Dave
Sure, no problem - leave this until after release of BFTB; I've been looking forward to this one for a long time - the last thing I want to do is slow publication down.
I've always admired Panther Games desire for historical accuracy, but with the case of the British 1944 line infantry Bn, as modelled in HTTR - with respect - I think you've got it a little wrong. Compared with II/233/3, it appears to be heavy in Jeeps, 15-cwt trucks and 3t lorries (maybe you've rolled in some supply train elements here) but light in Universal carriers (particularly those from the MG Bn) and LMGs (each carrier in the Carrier Pl had a Bren LMG - the unit also had 4 PIATs and 4 2" mortars - don't think these are currently modelled).
After release of BFTB can I request a review of the estabs of the British 1944 line infantry Bn?
As an example, take the 3" mortar Pl as currently modelled;
Personnel: around 60
Rifles: around 50-60
Sten SMGs: 6
Bren LMGs: 4
PIAT: 1
3" mortars: 6
15-cwt trucks: 6
3t lorries: 4
Now compare this with II/233/3:
Personnel: 43
Rifles: 35
Sten SMGs: 7
PIAT: 3
3" mortars: 6
15-cwt truck: 3
Universal carriers: 7
Note that the 3" mortar Pl was not officially issued with Bren LMGs. The 15-cwt trucks carried the 3 PIATs and ammunition for the 3" mortars.
II/233/3 establishment is further reinforced by information in: Geoffrey Picot,
Accidental Warrior (In The Front Line From Normandy Till Victory)' Penguin (1994) pp.52-53 (Geoffrey Picot was OC a 3" mortar Pl in Normandy and later OC a rifle Pl):
... At full strength a mortar platoon would have six mortars capable of firing up to about 3,000 yards. The general tactic would be to set them up some way behind the main fighting line and establish an observation post as close to the fighting line as possible; to use either hastily laid field telephone or (less reliably) wireless for communication; and for the man in the observation post to direct the firing. The mortars could be regarded as the battalion's own instant artillery, going everywhere with it, always in its area, always available.
But unlike artillery, mortars were not an accurate weapon. Their bombs would fall anywhere within an oval of about 100 yards long and 50 yards wide. Thus ranging was always difficult and they needed to be employed against a large target, such as some woods, and not a small target, like a house. Each mortar with its crew, ammunition, wireless and telephone sets could be loaded on to a carrier, that is an open-topped, tracked vehicle which could move over rough ground and had some protective armour. A mortar carrier was in fact a Bren machine-gun carrier used for another purpose.
There would normally be about forty-five men including several sergeants in the platoon. ...
Regards
Tim
