Table of Organisation & Equipment

August 1940. Establishment of the Long Range Patrol Unit.

• HQ
• Marmon Herrington Party
• R Patrol (Supply)
• T Patrol (Fighting)
• W Patrol (Fighting)

Patrols were always short on patrol. As such one patrol typically remained in garrison and the personnel from it were used to round out the two active patrols.

5 December 1940, Long Range Desert Group

• HQ
• Heavy Section
• R Patrol (Fighting)
• T Patrol (Fighting)
• G Patrol (Fighting)

Needed personnel were added and with the almost doubling of man-power the LRPU becomes the LRDG. W Patrol is disbanded and newly organized G patrol takes its place. In addition the earlier R patrol becomes a fighting patrol.

December 1940 Patrol TO&E

LRDG January-March 1941

• HQ - Heavy Section
• A Sqn - G Ptl, Y Ptl, RA Section
• B Sqn - R Ptl, T Ptl, S Ptl

The LRDG is divided into two squadrons. A Squadron has a Royal Artillery (RA) Section in place of one its authorized patrols. On formation of S Ptl. it is equipped with captured Italian Patrol cars (Spa AS37) These are later handed over to Y Ptl. In early March, The Chevrolets are exchanged for Ford F30 4X4 30cwt.

Patrol TO&E, December 1940

LRDG Reconstitution

April 1941 -- Y patrol lost two of its officers and G Patrol lost half its vehicles. The remaining officers and vehicles was spread over both patrols, which retained identity.

June 9, 1941 -- A Sqn is reorgnanised into three half patrols, named Y, G, and H. These were formed from the remainders of Y and G patrols.

August 25, 1941 -- Sqn HQ, Y, and G ptls are sent to Cairo to refit becoming B (Detached) Sqn. The new Sqn A (R, T, & S Patrols was administered by Group HQ.

LRDG September 1941

LRDG HQ

• Signal, Light Repair, RA, Air, Survey, Heavy Sections
• A Squadron
• R, T, S Patrols
• B Squadron
• G, Y, H Patrols

LRDG Autumn 1941

LRDG HQ

• Signal,, Air, Survey, Heavy Sections
• Light Repair Squadron
• A Squadron
• R (R1, R2), T (T1, T2), S (S1, S2) Patrols
• B Squadron
• G (G1, G2), Y (Y1, Y2) Patrols

Patrols are broken in half so that R Patrol becomes R1 and R2. The 2 i/c (Second in Command) becomes the leader of the newly formed patrols. The Artillery section is disbanded with most of the personnel being absorbed into the unit. The Light Repair section is turned into a Light Repair Squadron.

Patrol TO&E, Fall 1941

*Ford 30cwt 37mm Bofors AT: Attached to patrol most likely to need it.

Patrol TO&E, March 1942

The Ford 30 cwt are replaced by the Chevrolet 1533X2 30cwt as the standard LRDG patrol vehicles. An additional truck is added to each patrol which is armed with a 20mm Breda AA/AT gun. This replaces the earlier 37mm Bofors and ends the need for the patrols to share the heavier caliber gun.

LRDG, Summer 1942

LRDG HQ

• Signal Troop
• Light Repair Squadron
• Air and Survey Sections, Heavy Section (Front and Rear Elements)
• A Squadron
• R Ptl (R1,R2), T Ptl (T1, T2) S Ptl (S1, S2)
• B Squadron
• G Ptl (G1, G2), Y ptl, (Y1, Y2)

The Forward Section now has a Heavy section of 10, later 20 CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) Chevrolet 3 Ton Trucks

LRDG, Autumn 1942

LRDG HQ

• Signal Troop
• Light Repair Squadron
• Air and Survey Sections, Heavy Section (Front and Rear Elements)
• Number 1 Demolition Squadron (Popski's Private Army)
• Indian Long Range Squadron
• Indian Patrols 1, 2, 3, & 4
• A Squadron
• R Ptl (R1,R2), T Ptl (T1, T2) S Ptl (S1, S2)
• B Squadron
• G Ptl (G1, G2), Y ptl, (Y1, Y2)

Popski's Private Army was an outgrowth of an earlier authorized Demolition Patrol. Popski's Private Army later went its seperate way. A third Squadron has been raised from Indian Soldier. As with the rest of the British Army at the time, it comprises Indian enlistedmen commanded by British officers. Rather than calling htem "Half Patrols" the Indian Squadron uses numbered patrols that are organized in the same fashion as the rest of the LRDG. The roganization will remain fixed as is until it is withdrawn to the Nile Delta in preperation for operation in Greece. (G Patrol will need to be reconstituted as a composite Patrol after its two half patrols suffer heavy losses)

Standard Patrol TO&E, Autumn, 1942

Half Patrol or Indian Patrol

• Willys Jeep, OC
• Chevrolet 30cwt W/T & Navigation
• Willys Jeep, Patrol Sergeant
• Chevrolet 30cwt, medical orderly,
• Chevrolet 30cwt, fitter
• Chevrolet 30cwt, Breda 20mm AA/AT

Each half-patrol (or Indian Patrol) now consists of 2 Willy's Jeeps and 4 Chevrolet 30cwt.