British Artillery

Both Infantry and Armoured Divisions had their own organic artillery, and there were significant amounts of Corps and Army level artillery assets. Over 40% of the soldiers of the British Army in NWE were in the artillery.

An Infantry Division had the following artillery regiments

For an Armoured Division it was the following structure:

AGRA

AGRA (Army Group Royal Artillery) was a Corps level formation, typically consisting of:

Which, on average, would give each Division the support of 2 further Artillery Regiments. It was also quite common for the Artillery Regts of supporting divisions to be used in barrages to support the forward divisions.

Anti-tank artillery has been moved to its own page.

Field Artillery

The mainstay of the Royal Artillery throughout WWII was the 25pdr field gun. Minfigs guns on the left of the front row. Pendraken on the right. At the back, Minifigs Quads with limbers, Pendraken ??, and more Minifigs quads to the right.

The Minifigs are probably the nicer guns, except for the wheels which are very simplistic, also the gun doesn't have the muzzle break which was common late war. For the Pendraken one, the 'turning wheel' is a bit odd, the gun shield is quite thick, and the crew are mainly just standing around. But the wheels, gun barrel and limber are all nice.

All 25pdrs, including some in various states of WIP. There are 6 Minifigs guns, and 2 Pendraken. In BKC a Field Regt is represented by 3 gun models, I need to get 1 more Pendraken 25pdr and tractor to round out the force.

25pdrs and quads, front row are Minifigs, Pendraken 25pdrs at the rear. An earlier photo before decals were added to the quads.

Pendraken 25 pdrs and limbers (with some extra Pithead crew)

13th Regt Royal Horse Arty - Sextons

Sextons, a 25pdr gun mounted on a RAM tank chassis (Pithead models). The use of SP artillery was intended to give the artillery of armoured divisions the same mobility as the tanks they supported. Although lightly armoured, they were not intended to be used in an assault role. These vehicles have markings for 13th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, in the 11th AD.

Mediums & Heavies

A Regiment of 5.5" Medium Guns, all Minifigs models. I'm not sure about the colour of the back two, it is rather a bright green, I think they will need a bit of modification.

Minifigs 5.5" guns side view.

Heavy Regiment, with one battery of 7.2" howitzers (left), and one battery of US 155mm Long Toms (right).

The same units viewed from the front.

Pithead AOP carriers, and humber scout car.

Forward Observers in AOP (armoured observation post) and grand name for a carrier with a couple of radios (Pithead model). This carrier has the wrong decals, it has an 11th Armoured Division badge and a red/blue 42. The red/blue 42 is correct for a 25pdr regt of an infantry division not an armoured division. And a carrier would be unusual in an armoured division, a Sherman would be more likely as an OP vehicle. But I do rather like the Pithead model!

 

Anti Aircraft

LAA regiments had 54 guns, in 3 batteries of 3 troops of 6 guns, which would equate to at least 9 models in BKC. The two unpainted ones may well get converted into SP bofers if I can find an appropriate truck. The best match so far is the Pithead airborne morris, as it has the right looking front, and an open cab. But is seems to be a bit short.

Close up of the two finished Minifigs 40mm Bofors guns. The towing wheels are separate on the model and probably would be removed when going into action. LAA regts were the only artillery units to display serials and formation badges on their guns, so these may need some decals adding.

Arty Park

An earlier photo my then British Artillery park, 6pdrs at front, then 40mm Bofors and 25pdrs in second row, 17pdrs, M10, 5.5" and 7.2" howitzers, then observers and transport in the back row.

References

For more detail than you will ever need about British Artillery in WWII see http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/index.htm

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