Quote:
Originally posted by John McGillivray
I think that the Centaur IVs that the Centaur Bty was using were the same vehicles that the Royal Marine Armoured Support Regiment landed with on D-Day. The Marines were withdrawn from Normandy sometime in mid June leaving behind their tanks. These then went to the Royal Artillery, and later the Royal Canadian Artillery as part of the 6th airborne Div.
Dose anyone know if the Royal Marine markings were painted over or replaced with 6th Airborne markings? If so, do you know the unit number?
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John;
Yes indeed, when the ad hoc "X" Armoured Battery, R.A. was formed, their twelve 95mm Centaur Mk IV and three Sherman O.P./Command tanks, were drawn from those turned in by the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group (1st and 2nd Armoured Support Regiment's, R.M. and the 5th Independent Armoured Support Battery, R.M.). "X" Armoured Battery, R.A. was formed approx 24 June, 1944, to supplement the 6th (British) Airborne Division's 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, R.A., who were equipped themselves with the 75mm pack howitzer. This being said, I've read one source that says that "X" Armd Bty was a bty of the 53rd Airlanding Lt Regt, which would mean, that if they did bother to paint the fmn or AoS onto the Bty's vehicles. than they would have carried the AB Div fmn sign and the white 46 on Red over Blue AoS marking of the 53rd. But on the other hand, I've seen another source that says that "X" Bty came under the command of the Divisional CRA, which if this were the case and if they did carry the fmn sign and AoS marking, than again, the fmn sign would be that of AB Div and the AoS marking would have been a white 40 on Red over Blue of HQ Div RA.
To answer the second part of your question, 1st Canadian Centaur Battery, R.C.A., took over the vehicles of "X" Armoured Battery, R.A. on 6 August, 1944, has for markings, it is the same has I mentioned above, if any at all, it would depend on where they fit into the Div Orbat and under who's command and control they came under.
There is actually very little information available on either "X" Armd Bty, RA or on 1st Cdn Centaur Bty, RCA. Anyways, hope this helps.
Cheers
John;
I forget to mention that the personnel for "X" Armoured Battery, R.A. were drawn from the R.A. and R.A.C. (drivers) reinforcement streams. Cheers