Another 20th Indian Division in Indochina Question - 16th Light Cavalry

[JohnFoA]

Anyone got any ideas on this please?

The question is Stuarts in Indochina.  Did the Regiment really have them there?   And what do we have for Recce Regiment organisation in Far East - not the Divisional Infantry Battalion doubling up as Recce but Motorised/Cavalry.  And I appreciate that there are real differences between units.

Sources
Mark's British & Commonwealth Armies
Sandhu, Maj. Gen. Guncharn Singh. The Indian Armour: History of the Indian Armoured Corps (1941-1971): Volume II. Delhi: Vision Books, 1981
Proudfoot, Lt. Col. C.L. History of the 16th Light Cavalry (Armoured Corps). Calcutta: 1976.
Dunn P M, thesis:  An interpretation of documentary and oral primary source materials for the period September 1945 until May 1946 in the region of Cochinchina and southern Annam. Presented 1979
The Forgotten Wargames Army: XIVth Army in Burma (Part 3 – Indian Cavalry) | Jemima Fawr's Miniature Wargames Blog

Analysis:  Sources 1 & 2 definitely say they are there. 3 & 4 definitely rule them out, 3 with dates for equipment handovers.  5. doesn't mention them but has two TOEs; one matches Mark's book. Source 1. Has five Sqdns deployed, most other sources record only three.

Also source 1. lists and  I paraphrase, 1 x (Support, in NWE term) Troop of three rifle sections equipped with 3x LMG, 1x 2" mortar & 1x PIAT.  Transport listed is 3 x ACV-IP.  Is that three per section?  Cos I don't think there's crew space for a full or even 8 man (again per NWE) rifle section in one of these.

Over to you guys.

John

[JohnFoA]

Okay all readers

So the answer came via another forum. In short

A/ yes there were a number, around 13, M3A1 (Stuart III) deployed. Film footage shows A Sqdn markings

B/ Rifle Troops moved in 15cwt trucks, two per Section

C/ Regiment had three Sabre Sqdn, the other two mostly with Daimler Mk II with Humber Mk IV in Sqdn HQ

Thanks for looking by

John