Page 52
Subject: Tank and Air OP Co-operation
Ref. No.133/G. 19 Nov. 44.
To: List "A" + Bde Sigs
1. It has been agreed that the Air OP shall act as Tk hunters, and
that this shall be their priority job.
2. The Air OP net covers all air OPs actually working, and in
addition the Fd Regts, Hy and Med Regts, RHQ and Sqns of Tk Regts and
SP M10 A Tk Btys.
3. On identification of an enemy Tk the Air OP will report on the
net. Order of ranging on the target will be:
(a) SP M10 Tp
(b) Med or Hy guns
The SP Tp and Tks will also be prepared to shoot direct at a Tk
or a possible escape route. The res SP Tp will be prepared to shoot
also, possiblly by indirect fire.
4. When the target moves, the Med and Hy guns cease firing, but
the SPs will continue.
5. Tks of Sqns may be in a position to observe an enemy Tk. when
this is the case they will report direct to their own RHQ, who will in
turn report on he Air OP net, giving a description of target.
Descriptions should be more than a map ref, e. g. “Redroofed farm
with outhouses at map ref 289713 right……..200 ……..haystack”.
Planes do not take codes into the air and therefore all references
must he in clear.
6. The Bde Cmd directs that the following procedure shall be
adopted for the co-operation between Regts and the Air OP when OPs are
in progress:-
(a) Each Regt will allot one set at RHQ and one set at each
Sqn HQ to the Air OP net. Sets at Sqn HQ will be on listening watch
only, except when the Sqn is detached.
The RHQ set will remain open at all times between time of netting
and time ordered for close down by Air OP control; it will be manned
by an Offr at all times when a plane is in the air.
(b) Code sign of co-operating Air OP Flights will be published
in Bde Code sign extract Part III, and the following suffixes are
allotted permanently to the Bde:-
|
Bde HQ: 22 |
NIH
RHQ: 29
'A': Sqn 24
'B': Sqn 26
'C': Sqn 28
|
51 RTR
RHQ: 35
'A': Sqn 30
'B': Sqn 32
'C': Sqn 34
|
142 RAC
RHQ: 41
'A': Sqn 36
'B': Sqn 38
'C': Sqn 40
|
Aircraft suffixes are 1 to 5
(c) Control Sta will normally be a Med Regt.
(d) Frequencies and netting times will be notified by Bde Sigs.
Regts are not required to notify Air OP or Bde Sigs but will automatically
net Regt and Sqn Air OP stas before going into action.
(e) Following jargon code is used by Air OP:-
MOBILE or ACTIVE…………………… Airborne
BANDWAGON Aircraft…………………Aircraft
Field, Major, Bde.Major, 25 Tank Bde.
