Ram II OP's

[Tony Viste]

Kevin and John,

I only starting looking at the War Diaries from about Feb 44 onwards and it was in Mar 44 that the first deliveries are recorded. The next time I look at the film I will search back into 1943 and see what there is. So at least from Feb 44 onwards these are the only deliveries to 15 Fd Regt RCA.

For March, April and May 44 only outgoing vehicles are listed, no incoming. So if a vehicle was returned it doesn’t show it. Also vehicles are listed by 4 types only, “Sherman, Ram, Stuart, Crusader”. No other distinction is made, and no WD numbers.

Starting in June 44 the Regiment started using a Daily Vehicle State. Supposedly each Squadron was to fill it out, but on the film that I am viewing only “F” Sqn and a few “E” Sqn returns are present. I’m hoping that “D” and “C” Sqn returns are on the next microfilm. These Daily Vehicle States do list each vehicle by WD number, from whom received and to who issued. Very interesting reading. From the June, July and part of August returns on this film I’ve recorded 738 WD numbers.

It took me a little while to figure this out but it helps to understand the Delivery Regiment. It was divided into Squadrons and each squadron prepared vehicles for delivery to different units, i.e.,
F Sqn issued vehicles to First Cdn Army Troops
E Sqn issued vehicles to 2 Cdn Corps Troops
D Sqn issued vehicles to 4 Cdn Armd Div
C Sqn issued vehicles to 2 Cdn Armd Bde
From what I understand “F” Sqn would receive most vehicles from the Ordnance Dumps, then issue them to individual Sqns. But there was some flexibility in this. For instance, especially in June, 4 Cdn Armd Div units would draw vehicles directly from “F” Sqn to speed up delivery so they could be waterproofed before 4 Div embarked for Normandy.

So for the 23 Fd Regt RCA it had deliveries of Rams (again, in Apr and May no distinction is made whether it is an OP or a SP 25pr) on:
29 Apr 44 – 7 Rams
16 May 44 – 6 Rams
20 May 44 – 6 Rams
26 May 44 – 1 Ram
10 Jun 44 – Ram SP 25 pr S204799
- Ram SP 25 pr S204802
- Ram SP 25 pr S233926
14 Jun 44 - Ram SP 25 pr S204813
- Ram SP 25 pr S233771
- Ram SP 25 pr S233992
- Ram SP 25 pr S234076

As for the Ram O.P.s only six are recorded. “F” Sqn delivered to “E” Sqn on 12 Jun 44 (and since not all of “E” Sqns returns are present on this film I can’t say for sure to which unit took final delivery)
CT202123
CT205132
CT205133
CT205145
CT205159
CT205161

As for the Ram Tower 17pr only nine are recorded by WD number.
CT159403; 3 Jun 44; F Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA
CT40134; 3 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA
CT40198; 17 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA
CT40226; 28 Jul 44; F Sqn issued to 27 Armd Bde Wksp (wasn’t 27 Armd Bde disbanded by then????)
CT40235; 28 Jun 44; F Sqn issued to E Sqn
CT40243; 29 Jun 44; F Sqn received from 4 VRD CCOD
CT40264; 21 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA
CT40323; 3 Jun 44; F Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA
CT40799; 17 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA

6 A/Tk Regt RCA received the following Rams in March and May 44 (again, I assume these to be Towers 17pr)
3 Mar 44 - 25 Rams (13 to 56 A/Tk Bty and 12 to 33 A/Tk Bty)
12 May 44 - 2 Rams
13 May 44 - 17 Rams

(I’m just guessing here but I think the 25 in March might have been trainers. The 19 in May and 6 more in June & July makes for a total of 25. Weren’t there only about 24 17 prs in a Corps A/Tk Regt????)

For those interested the microfilm I’m referring to is T-12735. I’m definitely ordering this one and the next one during my next microfilm order from the Archives.

Hope I answered your questions.

Tony Viste