The MONAB Story

A history of the mobile airfields of the Royal Navy



Complement for a type ‘A’ MONAB

All MONABs were assembled with a set of key elements that were common to all units. Each unit could be modified to support specific aircraft types and levels of maintenance by adjustments to the composition of the Repair & Maintenance (Air) element. With the exception of MONAB II and TAMY I all Mobile airfield units were formed with one MM and two MS technical components. Other units had MSR components added to provide additional capacity for aircraft storage and maintenance. Originally it was planned that all MONABs would have a MATMU attached.

 

Component Function Officers NCOs Ratings Total
A Command & Executive 11 21 117 149
C Medical 4 1 1 13
F Flying Control 10 1 35 46
R Radio & Radar 4 10 49 63
S Stores 2 3 28 31
MG Maintenance, Air Gunnery 3 7 45 55
MS (x2 Units) Maintenance Servicing 4 16 10 30 +20
MM Mobile Maintenance 6 25 64 85
MATMU Mobile Air torpedo Maintenance Unit 1 2 30 33
   

Total MONAB complement

535
   

+ 10& expansion margin

588

The figures supplied for a typical MONAB were adjusted as necessary; it is possible that no two MONABs had the same complement, more ratings and officers were attached after formation and despatch overseas to address the needs of each unit in the filed. The smallest ships' company would have been that of MONAB 7; this was the 'leanest' MONAB to be formed, having a complement of approximately 517.

 

Additional component complements

Component Officers CPO & PO Ratings Total
Accommodation for disembarked squadrons 140 125 665 950
Maintenance, Storage & Reserve Unit 3 20 99 122
One MSR unit attached for every 50 aircraft to be stored.

 

MSR4 personnel

Vehicles for a type ‘A’ MONAB

The table below shows the allowed scale of vehicles for a 'standard' MONAB (equipped with 1 MM and 2 MS components). Additional components, such as MSR and MATMU units had their own complement of vehicles.

Vehicle type Number  
Prime Movers  
Crash tender
Jeeps 12
Lorries, 3 ton, 4x4, G.S. 34
Aircraft machine shop 1
General workshop 1
Battery charging lorry 1
22 kW Lister generators 4
Refuellers 4
Breakdown lorry 1  
Camp lighting lorries 6
Setting up radat on Ponam Island
Aerial tuning 1
Aerial transmitting 1
Mobile dispensary 1
Ambulances 2
Crash tenders 2
Alternators 15 KW 2
Diesel tanker, 800 Gall 1
Tipping lorries 2  
Photographic tender 1
Crash tender
Flying control vehicle 1
VHF, D/F lorry, 10 wheeler 1
IFF transmitter, receiver & display 1
Coles crane 1
Water purification plant lorry 1
Total Prime movers 86
   
Tracked vehicles    
Bulldozer 1
3-ton 4x4 lorries & a Jeep
Articulator tractor 1
Fordson industrials 4
Matador, for mobile laundry 1
Total tracked vehicles 7
   
Trailers  
Jeep trailers 12
Water trailers, 150 Gall 5  
Office trailer 1
7=ton mobile oven
Mobile laundry 1
Trailer pumps 2
Articulator trailer 1
Trailer generator, for Photographic tender 1
High power trailers 6
Medium power trailers 2
Floodlighting 1
Landmark beacon 1
M/T servicing trailer 1
NAAFI refreshments trailer 1
Mobile bakery, 7 ton 1
Taotal Trailers 37
TOTAL ALL VEHICLES 130  

 

 

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