According to a War Office pamphlet dated 12 August 1942, a section conducting the advance will normally fight equipped as follows:
The section carries 24 magazines (720 rounds) for the LMG, plus the possible use of 350 rounds, in an attack.
A British section is normally ten men. It is normal for two men per section to be Left Out Of Battle(LOOB) during an advance. The LOOBs move up as soon as the section has taken its objective. They will bring with them a resupply of ammunition, possibly food, and will reinforce the section, which is now tired and possibly weakened due to casualties. I think this practice evolved during WW1 in the face of rapid German counterattacks.
The carriers of the battalion carrier platoon served as fire support, ambulances and transports for the LOOBs, usually.
In very rare (almost non-existant) case of a section attacking alone, the LMG acts as the fire base, covering the flanking movement of the rest of the section. In this case, most of the LMG mags could be left with the Bren Group in the utility pouches.
In platoon attacks, one sections acts as fire base to cover the flanking movement of the other sections. The other two Bren Groups were ususally deployed to provide flank protection for the assault and to enfilade any attempted withdrawl/counterattack.
Some questions:
- Sec. Comdr. - T.M.C., 6 TMC mags, 2 LMG mags, wirecutters, matchet, whistle [TMC= Thompson Machine Carbine] -- 65 lbs
- No.1 Rifleman - Rifle No3, bayonet, 50 rds SAA, 4 LMG mags --61 lbs
- No.1 Bomber - Rifle, bayonet, 50 rds SAA, 2 36 grenades, 2 smoke grenades, 1 LMG mag --60 lbs
- No.2 Rifleman - Rifle, bayonet, 50 rds SAA, 4 LMG mags -- 61 lbs
- No.2 Bomber - Rifle, bayonet, 50 rds SAA, 2 36 grenades, 3 LMG mags -- 60 lbs
- 2 i/c Sec - Rifle, bayonet, 50 rds SAA, 2 LMG mags, 2 smoke grenades -- 61 lbs
- No.1 Bren - LMG, 50 rds SAA, 4 LMG mags in basic pouches, spare parts wallet -- 75 lbs
- No.2 Bren - Rifle, bayonet, 50 rds SAA, 4 LMG mags in basic pouches, 2 utility pouches --63 lbs
- SAA [Small Arms Ammunition] will be carried in bandoliers if available.
- Equipment and weapons carried should be varied to suit the particular operation at hand. For patrol work and other special duties, considerable modificatons wil be necessary.
- The above figures regarding ammunition are given as a guide, i.e. dependent on the situation
- During movement the immediate SAA supply is limited to that carried by the section. Normally an individual should not carry more than four magazines, except for short distances. In addition, the 350 rounds for the rifles can, in an emergency, be filled into the magazines.
- The folowing are the duties in connection with ammunition supply:--
- No.1 will use one of the four magazines which he is carrying for the initial loading of the gun. The two[sic] remaining magazines wil be kept as a reserve for use in an emergency.
- No.2 will at all times keep the gun supplied with ammunition. He will place himself as near the gun position as cover will allow, so that he can carry out his duties of ammunition supply with the minimum movement and exposure, or, if required, act as a rifleman. He will collect full magaines from other members of the section and place them in his set of utility pouches within reach of No.1. As further ammunition is required, No.2 will collect more magazines in the other set of utility pouches. Empty magazines will be redistributed by him to the section.
- Magazines should be refilled as opportunity offers.
The section carries 24 magazines (720 rounds) for the LMG, plus the possible use of 350 rounds, in an attack.
A British section is normally ten men. It is normal for two men per section to be Left Out Of Battle(LOOB) during an advance. The LOOBs move up as soon as the section has taken its objective. They will bring with them a resupply of ammunition, possibly food, and will reinforce the section, which is now tired and possibly weakened due to casualties. I think this practice evolved during WW1 in the face of rapid German counterattacks.
The carriers of the battalion carrier platoon served as fire support, ambulances and transports for the LOOBs, usually.
In very rare (almost non-existant) case of a section attacking alone, the LMG acts as the fire base, covering the flanking movement of the rest of the section. In this case, most of the LMG mags could be left with the Bren Group in the utility pouches.
In platoon attacks, one sections acts as fire base to cover the flanking movement of the other sections. The other two Bren Groups were ususally deployed to provide flank protection for the assault and to enfilade any attempted withdrawl/counterattack.
Some questions:
- The Mg 34 (and later MG42) was the German LMG. How much ammunition did a German squad carry for the LMG? The higher rate of fire would demand more ammunition - who carried it?
- Did the Germans use the LOOB system?
- Did the Germans detatch the LMG group(s) in a role similar to that stated above?
- How common was the 75 round saddle magazine? How many 50 round drum magazines were carried?
