Kangaroo War Establishment

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Noel Burgess

War Establishment for a British Kangaroo Regiment[ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER REGIMENT -War Establishment XIV/1643/1. October 1944.]

Copied here for the sake of safe-keeping:

ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER REGIMENTWar Establishment XIV/1643/1. October 1944.

There was only one British Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment. 49 Royal Tank Regiment had been equipped with CDL tanks in 1 Tank Brigade. It was now 49 APC Regiment and part of 31 Tank Brigade. The Canadians had the similar Canadian 1 APC Regiment which was also part of 31 Tank Brigade.

This was the original establishment for a regiment of two squadrons. 49 APC Regiment was expanded twice. F Squadron was added in March 1945 and was identical to the already existing A and C squadrons. In February 1945 B Squadron was added to operate twenty four CDL tanks.

Each Squadron could carry an Infantry Battalion.
Each Troop could carry an Infantry Company.
Each Section could carry an Infantry Platoon.
Each Ram Kangaroo could carry an Infantry Section.

Although the above is included in the War Establishment document some flexibility would be needed. The twelve Kangaroo APC in a troop could carry an infantry company but a section of three Kangaroo APC would not be able to carry a whole platoon.

It is not clear how many personnel would be carried by a troop. A full infantry platoon was 37 men, 7 at platoon headquarters and ten men in each of the three sections. A Kangaroo could normally carry ten men. Company headquarters had 14 men but only six were likely to be taking part in the assault. However there would be stretcher bearers and signallers from battalion headquarters, plus section and troop commanders from the APC regiment.

The original Canadian Ram Kangaroo unit had a troop of sixteen Kangaroos, but later was organised as for a British unit. It would be interesting to know why?

Total personnel
Lieutenant colonel
Major, second in command
2 X Major
Captain, Adjutant
Captain, Technical Officer
2 X Captain
11 X Subaltern
Quartermaster

Regimental Serjeant Major
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
Quartermaster Serjeant, technical
Mechanist Quartermaster Serjeant
2 X Squadron Serjeant Major

2 X squadron quartermaster serjeant
2 X serjeant mechanist
serjeant clerk
serjeant technical storeman
38 X serjeant

8 X lance serjeant
30 X corporal
24 X lance corporal
329 X trooper

Total 461

Plus
3 X officers mess cooks ACC
2 X corporal cook
10 X cook ACC

Trades included
carpenter and joiner
9 X clerk, including two corporals
142 X driver mechanics
44 X driver operator
4 X electrician
equipment repairer
3 X gunner mechanics
6 X storeman (technical)
22 X vehicle mechanics

Tradesmen include
lance serjeant
2 X corporal
5 X lance corporal

10 X batman
4 X batman driver
butchery dutyman
51 X driver IC, including three trained in water duties
70 X driver tracked
medical orderly
16 X motorcycle orderly
postman
3 X sanitary dutyman
3 X storeman

Total vehicles
17 X motorcycle
1 X Car 4seater 4 X 4
8 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 jeep
6 X 15cwt GS
3 X 15cwt water
1 X 15cwt FFW
4 X 15cwt halftrack
20 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
3 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores
3 X scout car
106 X armoured personnel carrier

12 X Bren lmg
8 X PIAT
207 X pistol
193 X sten gun
76 X rifle


Regimental Headquarters
Lieutenant colonel
Major, second in command
Captain, Adjutant
Captain, Technical Officer
Subaltern
Quartermaster

Regimental Serjeant Major
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
Quartermaster Serjeant, technical
Mechanist Quartermaster Serjeant

serjeant clerk
serjeant technical storeman
2 X serjeant

2 X corporal
37 X trooper

Total 53

Plus
officers mess cooks ACC
2 X cook ACC

Trades included
carpenter and joiner
5 X clerk, including two corporals
142 X driver mechanics
2 X driver operator
equipment repairer
gunner mechanic
storeman (technical)
2 X vehicle mechanics

4 X batman
2 X batman driver
butchery dutyman
11 X driver IC, including one trained in water duties
medical orderly
4 X motorcycle orderly
postman
sanitary dutyman
storeman

Total vehicles
5 X motorcycle
1 X Car 4seater 4 X 4
4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 jeep
2 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt water
1 X 15cwt FFW
4 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores
1 X scout car

4 X Bren lmg
2 X PIAT
7 X pistol
27 X sten gun
22 X rifle


2 X Squadron each
Major
Captain
5 X Subaltern

Squadron Serjeant Major
squadron quartermaster serjeant
serjeant mechanist
18 X serjeant
18 X corporal
24 X lance corporal
158 X trooper
officers mess cooks ACC
5 X cook ACC

Total 210

Trades included
2 X clerk
71 X driver mechanics
21 X driver operator
gunner mechanic
2 X storeman (technical)
10 X vehicle mechanics

3 X batman
batman driver
20 X driver IC, including one trained in water duties
35 X driver tracked
6 X motorcycle orderly
sanitary dutyman
storeman

6 X motorcycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 jeep
2 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt water
2 X 15cwt halftrack
8 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores
1 X scout car
53 X armoured personnel carrier

4 X Bren lmg
3 X PIAT
100 X pistol
83 X sten gun
27 X rifle

Squadron Headquarters
Major
Captain
Subaltern

Squadron Serjeant Major
serjeant
2 X corporal
19 X trooper
Total 26

Trades included
5 X driver mechanics
2 X driver operator
gunner mechanic
vehicle mechanic

batman driver
2 X driver IC
3 X driver tracked

6 X motorcycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 jeep
1 X scout car
5 X armoured personnel carrier


Administrative troop
squadron quartermaster serjeant
serjeant mechanist
serjeant
4 X corporal
55 X trooper
officers mess cook ACC
5 X cook ACC

Total 68

Trades included
2 X clerk
18 X driver mechanics
3 X driver operator
2 X electrician
2 X storeman (technical)
9 X vehicle mechanics

3 X batman
18 X driver IC, including one trained in water duties
sanitary dutyman
storeman

2 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt water
2 X 15cwt halftrack
8 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores


4 X Troop each
Subaltern
4 X serjeant
3 X corporal
21 X trooper
Total 29

12 X driver mechanic
4 X driver operator
8 X driver, tracked

12 X personnel carrier



An ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER REGIMENT SIGNAL TROOP.
War Establishment XIV/1752/1. October 1944.

serjeant
2 X driver mechanic
2 X electrician
instrument mechanic

1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
2 X 15cwt GS
2 X 10cwt trailer, 6Kw charging generator.



A LIGHT AID DETACHMENT (ARMOURED PERSONNEL REGIMENT) REME
War Establishment XIV/1683/1. March 1945

This consisted of a headquarters and a section for each squadron.

Headquarters
Captain
Warrant Officer Class II Armament Artificer, vehicle
2 X driver mechanic
fitter
turner
welder, acetylene
lance corporal storeman, vehicles

batman driver
2 X driver IC
general dutyman

1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores, binned
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 machinery type M
1 X 1 ton trailer GS

Each section
Warrant Officer Class II Armament Artificer, vehicle

13 X artisan including
5 X driver mechanic
electrician, vehicle and plant
6 X vehicle mechanic
welder, electric
artisans include two corporals and two lance corporals

2 X driver IC
general dutyman

1 X motorcycle
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 machinery KL
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores binned
1 X tractor 6 X 4 breakdown
1 X 1ton trailer GS



RAM KANGAROO
The Ram tank was a Canadian design based on the US M3 Lee/Grant but with a hull and turret more like the M4 Sherman. They were used for training in the UK but the Canadian armoured regiments were re equipped with Sherman tanks before going to France. There were thus a considerable number of Ram tanks available for conversion to other roles.

The Ram Kangaroo was a simple conversion which involved
- Removing the turret
- Removing ammunition stowage
- Boxing in the transmission shaft which ran the full length of the compartment
- Installing a wireless carrier frame and fittings in the front near side

Infantry could then be carried in the hull. Some references mention bench seats being fitted but this seems unlikely and it is difficult to see where they could go. The interior of the Kangaroo was cluttered even with much of the original equipment removed. The transmission shaft runs down the centre. A large battery box takes much of the floor space on the near side floor, and the rest is occupied with an escape hatch. On the near side sponson is a wireless set, or frame to accept it, plus other fittings. All that is left is the floor on which the infantry can kneel or crouch. Stowage diagrams do not show seats. If seats did exist they were probably post war.

The crew was normally two. Earlier production vehicles had an auxiliary machine gun turret but the majority had this deleted and replaced by a hull mounted machine gun. One Kangaroo in each section was fitted with a No19 wireless set. All Kangaroos had a driver mechanic who normally drove the vehicle. Kangaroos without wireless had a driver, tracked, as a co driver/machine gunner. Kangaroos with wireless had a driver operator instead of the driver, tracked, and since this was the section commander’s vehicle it also carried a serjeant.

Other minor modifications included
- Wireless aerials fitted to the front nearside of the hull, above the wireless set (if fitted).
- Rungs fitted to the hull sides to assist troops in mounting and dismounting
- Small fittings such as fire extinguishers were moved away from the area around the turret ring.
- Some vehicles had canvas awnings on struts fitted to give some protection from the elements.

According to the Final Report of the 79th Armoured Division the Ram Kangaroo was most useful for the following tasks.
- Operations in close co operation with tanks to dominate an enemy held position so that it could be occupied by the troops in the Kangaroos with a minimum of fighting.
- The carriage of infantry to a point where an infantry assault could be launched with a minimum of casualties during the approach march.
- To enable infantry to be carried over ground impassable to wheeled vehicles.
- To carry infantry in mixed columns of tanks and other armoured vehicles.
- The carrying of stores and supplies to beleaguered troops not possible to reach in wheeled or un armoured vehicles.

Certainly the heavy armour, powerful engine and tank tracks made the Ram a very useful troop carrier, much better than the alternative of carrying infantry on the engine decks of tanks where they were very exposed and infinitely better than having infantry walk across ground swept by machine guns and mortars. They were always much in demand and continued in service for some time after the war.

However Kangaroos were makeshift improvisations and were imperfect in several ways
- Infantry could not use their weapons while on board
- There was no overhead protection which made them vulnerable to grenades, mortars and air attack.
- Since few men were carried a large number of vehicles were needed and this caused congestion on the approach
- It was a very large and heavy vehicle for the task
- It was very difficult for infantrymen in full battle order to mount and dismount.
- Infantrymen were very vulnerable when dismounting in the forward area.

Casualties amongst the infantry carried in Kangaroos were very light but the Kangaroos themselves suffered from mines in many operations. These tended not to be in the usual assault role with a mixed team of specialist armour but when used in carrying infantry through mud, flood water or snow.

Two other Kangaroo type vehicles were developed. Both were conversions from redundant but serviceable armoured vehicles. The first was used successfully by the Canadians. The assault division had US Priest 105mm self propelled guns. These were replaced and converted into troop carriers by simply removing the guns and plating over any apertures. The success of these vehicles led to the conversion of the Ram.

An idea which seemed promising was to convert redundant Cavalier and Centaur tanks to troop carriers. Since the internal space was even less than on the Ram it was decided to remove the engines and use this space for troops. The rear was provided with doors so that troops could exit without being exposed as on the Ram. Being engineless the vehicle had to be towed by a tank and this proved very unpopular with both the infantry who would be carried and the tank crews who would be towing. Tank crews did not generally like towing anything since it reduced mobility and manoeuvrability and made them vulnerable. It could only be considered if there was a rapid means of uncoupling the towed vehicle. The idea of being abandoned and immobile in the middle of an engagement did not appeal to the infantry. Only trial vehicles were converted.

There were other conversions similar to the Kangaroo. Canadian armoured regiments had some as ammunition carriers (Wallaby), and some were converted to flame throwers (Badger).

MARKINGS
Ram Kangaroos seem to have carried few markings. All carried a serial number in the ranges CT 39781 to CT 40937 and CT 159402 to CT 160193. Some carried white stars on the sides and most carried the green/blue arm of service square with serial 158. The 79 Armoured Division sign is rarely seen in photographs. A chalked number is sometimes seen. This was presumably to help troops find the correct vehicle. Squadron signs and vehicle names do not seem to have been used.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Copied here for the sake of safe-keeping:

A LIGHT AID DETACHMENT (ARMOURED PERSONNEL REGIMENT) REME
War Establishment XIV/1683/1. March 1945

This consisted of a headquarters and a section for each squadron.

Headquarters
Captain
Warrant Officer Class II Armament Artificer, vehicle
2 X driver mechanic
fitter
turner
welder, acetylene
lance corporal storeman, vehicles

batman driver
2 X driver IC
general dutyman

1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores, binned
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 machinery type M
1 X 1 ton trailer GS

Each section
Warrant Officer Class II Armament Artificer, vehicle

13 X artisan including
5 X driver mechanic
electrician, vehicle and plant
6 X vehicle mechanic
welder, electric
artisans include two corporals and two lance corporals

2 X driver IC
general dutyman

1 X motorcycle
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 machinery KL
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 stores binned
1 X tractor 6 X 4 breakdown
1 X 1ton trailer GS

and for comparison:

A LIGHT AID DETACHMENT, TYPE “E”, RCEME (to serve a Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment)
War Establishment - Cdn. II/340B/2 - effective 15 January 1945

i) Personnel:

Headquarters

1x Captain (Officer Commanding)
1x Sergeant
1x Lance Corporal
7x Craftsmen and Privates
1x Private (RCASC)

Total all ranks Headquarters: 11

Section (x2) (each)

1x Warrant Officer Class II (Armament Quartermaster-Sergeant)
1x Staff-Sergeant
1x Sergeant
1x Corporal
2x Lance-Corporal
15x Craftsmen and Privates

Total all ranks each Section: 21

Total all ranks Light Aid Detachment: 53

ii) Distribution of other ranks by trades and duties:

Headquarters

2x Drivers IC (one Driver IC will also perform batman duties) (Non-Tradesmen)
2x General dutymen (trained as Drivers IC) (Non-Tradesmen)
2x Driver operators (Artizans) (Tradesmen)
1x Clerk (Tradesmen)
1x Cook (RCASC) (Tradesmen)
1x Sergeant (Storeman (T & D) (Tradesmen)
1x Craftmen (Storeman (T & D) (Tradesmen)

Section (x2) (each)

1x Warrant Officer Class II (Armament Artificer (Vehicle) (Tradesmen)
1x Armament Staff-Sergeant (Armament Artificer (Vehicle) (Tradesmen)
6x Driver mechanics (tank) (Artizans) (Tradesmen)
1x Driver operator (Artizan) (Tradesmen)
2x Electricians (Vehicle and Plant) (Artizans) (Tradesmen)
7x Vehicle mechanics (AFV) (Artizans) (Tradesmen)
2x Welders (acetylene or electric) (Artizans) (Tradesmen)
1x Craftmen (Storeman (T & D) (Tradesmen)

iii) Transport:

Headquarters

1x Motorcycle, solo
1x Car, 5-cwt
1x Truck, 15-cwt, armoured
1x Truck, 15-cwt, fitted for wireless
1x Truck, 15-cwt, GS
1x Lorry, 3-ton, GS
1x Lorry, 3-ton, GS stores
1x Trailer, 20-cwt, GS

Section (x2) (each)

1x Car, 5-cwt
1x Truck, 15-cwt, machinery ‘KL’
1x Truck, 15-cwt, GS
1x Lorry, 3-ton, GS
1x Lorry, 3-ton, GS stores
1x Tractor, breakdown, heavy
1x Trailer, 20-cwt, GS
1x Trailer, gas welding
1x Tanks, recovery

iv) Weapons:

Headquarters

1x Pistol
3x Rifle, .303 inch
7x Machine carbine

Section (x2) (each)

14x Rifle, .303 inch
7x Machine carbine