Posted by steve_pickstock on 07 Nov 2024, 21:25
Very nice!
M5's were normally used by the Armoured Infantry Battalions of an armoured division. Eg 8 Battalion of the Royal Rifle Brigade, part of 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division.
Interesting, when issued the 8RRB 'tracks did not have .50cals fitted. This was fixed by using the .50s that had been fitted to the tanks of the brigade - 3rd Bn Royal Tanks, 23rd Hussars and the 2nd Bn Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, on the M5s.
The infantry of 159 Infantry Bde were the one who rode in Bedfords, until the 11 Armd's C/O - Brig. 'Pip' Roberts decided that contrary to the normal British army practice, infantry would be allowed to ride on the tanks.
In the battles south of Caen, there were concerns about the tanks being left without infantry support, so Roberts allocated two battalions from 159 bde to ride with tanks from 29th Bde (they already had 8RRB), and the remaining one rode with 159th integrated armour - Northamptonshire Yeomanry, in Cromwells (I reckon they got the better deal, as there appears to be more room on the engine deck of a Cromwell as opposed to that of a Sherman).
Roberts then went on to divide the division into two battle groups - 29th Arm'd battle group and 159 Bde's battle group.
