44th Recce Regiment

David W · Post by **David W** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:39 am

Does anyone have a date of arrival in North Africa for the 44th Recce Regiment?

Also, what armoured cars were they using at the time?

nigelfe · Post by **nigelfe** » Thu May 18, 2006 1:24 am

They joined 56 Div 8/3/43 when the Div was about to leave Iraq. Where they were previously, can't help. They remained with 56 for the rest of the war. Starting 24/3/43 the div moved by road to N Africa going thru Palestine, Egypt, Libya and arriving 19/4/43.

David W · Post by **David W** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:47 am

I've got them at El Alamein 23/10/42. As an independent unit.

Perhaps they were with 44th Inf Div before then?

nigelfe · Post by **nigelfe** » Fri May 19, 2006 1:19 am

Ah yes, not indexed as 44 Recce Regt under Armour but under Inf against 44 Div in Joslen.

Joined 44 Div (as 44 Bn) 8/1/41. 44 Div arrived in Egypt and under GHQ ME 24/7/42. After 31/12/43 they changed name from 44 Regt to 44 Recce Regt and stayed with 56 Div. At Alamein they were detached to under comd 7 Armd Div.

56 Recce Regt was transferred from 56 Div to 78 Div.

David W · Post by **David W** » Fri May 19, 2006 4:27 pm

Any idea of equipment in 1942, nigel?

nigelfe · Post by **nigelfe** » Sat May 20, 2006 3:29 am

Not a clue I'm afraid.

bradhunter · Post by **bradhunter** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:08 pm

The 44th Reconaissance Regiment was formed in 1/42, internally, within 44th Infantry Division, from the 131st, 132nd, and 133rd Anti-Tank Companies. The 44th Infantry Division was shipped to NA, and was in Cairo on 7/23/42. It is stated that the 44th Recce was assigned Marmon-Harrington A/Cs, instead of Humber A/Cs at this time. The 44th Recce was, in fact, attached to the 7th Armoured Division in 8/42, and on 9/4/42, was returned to the 44th Infantry Division, then on 9/11/42, re-attched to the 22nd Armoured Brigade, until 3/43, when it was assigned to the 56th Infantry Division.

The theoretical organization of the 44th Reconaissance Regiment during the El Alamein battles is as follows:

Reconaissance Regiment
HQ Squadron
--Mortar Troop - 6 x 3" Mortar, [3 x ATR]
--Anti-Aircraft Troop - 4 x Twin AALMG, [4 x ATR]
--Anti-Tank Battery
----Troop - 4 x 6# ATG
----Troop - 4 x 6# ATG
Squadron
--HQ Section - 1 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
--Recon Troop
----Recon Section - 2 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
----Recon Section - 2 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
----Carrier Section (9 men) - 3 x LMG, 1 x 2" Mortar, 3 x Carrier,
------[1 x ATR]
----Carrier Section (9 men) - 3 x LMG, 1 x 2" Mortar, 3 x Carrier,
------[1 x ATR]
--Assault Troop
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
Squadron
--HQ Section - 1 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
--Recon Troop
----Recon Section - 2 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
----Recon Section - 2 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
----Carrier Section (9 men) - 3 x LMG, 1 x 2" Mortar, 3 x Carrier,
------[1 x ATR]
----Carrier Section (9 men) - 3 x LMG, 1 x 2" Mortar, 3 x Carrier,
------[1 x ATR]
--Assault Troop
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
Squadron
--HQ Section - 1 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
--Recon Troop
----Recon Section - 2 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
----Recon Section - 2 x Marmon-Harrignton II or III
----Carrier Section (9 men) - 3 x LMG, 1 x 2" Mortar, 3 x Carrier,
------[1 x ATR]
----Carrier Section (9 men) - 3 x LMG, 1 x 2" Mortar, 3 x Carrier,
------[1 x ATR]
--Assault Troop
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck
----Assault Section (8 men) - 1 x LMG, 1 x SMG, 1 x Truck

Most of the other Reconaissance Regiments, and Armoured Car Regiments were equipped with Humber IIs and IIIs at this time.

Brad

David W · Post by **David W** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:11 pm

Great Info Brad. Thanks.

phylo_roadking · Post by **phylo_roadking** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:49 pm

Marmon-Herringtons; gorgeous looking cars, and their crews loved them, very roomy inside. The only problem was that theyve appeared in this forum before, under a thread on - antitank rifles! Their armament was one Bren Gun and a Boyes AT rifle in the turret. Severely inadequate, but an excellent car for reconnaisance, spotting and running away, so to speak. Very high ground clearance, wide tyres, perfect sandrunner.

phylo

bradhunter · Post by **bradhunter** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:43 am

phylo_roadking wrote:Marmon-Herringtons; gorgeous looking cars, and their crews loved them, very roomy inside. The only problem was that theyve appeared in this forum before, under a thread on - antitank rifles! Their armament was one Bren Gun and a Boyes AT rifle in the turret. Severely inadequate, but an excellent car for reconnaisance, spotting and running away, so to speak. Very high ground clearance, wide tyres, perfect sandrunner.

phylo

It appears that they still had them in Italy in 1943/44, until finally replaced by Humber IIIs. Alot of the M-Hs were "upgunned" with Italian 47mm ATGs.

jamesF · Post by **jamesF** » Thu Apr 28, 2022 9:43 am

My understanding is that the 44th was stripped of it's Humber LRCs on arrival (deemed unsuitable for the Desert), initially issued with carriers and then retrained for mine clearance and assigned to one of the Mine Task Forces under 7th Armoured for second El Alamein.

Feldgrau.net

44th Recce Regiment

44th Recce Regiment

Re: 44th Recce Regiment