Blackhorse
Posts: 1983
Joined: 8/20/2000 From: Eastern US Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Don Bowen Other than the fact that it existed, I know nothing of the Constabulary Heavy Weapons unit. The Constabulary did have crew served weapons attached to various formations and used in a couple of the recorded engagements against bandits or moros. Sorry, all I got. As for the Constabulary Companies, that was just speculation... The pre-war distribution of the constabulary was primarily in company and smaller units in Philippine towns. Larger units were in major cities, bases, and trouble spots. I wish I had a good history of the Constabulary but mostly I just have references here and there. Trotta, for instance, mentions the major operation against the Moros in Jolo but gives no details. In fact, most of what he gives are statistical totals or problems with corruption. Something like 25% of the Constabulary Officers were court martialed for some reason or other. Mostly corruption. I suspect that there was a higher organization, such that detachments or companies in local areas were part of a battalion located near by, etc. It is know that many of the local detachments were not incorporated into the Regimental sized units, but that may be because they were cut off by the Japanese advance. I think I'm going to see what Google and I can find out about the Constabulary organization. Here are my notes on the Constabulary's 2nd Artillery Regiment AKA the Heavy Weapons Regiment: 11x howitzers/guns -- 8x2.95" Pack Howitzers, 2x3" Naval, 1x6 lbr. Naval (In AE I discounted the 6 lbr) 2x 37mm AT gun 17 Bren carriers with .30 cal and .50 cal MGs an indeterminate number of infantry, and crew served MMG and HMG ------------------------------ Artillery Regiment Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 1st Battalion - Roberto 2nd Battalion - Vinluan 3rd Battalion - Baltazar Artillery Battalion each had Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2 Firing or MG Batteries (MG Batteries seem to exist due to a lack of artillery pieces from the writing.) Originally, the 2nd Artillery Regiment had been given only Enfield Rifles, Water Cooled MMG's, Air Cooled MMG's and .50 cal MG's. Later, it did get 8 -2.95" Mountain Howitzers, 2-3" and 1 6pdr Naval Guns on Pedestal Mounts. It was often called the Heavy Weapons Regiment. AT Battalion* Headquarters and Headquarters Company Companies A,B,C,D, and E 1 MG Company 1 BREN Gun Carrier Company *Improvised organization, since it lacked the proper AT equipment called for in the TO&E. The unit got 17 BREN Gun Carriers seized from a ship going to Hong Kong. It used .30 cal and .50cal MG's. Acted mainly as Infantry, it also had 2-37mm AT Guns.
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WitP-AE -- US LCU & AI Stuff Oddball: Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? Moriarty: Crap!
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