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(The Essex Yeomanry),both from 42 Armoured Division, joined 50 (N) Infantry Division for the assault operation. Both had been training for some time for amphibious operations. In addition 90 Field Regiment was converted to SP and trained in the same way. Time did not permit the conversion and training of 74 and 124 Fd Regts, but they remained with the Division as follow-up regiments.

The Division therefore had three SP Regiments and two toned.

TRAINING

6. The conversion and training of 90 Field Regiment took place between October 1943 and the end of May 1944.

7. This type of training does take considerable time. Not only must the Gunner muster his onn technical problems, but he must understand and appreciate the naval problems and become enured to working in a ship at sea. 86 and 147 Field Regiments had been training for some eighteen months and had been with the Navy almost continuous- ly in SCOTLAND and at STUDLAND BAY.

8. Experience had shown that the best shoots were always obtained when the troop, bhttery and regiment knew the naval personnel with whom they worked. Success was in fact obtained where the LCT and the guns aboard had become one unit. Friendly co-operation paid handsome dividends, and every effort was made to "deploy" the guns in the same LCT both in training and for the actual operation.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

10. A. Method of Deployment After various experiments to find the best method of deployment, the regiment finally deployed in six LCTs