List of Australian Army, Navy

& Air Force Units which took

part in the Siege of Tobruk
(April November 1941).
Adv HQ 9 Aust Div
Rear HQ 9 Aust Div
9 Aust Div Int Sec
D Sec FSS
One Pl Aust HQ Gd Bn
9 Aust Div Emp Pl
2/12 Aust Fd Regt, RAA,
plus Sig Sec
3 Aust A/Tk Regt (less 1
Bty)
71 L.A.D.

HQ 20 Aust Inf Bde Sig Sec

P1 Aust Guard Bn
20 Aust A/Tk Coy
2/13 Aust Inf Bn
2/15 Aust Inf Bn
2/17 Aust Inf Bn
58 L.A.D.

Medical:
HQ AAMC 9 Aust Div
2/3 Fd Amb
2/5 Fd Amb
2/8 Fd Amb
2/11 Fd Amb
2/4 Hygiene Sec

HQ 24 Aust Ind Bde

Sig Sec
Platoon Aust Guard Bn
24 Aust A/Tk Coy
2/28 Aust Inf Bn
2/43 Aust Inf Bn
Under Command
2/32 Aust Inf Bn
76 L.A.D.

Miscellaneous:
9 Aust Div Pro Coy
9 Aust Div Salvage Coy
9 Aust Div Postal Unit
9 Aust Div Fd Cash Office

HQ RAE 9 Div
2/3 Fd Coy
2/4 Fd Coy
2/7 Fd Coy
2/13 Fd Coy
2/4 Fd Pk Coy
72 L.A.D.
No. 10 (Aust) Cam Unit

HQ 26 Aust Inf Bde

Sig Sec
Platoon Aust Guard Bn
26 Aust A/Tk Coy
2/23 Aust Inf Bn
2/24 Aust Inf Bn
2/48 Aust Inf Bn
78 L.A.D.

HQ Sigs 9 Aust Div

J Sec Sigs Div 7 Aust
2 Op Sex Sigs 1 Aust
Corps

2/1 Pioneer Bn

HQ 18 Aust Inf Bde Sig Sec

Platoon Aust Guard Bn
16 Aust A/Tk Coy
2/9 Aust Inf Bn
2/10 Aust Inf Bn
2/12 Aust Inf Bn
47 L.A.D.

HQ AASC 9 Aust Div

9 Aust Div Pet Coy
9 Aust Div Supply Coln.
7 Aust Div Supply Coln.
9 Aust Div Amn Coy

Fortress Troops:
8 Aust Lt AA Bty
Sigs:
4 Line Sec Sigs. 1 Aust Corps
Ordance:
2/1 Army Fd Wshops AAOC
No.6 Rec Sec. 2/2 AFW AAOC
Tobruk Sub-Area:
Medical:
4 Aust Gen. Hosp
2/2 Aust C.C.S.
Ordance:
4 AOD A.A.O.C.
The following units were
formed from 7 and 9 Aust Div
Supply Columns and
appeared in Orders of Battle
subsequent to one above:
No. 1 and 2 Tp Carrying Coys
Area Transport Coy
1 and 2 Aust F.S.Ds
9 Aust Div Res Tpt Coys.
The Orders of Battle for
September 1941 and October
1941 also included No. 10
(Aust) Camouflage Unit.
(Formed from troops already
in Tobruk.)

The British Infantry Battalion, 1941 to 1942

The first major reorganisation of the British Infantry Battalion, incorporating lessons learned during the Dunkirk campaign, took
place during late 1941. The overall structure of the Battalion remained unchanged, with a Headquarter Company and four Rifle
Companies.
The Infantry Battalion, circa 1941 to 1942
Battalion Headquarters (5 Officers, 50 men)
Headquarter Company (8 Officers, 247 men), comprised of
Company HQ (1 Officer, 7 men)
Signals Platoon (1 Officer, 35 men)
Anti-Aircraft Platoon (20 men)
Mortar Platoon (1 Officer, 45 men)
Carrier Platoon (2 Officers, 62 men)
Pioneer Platoon (1 Officer, 21 men)
Administrative Platoon (2 Officers, 57 men)
Four Rifle Companies (5 Officers, 119 men), each comprised of
Company HQ (2 Officers, 11 men)
Three Rifle Platoons, each comprised of
Platoon HQ (1 Officer, 6 men)
Three Rifle Sections, each comprised of 10 men
Total Strength of 806 all ranks (33 Officers and 773 men)
Points of Note
While the basic organisation of the Battalion remained unchanged, the firepower of the Mortar and Carrier Platoons and the
manpower of the Rifle Platoons had been notably increased from that available to the BEF in 1940.
The elements of the Battalion
Battalion Headquarters the Battalion was commanded by a Lieutenant-colonel,
with a Major as his second-in-command. There was also an Adjutant (Captain) and Intelligence Officer (Subaltern). The other
ranks provided drivers, batmen, orderlies and twenty stretcher bearers. A Universal Carrier was included among its vehicles to
allow the CO to visit forward areas with some form of protection.
Signals Platoon maintained radio, wire and telephone communication between the Battalion and higher and parallel
formations.
Antiaircraft Platoon the firepower of the Platoon was marginally increased by the adoption of twin
Mortar Platoon the Mortar Platoon was now increased from two weapons to six, still equipped with the 3inch mortar. Each
detachment was now to be transported in a modified Universal carrier, though 15cwt trucks could still be substituted dependent
upon supply. The six detachments were paired into three Sections, each provided with an ammunition truck to augment the
carrier load. The truck also carried an antitank
rifle for defensive purposes. Platoon HQ had a seventh carrier plus motorcycles for liaison.
Carrier Platoon - the Carrier Platoon was the next subunit to be increased in strength. The Platoon now contained four Sections,
each of three carriers, plus one at Platoon HQ for a total of thirteen. Each Carrier was still crewed by three men, an NCO, a
driver/mechanic and a rifleman, with each carrier mounting a Bren gun, and each Section having both a 2inch mortar and a
Boys antitank rifle.
Additional to the carriers was a Motorcycle Section of twenty men, with eight solo machines and four combinations, the latter
each carrying three men. It seems this element was only deployed by units serving at home.
Pioneer Platoon - the Pioneer Platoon was now commanded by a Subaltern and used a 3ton lorry to transport its stores and
equipment, but otherwise was little changed.

Administrative Platoon provided the bulk of the Battalion motor pool, plus the various cooks, fitters and tradesmen required to
keep the unit functioning.
The Rifle Company the four Rifle Companies were now increased in strength to over 120 men each, retaining the previous
format of a HQ and three Rifle Platoons.
The Rifle Section was commanded by a Corporal, and consisted of a rifle group of six men, and a gun