motorcycle usage by D-Day 2 parts

Hi im enquiring about the level of motorcycle usage by 1944 in British regiments, I know that the MP's used a fair few and obiviously dispatch riders but were there any other users in the front line units ? This brings me on to my second part were dispatch riders divisonal or regimental and what about when it came to a tank regiment did they have dispatch riders ? or was the job done by radio and or scout cars?
Thanks

 

Motorbikes were also quite frequently used by the military police. One should neither forget that motorbikes were used by airborne troops, commandos and other various units. Airborne troops used lightweight motorcycles such as the Royal Enfield WD RE and the Welbike. Common Motorcycles were the Ariel, Triumph, BSA, Matchless, Norton and Velocette.

An Infantry battalion had 5 Motorbikes in their headquarter and a total of 26 in the whole unit. Armoured regiments had 8 motorbikes in their administrative platoon. An airborne division had the impressive amount of 1233 motorbikes and an armoured division had 853. An ordinary infantry division had no less than 983 motorbikes.

This is what I can find for the moment but if you still need more info I can look it up for you. As far as I know most HQ troops had motorbikes.

regards



[ 08. December 2002, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: charlie don't surf ]

 

Many thanks for the info that should do for now i also found a website that had some pretty detailed info on unit organisation etc i expect everyone knows about it but just in case it is
http://www.militarytablesoforganisation.com/

 

You're welcome Alister, nice site by the way!

regards