search?q=Universal+carriers .
That being the case, and the primary supply recovery mission of the Universal Carriers, it is concluded that while one Lloyd Mortar Carrier with a 4.2 in. mortar, was in the TO&E of the MMG and Mortar Platoon of each Para and Airlanding Bn (there was one in each battalion), none were delivered and used during Operation Market-Garden.
Best regards,
Arnhem Jim
Thanks, I just saw a Clark CA-1 Air portable Bulldozer in the Imperial War Museum. However its documentation was Lamentable and your list throws some light on the history of the type.
Hello Unknown,
Thank you for your interest in the blog. You may want to glance towards the end of the following article, also cnontained in this blog; https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/06/hamilcar-gliders-at-operation-market.html. It contains a further discussion of the Clark CA-1, and the specific bulldozer delivered to Arnhem, remarkably in a Horsa glider.
Warmest regards,
Arnhem Jim
Hello
I know I'm very late to comment about the mysterious 4.2-inch Mortar but anyway I hope it will help someone.
So as far as known the 4.2-inch was never used in Normandy or during Market-Garden. But in October 1944 the Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment of the 6th Airborne was reorganised and the regimental Mortar Troop previously equipped with 2x 3-inch Mortars carried by Universal Carrier was now equipped with 4x 4. 2-inch Mortars carried in trailers towed by Jeeps. This Mortar Troop was airlifted by Horsa gliders during Operation Varsity and saw combat.
Regards.
"So as far as known the 4.2-inch was never used in Normandy or during Market-Garden" -- Here is a photo from the IWM of a 4.2" mortar being used in Normandy: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205196114
They were certainly used by 30 Corps in the initial breakout of MG. I don't know about 1st Airborne though.
Yes I know that ground troops used the 4.2-inch Mortar during all the North-West Europe Campaign and in Italy. I was only talking about airborne divisions.
Hello, can you tell me what the total weight is of the 40 items a Airborne carried? I try to find out if, and how far, CLE cannisters (159kg max) could Strauss-Kahn from the line of jumping.
Hello Anonymous,
Unfortunately as much as I would like to be able to help you, I'm limited to the following incremental weights; CLE Container, MkI, 348lbs (max). Nominal loads ranged from 100 kg to 125 kg. Individual Airborne Kit Bag was 100 lbs (loaded). The X-Type Mk II Parachute weighed approximately 30 lbs. Hopefully this wll be of some assistance.
Best regards,
Arnhem Jim
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