Re: M3 Halftrack 75mm use within 21 Army Group from 30 June 1944 to 30 June 1945
Hello all;
This may answer some of Dave's questions regarding M3 Halftrack 75mm use. It is rather long and deals with the use of the M3 Halftrack 75mm within 21 Army Group (Second British and First Canadian Armies) in North-West Europe, from 30 June 1944 to 30 June 1945:
Part I:
Source: The National Archives (Kew, Surrey, England) file references: WO165/135 - Half Yearly Report on the Progress of the Royal Armoured Corps - Report No. 9 - Covering the period from 1 January to 30 June 1944 - Appendix "F” - Statement of 21 Army Group Reserve Entitlement and Holdings
a) Statement of 21 Army Group Reserve Entitlement and Holdings:
- as of 30 June 1944 21 Army Group M3 Halftrack 75mm entitlement was 16x M3 Halftrack 75mm
- as of 30 June 1944 2 Armoured Replacement Group (21 Army Group) M3 Halftrack 75mm reserve entitlement was 16x M3 Halftrack 75mm (a 100% Reserve)
b) 21 Army Group M3 Halftrack 75mm Unit holdings as of 30 June 1944 were:
- 11 Hussars held 8
- 1 Royal Dragoons held 8
c) 21 Army Group M3 Halftrack 75mm Reserve holdings as of 30 June 1944 were:
- 2 Armoured Replacement Group (21 Army Group) held 4
for a total holding of 20x M3 Halftrack 75mm by 21 Army Group.
Part II:
Source: The National Archives (Kew, Surrey, England) file references: WO205/638 - AFV - RA Equipment States - 2 Armoured Replacement Group (21 Army Group) - Part I - August to October 1944
a) Reserves held by the Delivery Squadrons of 2 Armoured Replacement Group (21 Army Group):
- as at 0600hrs 2 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 2 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 4 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 4 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 5 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 5 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 6 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 6 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 7 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 7 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 8 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 8 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 10 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 10 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 11 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 11 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 12 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 12 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 13 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 13 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 14 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 14 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 17 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 17 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 19 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 19 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 257 Corps Delivery Squadron (8 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 19 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm (unfit) held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 20 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 20 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 21 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 21 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 22 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 22 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 23 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 23 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 24 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 24 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 25 Aug 44 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 25 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 26 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 26 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 27 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 27 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm (unfit) held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 27 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 28 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 28 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 28 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 30 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 30 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 30 Aug 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 9 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 9 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 9 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 258 Corps Delivery Squadron (12 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 14 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 14 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm (unfit) held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 16 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 16 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 17 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment
- as at 0600hrs 19 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 20 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 20 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 21 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 21 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 256 Army Delivery Squadron (Second British Army)
- as at 0600hrs 23 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 24 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 24 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 254 Corps Delivery Squadron (30 British Corps)
- as at 0600hrs 25 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by F Squadron, 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (First Canadian Army)
- as at 0600hrs 25 Sep 44 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 254 Corps Delivery Squadron (30 British Corps)
b) Note, none shown as held by 2 Armoured Reinforcement Group (21 Army Group) from 26 September 1944 onwards
c) as of 30 December 1944 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 7 British Armoured Division (Source: The National Archives (Kew, Surrey, England) file reference: WO165/136 - Half Yearly Report on the Progress of the Royal Armoured Corps - Report No. 10 - Covering the period of 1 July to 31 December 1944 - Appendix “W” - Annexure 1 - 21 Army Group AFV Holdings as at 30 December 1944)
Part III:
Source: The National Archives (Kew, Surrey, England) file references: WO219/3353 - G4 Records, SHAEF, File No. 470.8 - Volume III 1945 - Tanks - 21 Army Group Weekly Returns - March to July 1945, and WO219/3350 - G4 Records, SHAEF, File No. 470.8 - Volume I 1945 - Tanks - 21 Army Group Weekly Returns - May 1944 to March 1945
a) 21 Army Group - Weekly AFV and SP Arty Return:
(21 Army Group M3 Halftrack 75mm entitlement: 16x M3 Halftrack 75mm)
- as at 1800hrs 13 Jan 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 7 British Armoured Division
- as at 1800hrs 13 Jan 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 12 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 20 Jan 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 27 Jan 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 5 Feb 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 5 Feb 45 - 4x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by Corps or Army Back Loading Point
- as at 1800hrs 10 Feb 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 10 Feb 45 - 4x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by Corps or Army Back Loading Point
- as at 1800hrs 17 Feb 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 17 Feb 45 - 4x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by Corps or Army Back Loading Point
- as at 1800hrs 24 Feb 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 24 Feb 45 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by Corps or Army Back Loading Point
- as at 1800hrs 24 Mar 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 1 Canadian Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 24 Mar 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 30 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 31 Mar 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 1 Canadian Infantry Division
- as at 1800hrs 31 Mar 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 30 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 7 Apr 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 2 Canadian Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 7 Apr 45 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 5 Canadian Armoured Division
- as at 1800hrs 7 Apr 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 30 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 14 Apr 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 2 Canadian Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 14 Apr 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 21 Apr 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 2 Canadian Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 21 Apr 45 - 3x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 26 Apr 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 2 Canadian Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 26 Apr 45 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 5 Canadian Armoured Division
- as at 1800hrs 26 Apr 45 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 5 May 45 - 8x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 2 Canadian Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 5 May 45 - 1x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 5 Canadian Armoured Division
- as at 1800hrs 5 May 45 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 12 May 45 - 9x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 5 Canadian Armoured Division
- as at 1800hrs 12 May 45 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 16 Jun 45 - 7x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 1 Canadian Corps Troops
- as at 1800hrs 16 Jun 45 - 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps District Troops
Part IV:
Source: The National Archives (Kew, Surrey, England) file reference: WO165/137 - Half Yearly Report on the Progress of the Royal Armoured Corps - Report No. 11 - Covering the period of 1 January to 30 June 1945 - Appendix “W” - Theatre AFV Holdings - Annexure 1 - 21 Army Group as at 30 June 1945
a) as at 30 June 1945 - a total of 13, out of an entitlement of 16 M3 Halftrack 75mm was held by 21 Army Group, distributed as follows:
- 7x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 1 Canadian Corps Troops
- 2x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 8 British Corps District Troops
- 4x M3 Halftrack 75mm held by 21 Army Group for training
Cheers
__________________
Mark
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