Does anyone know how many personnel the Tec Adj had at his disposal? Note this is at the regimental level and does not include squadron personnel. I have found the following but believe the number also includes LAD and Sigs Personnel. Technical adjutant 1 Armourers 3 Clerks 1 Driver Mechanics (MV) 16 Electricians 5 Fitters (AFV) 22 Mechanists 5 Motor mechanics 22 Total 75 (d)
I think there was a good deal of variation in personnel numbers and tradesmen dependent upon the WE of the unit involved. There is some description in the post-war RAC 'Tactics Pamphlet No.1 - the Armoured Regiment' about the duties of the Tech Officer. He was to work closely with the officer commanding the REME LAD for example but they did have their own duties to perform. I'll try and add some detail tomorrow and hopefully someone of a more mechanical nature can contribute before then. Gary
These are some of the key points from the above mentioned pamphlet. While published in early 1948 the Armoured Regiment it referred to was still very similar to that in from 1944 to 1945; the earlier Regimental organizations were different in terms of repair/recovery personnel and vehicles. Each Squadron (three fighting and HQ) has a halftrack allotted for carrying vehicle mechanics and their equipment. Each of the three fighting Squadrons also has an armoured recovery vehicle. All these assets are noted as coming under the auspices of the Regiment's Tech O. He is described as the Regimental commander's staff officer in terms of repair and recovery. The Tech O was normally allocated a scout cat, from the Intercom Troop. When the Regiment was concentrated, the Tech O would oversee the Squadron mechanics and the Mechanist QMS the recovery details. The Tech O would send the personnel and equipment thought necessary for repair and recovery duties requested by the Squadrons. With the Regiment dispersed repair and recovery elements would normally deploy with their Squadrons. The attendant REME LAD would normally be found with "A" echelon, and as a Type "C" LAD operated under command of a REME officer, who was to liaise closely with the Tech O. A suggested division of responsibility between the two was for the Tech O to cover all vehicles in "F" echelon and "A1" echelon, and for the REME officer to cover all vehicles in "A2" and "B" echelons. Unit mechanics (so RAC badged) worked under the REME officer when in echelons (presumably A2 and B, the pamphlet doesn't make this quite clear), while REME personnel in the fighting echelon came under the Tech O. Gary
