[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS NO. 41/44 (Continued) PAGE TWO.

Thursday, 11 May 1944 Other

Document

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS NO. 41/44 (Continued) PAGE TWO.
247 A
para. 163. M.T. SPEED LIMITS.
The speed limits now in force as set out below
are not to be exceeded by drivers of mechanical transport.
| Type of vehicle | Open Road | Towns or Villages. | Suburban Areas. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group "A" | | | |
| Staff. | | | |
| Car, passenger (Heavy, light and utility). | 45 | 20 | 30 |
| Ambulances | | | |
| Cars and vans (5-10 cwt) | | | |
| Motor-Cycles. | | | |
| Group "B" | | | |
| Vans and tenders (15 cwt) | | | |
| Other vehicles not exceed- ing one ton. | 35 | 20 | 20 |
| Group "C" | | | |
| All tenders over one ton and up to 10 tons. | | | |
| Armoured Vehicles. | | | |
| Coaches and buses. | 30 | 15 | 20 |
| Tenders articulated. | | | |
| Group "D" | | | |
| Cranes, salvage. | | | |
| Track vehicles. | 20 | 15 | 20 |
| DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS - | | | |
| ALL VEHICLES. | 20 | 12 | 20 |
Vehicles proceeding across country are not to
exceed the speed laid down for suburban areas. Speed
limits within station bounds and military areas as laid
down in standing orders or on notice boards must be
observed.
(A.R.O. Serial No. 18, para. 171 d.d. 5.5.44).
para. 164. VASTO - TERMOLI ROAD - SPEED LIMIT.
The following speed limits are to be observed
on the VASTO - TERMOLI road :-
Staff Cars, Jeeps and Motor-cycles 30 m.p.h.
Class D vehicles. 10 m.p.h.
All other vehicles. 20 m.p.h.
(A.R.O. Serial No. 18, para. 172 d.d. 5.5.44).
Where the limits imposed by this order and
A.R.O. 171/44 differ the lower of the two is to be observed.
(Signature illegible) LT. COL.
COMMANDING, NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
NOTICE
There will be a CINEMA SHOW to-night (Thursday,
11th May, 1944) at 20.00 hours in the Airmens' Mess.
Showing :- "Moonlight in Hawaii".

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes:
* Logistics and Traffic Control (The Vasto-Termoli Artery):
* Strategic Route: Paragraph 164 specifically regulates the Vasto-Termoli road. Termoli was a critical Allied port and logistics hub on the Adriatic coast, while Vasto (further north) was a key staging area. This road was the main supply artery feeding the Eighth Army's advance.
* Congestion: The speed limits (as low as 10 m.p.h. for Class D heavy vehicles) reflect the intense congestion and likely poor condition of the road, which was pounded daily by thousands of trucks, tanks, and artillery tractors. The "Hours of Darkness" limit of 12 m.p.h. in towns (Para 163) was crucial for safety in the blackout conditions where headlights were restricted.
* Vehicle Classification:
* "cwt": The abbreviation "cwt" stands for hundredweight (112 lbs). A "15 cwt" truck (mentioned in Group B) was the standard British/Commonwealth utility truck (like the Bedford MW or CMP truck), the workhorse of the army.
* Group D (Track Vehicles): This category included bulldozers, tank recovery vehicles, and half-tracks, whose steel tracks could tear up paved surfaces, necessitating the strict 20 mph limit.
* Morale and Welfare (Cinema):
* "Moonlight in Hawaii": The notice at the bottom announces a screening of "Moonlight in Hawaii" (1941), a musical comedy starring the Andrews Sisters. These film screenings in the "Airmens' Mess" were vital for maintaining morale, providing a brief escape from the stress of the impending offensive (Operation Diadem launched just hours after this screening).
* Abbreviations:
* M.T.: Mechanical Transport.
* A.R.O.: Army Routine Orders.
* d.d.: Dated.
* m.p.h.: Miles per hour.
* cwt: Hundredweight (112 lbs).

36
Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is dated 13th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 667) labeled APPENDIX "Q" (page number 248), detailing the mission flown on the morning of May 12th, 1944.