not a special force in the modern sense but more akin to the LRRPs of Vietnam fame or the SAS LRPs in the Malayan emergency period but the above mentioned operated on the ground work
established by the Standard Operating Procedures laid by these bunch of men
Chindits
Active 1942–1945
Country British India
Branch Army of India
Type Special forces
Role Asymmetric warfare
Size 9,000 to 12,000
Garrison/HQ Jhansi, India
Engagements Burma Campaign of World War II
The
77th Indian Infantry Brigade, otherwise known as the Chindits, was gradually formed in the area around
Jhansi in the summer of 1942. Wingate took charge of the training of the troops in the jungles of central India during the
rainy season. Half of the Chindits were British: the 13th Battalion, the
King's Liverpool Regiment (nominally a second-line battalion, which contained a large number of older men) and men from the former Bush Warfare School in Burma, who were formed into 142
Commando Company. The other portion of the force consisted of the 3rd Battalion, the
2nd Gurkha Rifles (a battalion that had only just been raised) and the 2nd Battalion, the
Burma Rifles (a composite unit formed from several depleted battalions of Burmese troops that had retreated into India in 1942).
Wingate trained this force as long-range penetration units that were to be supplied by stores parachuted or dropped from transport aircraft, and were to use close air support as a substitute for heavy artillery.
[3] They would penetrate the jungle on foot, essentially relying on surprise through mobility to target enemy lines of communication (a tactic that the Japanese had previously used in 1942 to great effect against British forces in Singapore and Burma).
[1]
The standard brigade and battalion structures were abandoned. The force was instead formed into eight columns, each of which was organised as: an infantry rifle company (with nine
Bren light machine guns and three
2-inch mortars); a support group with the heavy weapons (four
Boys anti-tank rifles, two medium
Vickers machine guns and two light anti-aircraft guns); a reconnaissance platoon from the Burma Rifles; and a sabotage group from 142 Commando Company. Small detachments from the Royal Air Force (equipped with radios to call in air support),
Royal Corps of Signals and
Royal Army Medical Corps were attached to the column headquarters.
[4] The heavy weapons, radios, reserve ammunition and rations and other stores were carried on mules, which would also provide an emergency source of food once their loads had been depleted.
[1] With 57 mule handlers, each British column numbered 306 men (the Gurkha columns were slightly stronger, with 369 men).
[4]
Each man carried more than 72 pounds (33 kg) of equipment, which was proportionally more than the mules carrying the support weapons and other stores. This included a personal weapon, such as the
SMLE rifle or
Sten Gun, ammunition,
grenades, a machete or Gurkha
kukri knife, seven days' rations, groundsheet, change of uniform and other assorted items. Much of this load was carried in an Everest carrier, which was essentially a metal rucksack frame without a pack.
[5]
Shortly before the first operation, one column was broken up to bring the remaining seven up to full strength. Two or more columns were commanded by a group headquarters, which in turn was commanded by the brigade headquarters
First Chindit Expedition 1943. Codenamed Operation Longcloth[edit]
Headquarters
77th Indian Infantry Brigade
Commander
Brigadier Orde Wingate
Brigade Major Major R.B.G. Bromhead (succeeded by Major G.M. Anderson)
Staff Captain Captain H.J. Lord
Deception party
Officer Commanding (O.C.)
Major Jeffries
No. 1 Group (Southern)
Officer Commanding (O.C.)
Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Alexander (died during the operation)
1 Column (Major Dunlop)
2 Column (Major Burnett)
No. 2 Group (Northern)
O.C Lieutenant Colonel S.A. Cooke
3 Column (Major
Michael Calvert)
4 Column (Major R.A. Conron)(replaced by Major R.B. Bromhead March 1, 1943)
5 Column (Major
Bernard Fergusson)
7 Column (Major K. Gilkes)
8 Column (Major Walter Scott)
HQ Group (
Burma Rifles)
O.C. Lt-Colonel L.G. Wheeler 2nd Burma Rifles (replaced by Captain P.C. Buchanan on the death of Lt-Colonel Wheeler)
Second Chindit Expedition 1944. Codenamed Operation Thursday[edit]
Headquarters
3rd Indian Infantry Division
Division Commander Major-General Orde.C. Wingate (
succeeded by Major-General W.D.A. Lentaigne)
Deputy Commander Major-General G.W. Symes, (
succeeded by Brigadier D. Tulloch)
Brigadier General Staff Brigadier D. Tulloch,(
succeeded by Brigadier H.T. Alexander)
Locations of Headquarters
Rear HQ at Gwalior, Central India
Main HQ first at
Imphal later at
Sylhet,
Assam
Launching HQ at
Lalaghat
Tactical/Forward HQ,
Shaduzup,
Burma
Thunder
3rd West African Brigade
Officer Commanding (O.C.) Brigadier A.H. Gillmore, (
succeeded by Brigadier A.H.G. Ricketts): 10 HQ column
6th Battalion,
Nigeria Regiment: 66 and 39 Columns
7th Battalion,
Nigeria Regiment: 29 and 35 Columns
12th Battalion,
Nigeria Regiment: 12 and 43 Columns
3rd West African Field Ambulance: Support
(From disbanded
70th British Infantry Division );
Javelin
British 14th Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier
Thomas Brodie: 59 HQ column
2nd Battalion,
Black Watch: 42 and 73 Columns - Lt.Col.G.C.Green
1st Battalion,
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment: 16 and 61 Columns
2nd Battalion,
York and Lancaster Regiment: 65 and 84 Columns
7th Battalion,
Leicestershire Regiment: 47 and 74 Columns
54th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment:support
Enterprise
British 16th Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier
B.E. Fergusson: 99 HQ column
2nd Battalion,
The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey); 21 and 22 Columns
2nd Battalion,
Leicestershire Regiment ; 17 and 71 Columns
51/69 Field Regiment
Royal Artillery 51 and 69 Columns (infantry columns made up of R.A. personnel)
45th Reconnaissance Regiment ; 45 and 54 Columns (infantry columns made up recce units)
2nd Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: support
Emphasis
77th Indian Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier
Mike Calvert: 25 HQ column
1st Battalion,
The King's Regiment (Liverpool): 81 and 82 Columns
1st Battalion,
The Lancashire Fusiliers: 20 and 50 Columns
1st Battalion,
South Staffordshire Regiment: 38 and 80 Columns
3rd Battalion,
6th Gurkha Rifles: 36 and 63 Columns
3rd Battalion,
9th Gurkha Rifles: 57 and 93 Columns
142 Company, Hong Kong Volunteers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support
Profound
111th Indian Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier
W.D.A. Lentaigne, (
succeeded first by Major John Masters and then by Brigadier Morris): 48 HQ Column
1st Battalion,
The Cameronians: 26 and 90 Columns
2nd Battalion,
The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster): 41 and 46 Columns
3rd Battalion (part),
4th Gurkha Rifles: 30 Column
Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/Royal Indian Engineers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support
Morris Force
O.C. Lt-Colonel (
later promoted Brigadier) J.R. Morris
4th Battalion,
9th Gurkha Rifles: 49 and 94 Columns
3rd Battalion (part),
4th Gurkha Rifles: 40 Column
Dah Force
O.C. Lieut-Colonel D.C. Herring
Kachin Levies
Bladet (Blain's Detachment)
O.C. Major Blain
Gliderborne commando engineers
Royal Artillery Supporting non-mobile units designed to defend Chindit Jungle Fortresses.
R, S and U Troops
160th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (All 25 pounders)
W,X,Y, and Z Troops
69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment (40mm
Bofors)
Support Units
NO 1 Air Commando USAAF – strike and casualty evacuation (until 1/5/1944 only)
Eastern Air Command – supply
U. S.Army 900th Field Unit (engineers)
Divisional Support Troops
2nd Battalion
Burma Rifles – one section assigned per column except for columns in the 3rd West African Brigade
145th Brigade Company R.A.S.C.
219th Field Park Company,
Royal Engineers
61st Air Supply Company R.A.S.C.
2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.
Galahad
5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) US Army
1st Battalion; Red and White Combat Teams
2nd Battalion; Blue and Green Combat Teams
3rd Battalion; Khaki Orange Combat Teams
Also known as Merrill's Marauders and after being trained were transferred to General Joseph Stilwell's Northern Combat Area Command and operated independently of the Chindits.
23rd British Infantry Brigade
O.C Brigadier
Lancelot Perowne: 32 HQ column
1st Battalion
Essex Regiment:Columns 44, 56
2nd Battalion
Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding): Columns 33, 76
4th Battalion
Border Regiment:Columns 34, 55
60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: Columns 60, 68 (fighting as infantry)
12th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: Support