List of Australian Army, Navy & Air Force Units which took part in the Siege of Tobruk (April – November 1941).

Adv HQ 9 Aust DivRear HQ 9 Aust Div

9 Aust Div Int Sec“D” Sec FSSOne Pl Aust HQ Gd Bn9 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 RAE 9 Div2/3 Fd Coy2/4 Fd Coy2/7 Fd Coy2/13 Fd Coy2/4 Fd Pk Coy72 L.A.D.No. 10 (Aust) Cam Unit

HQ Sigs 9 Aust Div“J” Sec Sigs Div 7 Aust2 Op Sex Sigs 1 Aust Corps

HQ 18 Aust Inf Bde Sig SecPlatoon Aust Guard Bn16 Aust A/Tk Coy2/9 Aust Inf Bn2/10 Aust Inf Bn2/12 Aust Inf Bn47 L.A.D.

HQ 20 Aust Inf Bde Sig SecP1 Aust Guard Bn20 Aust A/Tk Coy2/13 Aust Inf Bn2/15 Aust Inf Bn2/17 Aust Inf Bn58 L.A.D.

HQ 24 Aust Ind BdeSig SecPlatoon Aust Guard Bn24 Aust A/Tk Coy2/28 Aust Inf Bn2/43 Aust Inf BnUnder Command2/32 Aust Inf Bn76 L.A.D.

HQ 26 Aust Inf BdeSig SecPlatoon Aust Guard Bn26 Aust A/Tk Coy2/23 Aust Inf Bn2/24 Aust Inf Bn2/48 Aust Inf Bn78 L.A.D.

2/1 Pioneer Bn

HQ AASC 9 Aust Div9 Aust Div Pet Coy9 Aust Div Supply Coln.7 Aust Div Supply Coln.9 Aust Div Amn Coy

Medical:HQ AAMC 9 Aust Div

2/3 Fd Amb2/5 Fd Amb2/8 Fd Amb2/11 Fd Amb2/4 Hygiene Sec

Miscellaneous:9 Aust Div Pro Coy9 Aust Div Salvage Coy9 Aust Div Postal Unit9 Aust Div Fd Cash Office

Fortress Troops:8 Aust Lt AA Bty

Sigs:4 Line Sec Sigs. 1 Aust Corps

Ordance:2/1 Army Fd W’shops AAOCNo.6 Rec Sec. 2/2 AFW AAOC

Tobruk Sub-Area:Medical:4 Aust Gen. Hosp2/2 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 CoysArea Transport Coy1 and 2 Aust F.S.Ds9 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 1942The 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 antitankrifle 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