Provide cranes for unloading from craft to lorry at water’s edge and from dukw or lorry at dumps Provide transport (dukw or lorry) to move stores to dumps Unload all stores from ships to dukw or craft and then to lorry Provide beach and field dressing stations, the latter to be capable of undertaking surgical operations and blood transfusions Rescue“drowned” vehicles (both tracked and wheeled) and repair them Įstablish dumps for ammunition, Ordnance stores, petrol, supplies, sapper stores, unaccompanied G1098 stores, and man them
Mark traffic circuits and control all movement within its area Provide transit areas for troops and vehicles It was the duty of a beach group to mark the limits of the beach immediately the assault troops had landed Ĭonstruct exits and entrances from and to the beach suitable for use by troops, wheeled vehicles and tracked vehicles signal to craft indicating suitable landing places Shore Signals.-Established and maintained by beach sub-area signals and signal platoon of the infantry battalion, first by wireless, later by line. Ship to Shore.-The responsibility of Royal Navy signallers by wireless and/or lamp. Vital parts of motor transport were treated and petrol tanks sealed. Stores were packed in waterproof covers and wireless sets in rubber bags. Helmet.-White band painted around steel helmet midway between crown and rim.Īs most beach groups had to be landed from craft into deep water and some were due to continue working in the sea after landing, all vehicles, stores and equipment had to be waterproofed. Stores divided into a general pool to be used at group commander’s discretion and an increment of unit stores.Īs a very limited quantity of transport could be landed in the early stages a general issue of handcarts (airborne) was made to enable essential stores of the group to be landed from craft.Īs the deployment drill for the group necessitated all men being self-supporting for forty-eight hours from the time of landing, each man landed with normal fighting order, but with a blanket and a set of denim overalls wrapped in a groundsheet tied round his haversack, and carried two twenty-four-hour ration packs, a tommy cooker, a tin of refills, a box of sterilising tablets, and a lifebelt (known as “Mae West”).įlash.-Red anchor on pale-blue background, worn on sleeve of battledress and on all vehicles. (warrant officer class II), clerk, R.A.S.C.(corporal), and armourer (serjeant). Thereafter to land men and vehicles as shipping allowed and up to 4,000 tons of stores per day.Ĭommanding officer of infantry battalion with a normal battalion staff and an increment of military landing officer (major), assistant military landing officers (two captains), staff captain, camouflage officer (captain), R.A.S.C. To land two divisions in the first forty-eight hours and maintain them. (ii) To protect the beaches from enemy counter-attack by land, sea or air.īeach sub-area, comprising beach sub-area headquarters, beach sub-area troops and two beach groups.ģ. (i) To land men, vehicles and stores over open beaches in the early stages of a seaborne invasion of enemy territory before the capture or construction of sufficient ports. OXFORDSHIRE & BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY VOL 3
DEPLOYMENT AND DUTIES OF A BEACH GROUPīASED ON EXTRACTS FROM THE REGIMENTAL WAR CHRONICLES OF THE
0 kommentar(er)
