What's on your workbench?

[Wg Cdr Luddite]

Some great info on the Locust here David Fletcher's latest video. Spoiler; I've just given away one of the five.
https://youtu.be/gZHwasYjcIA

[RMD]

Yeah, the Locust was designed to a British spec, as indeed was a lot of US kit, which eventually got used by the USA. They replaced Tetrarch in 6th Airborne Armoured Recce Regt after the regiment's return from Normandy in early October 1944. The regiment was completely reorganised at that time. They had gone into Normandy with an Airborne Tank Squadron (20ish Tetrarchs, including a few 3-inch CS versions), an Airborne Armoured Recce Squadron (Carriers, Jeeps, MMGs and mortars) and an HQ Squadron which included a 'Blitz Troop' (motorbikes). During Normandy the Tetrarchs were steadily replaced by about half as many Cromwells. The Armoured Recce Squadron also had the option of using Daimler Scout Cars, but they weren't taken to Normandy.

After Normandy the regiment was reorganised as two equal Airborne Armoured Recce Squadrons, each with a Tank Troop of 4x Cromwells OR Locusts and a couple of Recce Troops with Carriers and Daimler Scout Cars. There was also a Support Squadron with Carrier-mounted MMGs and Jeep-towed 4.2-inch mortars. The regiment deployed to the Ardennes using this organisation, leaving the Locusts in the rear, as it wasn't an airborne op. During Op Varsity, the eight Locusts were taken by Hamilcar across the Rhine as a separate 'Airborne Light Tank Half-Squadron' (HQ of 2 tanks and two Troops of 3 tanks). The Mortar Troop also went in by air, as did an attached 25pdr (used to smoke-mark target for air attack). The rest of the regiment, including the Cromwells, crossed the Rhine by conventional means. In the event, one Locust fell out of its glider over the Channel (?!) and most of the remainder became casualties on landing - either through crashing or being quickly knocked out. I met one old boy who survived his Locust sliding across the LZ on its turret when the glider stoofed in... Only 2 or 3 tanks made it to the RV.

The surviving Locusts, plus more from the reserve stock, were handed to the RA for use as OP tanks.

The Alecto (and Harry Hopkins light tank, from which the Alecto was developed) was actually too large for the Hamilcar - it was developed on the assumption that an aircraft would be developed that was big enough to carry it. While ultimately true, that didn't happen until post-WW2, so the Harry Hopkins was binned. Most sources state that the Alecto never saw active service, but in fact some Alecto SP 25pdrs did see post-war active service with Armoured Regiments, forming regimental Gun Troops of 6x Alecto. Some Alecto Dozers also saw active service.

[grizzlymc]

Why did they replace Tetrarchs with Locusts?

[goat major]

Simultaneously on the workbench this week
- 1866 Austrians shinyfying
- 1940 Belgians
- Nissen huts, radio masts, fuel tanks and control tower
- matchbox vans
- selection of fruit and veg and bottles
- old hoplite figures

[Jeremy]

I’ve got young BUM’s on my table. They look well fit!

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

"The Moseley Youth" doesn't bring quite the same sense of dread as the Hitler version, does it? Sounds more like a Brummie-based dustbin-lid band than a political movement.

[Norman D. Landings]

Tip-top tank tales, cheers for that.

What a dismal litany of failure... Tetrarch alone should have been ample demonstration of the limits of the concept.

6lb-er in a Bren carrier, call it job done, early finish and off down the pub.

[Etranger]

"The Moseley Youth" doesn't bring quite the same sense of dread as the Hitler version, does it? Sounds more like a Brummie-based dustbin-lid band than a political movement.

Famous for "Pass the Dutch Nazi on the Right Hand Side".

[Etranger]

Tip-top tank tales, cheers for that.

What a dismal litany of failure... Tetrarch alone should have been ample demonstration of the limits of the concept.

6lb-er in a Bren carrier, call it job done, early finish and off down the pub.

Think bigger!

(ok, it's the slightly larger Loyd Carrier, but does for proof of concept.)

[garyp]

SYW Prussian dragoons (with pretty pink facings)
28mm ECW infantry - the Empress ones which are just too lovely to leave in the lead pile)
20mm DAK and 8th Army. Finally got around to starting these after staring at them for about 2 years