79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
79th Armoured Division | |
---|---|
Active | 14 August 1942–20 August 1945 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Specialised armour |
Size | Division |
Engagements | Second World War |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Major-General Sir Percy Hobart |
The 79th Armoured Division was a specialist
Major-General Percy Hobart commanded the division and was in charge of the development of armoured vehicles that were solutions to problems of the amphibious landing on the defended French coastline; these unusual-looking tanks it developed and operated were known as "Hobart's Funnies". They included tanks that floated, could clear mines, destroy defences, carry and lay bridges, and roadways. The practical use of these specialist tanks was confirmed during the landings on the beaches. Its vehicles were distributed as small units across the divisions taking part in the landings and subsequent operations. The division remained in action during the North-west European Campaign, providing specialised support during assaults to the 21st Army Group and, occasionally, to American units outside 21st. Again they were of significant use during the Rhine crossings.
History
Hobart had formed the
The 79th was formed as a standard armoured formation serving in the UK under
Initially the division based on the 27th Armoured Brigade included infantry, artillery and engineers but the infantry unit, 185th, and its artillery regiments were all removed by April 1943. Its engineer units were generally removed by November 1943.[2]
In March 1943 Hobart met Brooke who gave him the role of developing and training a division of specialist armoured vehicles that would lead the invasion of France in 1944[3] The initial new organization of the 79th was a tank brigade, an armoured brigade, and a Royal Engineers assault brigade; this was expanded with additional brigades of the new armoured vehicles developed by the 79th.[4]
Hobart gave firm direction and the strange-looking tanks it developed and operated were known as
The 79th Armoured Division was disbanded on 20 August 1945. Hobart subsequently commanded the Specialized Armour Development Establishment (SADE), which was formed from elements of the 79th together with the Assault Training and Development Centre.[7]
Equipment
The equipment included the following:[5]
- The "Duplex Drive" tank was a Sherman tank converted for amphibious use with twin types of locomotion: tracks and propellers; the design was used by the Allies in the opening phases of the Normandy landings in 1944.
- The North African Campaignin 1942.
- The Churchill spigot mortarthat fired a 40 pound (18 kg) "Flying dustbin" demolition bomb.
- The 'Bobbin' Carpet Layer was a Churchill AVRE fitted out with a roll of matting for laying on a beach or other soft surface.
- The Fascine Carrier was a Churchill AVRE which could carry and lay large bundles of sticks to repair holes in the ground.
- The Small Box Girder ('SBG') bridge layer was a Churchill AVRE fitted and lay a bridge large enough to cross a 30 foot gap.
- The Churchill Armoured Ramp Carrier ('ARK') was a turretless Churchill tank with ramps at either end which, when lowered, could form a mobile bridge.
- The "Buffalo" Landing Vehicle Tracked ('LVT') was a tracked vehicle intended to carry replenishments from ships ashore; the design was used at the Battle of the Scheldt during the crossing of the Rhine in 1945.
- The Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier was a self-propelled gun or other armoured vehicle, surplus to requirements which was converted by removal of the gun or turret into an infantry carrier. The Kangaroo was not developed until after the D-day landings.
- The Canal Defence Light ('CDL') was a powerful carbon-arc searchlight mounted on a tank which could be deployed to dazzle and confuse enemy troops.
- The Churchill Crocodile was a Churchill VII tank in which the hull machine gun was replaced with a flamethrower; fuel was carried behind the tank in an armoured wheeled trailer.
-
Duplex Drive Sherman tank with its flotation screen lowered
-
Sherman Crab; flail lowered into a dip; turret traversed rear to avoid flails
-
Churchill AVRE from 5th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers - Sword Beach, 6 June 1944.
-
Close-up of an AVRE's Petard Mortar
-
"Carpet roll Type D" - the Churchill is fitted with extended radiator intakes and exhausts so that it could wade ashore
-
AVRE with Fascine Carrier (a cradle that could tilt forward to deposit fascine)
-
Small Box Girder bridge layer in North-west Europe 1944-45
-
The Armoured Ramp Carrier
-
Buffalo amphibious vehicles taking Canadians across the Scheldt 1944
-
Ram tank converted to Kangaroo personnel carrier being used by infantry of 53rd (Welsh) Division, on the outskirts of Ochtrup, 3 April 1945
-
M3 tank fitted with Canal Defense Light in the turret
-
Churchill Crocodile
Order of battle
- 14 August 1942
The 79th Armoured Division was first raised as a conventional armoured division, with one Armoured Brigade, one Infantry Brigade and supporting arms.[9]
- 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
- 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own).
- 1st East Riding Yeomanry
- 2nd Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regiment
- 2nd Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry
HQ Royal Artillery – converted into 9th Army Group Royal Artillery on 1 May 1943[10]
- 142nd (Royal Devon Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA[11]
- 150th (South Notts Hussars Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA[12]
- 55th (Suffolk & Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA[13]
- 119th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA[14]
- 1943
- 22nd Dragoons
- 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons)
- 1st Lothians and Border Horse
1st Assault Brigade and Assault Park Squadron RE - Formed on 1 November 1943
- 5th Assault RegimentRE
- 6th Assault Regiment RE
- 42nd Assault Regiment RE
- Operation Overlord (Normandy landings)[15]
The division was under direct command of the 21st Army Group, portions being placed in support of the Second Army for Operation Overlord.
1st Assault Brigade and Assault Park Squadron RE (AVRE)
- 149 Assault Park Squadron, RE
- 5th Assault RegimentRE
- 77 Assault Squadron, RE
- 79 Assault Squadron, RE
- 80 Assault Squadron, RE
- 26 Assault Squadron, RE
- 6th Assault Regiment RE
- 81 Assault Squadron, RE
- 82 Assault Squadron, RE
- 87 Assault Squadron, RE
- 284 Assault Squadron, RE
- 42nd Assault Regiment RE
- 16 Assault Squadron, RE
- 617 Assault Squadron, RE
- 222 Assault Squadron, RE
- 557 Assault Squadron, RE – remained in England as training unit
- 22nd Dragoons
- 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons)
- 1st Lothians and Border Horse
- September 1944
This is the order of battle on 17 September 1944, at the beginning of
.- 22nd Dragoons
- 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons)
- 1st Lothians and Border Horse
1st Assault Brigade and Assault Park Squadron RE (AVRE)
- 5th Assault RegimentRE
- 6th Assault Regiment RE
- 42nd Assault Regiment RE
- 11th Royal Tank Regiment - Grant CDL tank
- 42nd Royal Tank Regiment - Grant CDL tank
- 49th Royal Tank Regiment - Grant CDL tank
- 141st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps- Churchill Crocodile
- 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry- Churchill Crocodile
- 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment - Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier
Divisional troops, Royal Armoured Corps
- Staffordshire Yeomanry– Sherman DD tanks
- Operation Varsity (Rhine crossing)
This is the order of battle for the division on 23 March 1945, which was the commencement of the crossing of the River Rhine, and the beginning of the final advance into Germany. As can be seen, the establishment of the division had grown as the requirement for specialised armour had increased.
1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers (AVRE)
- 5th Assault RegimentR.E.
- 6th Assault Regiment R.E.
- 42nd Assault Regiment R.E.
- 87 Assault Dozer Squadron, R.E.
- 149 Assault Park Squadron, R.E.
- 22nd Dragoons
- 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons)
- 1st Lothians and Border Horse
- 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry(Crocodile)
- 141st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps(Crocodile)
- 7th Royal Tank Regiment (Crocodile)
- 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment(Kangaroo)
- 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment (Kangaroo)
- 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry
- 1st East Riding Yeomanry
- 4th Royal Tank Regiment
- 11th Royal Tank Regiment
Divisional troops, Royal Armoured Corps
- Staffordshire Yeomanry– Sherman DD tanks
See also
- List of British divisions in World War II
- British Armoured formations of World War II
Notes
- ^ Fletcher, 1984 p5
- ^ a b c "79th Armoured Division". Unit Histories. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Fletcher, 1984 p5
- ^ Fletcher, 1984 p5
- ^ a b "The Funny Tanks of D-Day". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "The crossing of the Elbe near Lauenburg". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Fletcher, p. 39
- user-generated source]
- ^ Joslen, p. 30.
- ^ 9th AGRA at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "142nd Fd Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015". Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ 150th Fd Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015 Archived 31 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "55th A/T Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015". Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "119 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015". Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "79th Armoured Division, 21st Army Group British Army, 06.06.44". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
References
- Doherty, Richard Hobart's 79th Armoured Division at War: Invention, Innovation and Inspiration, Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2011, ISBN 978-1-84884-398-1.
- Fletcher, D. Swimming Shermans: Sherman DD Amphibious Tank of World War II, Osprey Publishing, 2006.
- Fletcher, David (1984). Vanguard of victory : the 79th Armoured Division. HMSO. ISBN 011290422X.
- Hastings, Max (1999). Overlord. London: Pan. p. 396. ISBN 0-330-39012-0.
- Hobart, P C S; Montgomery, Field Marshal (1945). The story of 79th Armoured Division October 1942-June 1945. Hamburg: 79th Armoured Division. p. 314.
- Joslen, Lt-Col H.F., Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
- Keegan, John; Kenneth Macksey (1991). Churchill's Generals. London: Cassell. pp. 250–254. ISBN 0-304-36712-5.
External links
- Royal Artillery 1939–1945
- Royal Engineers Museum Royal Engineers and Second World War (Assault Engineers)
- Royal Engineers Museum Biography of Major General Sir Percy Hobart
- Royal Engineers Museum Royal Engineers and Operation Overlord
- "79 Armoured Division". Orders of Battle.com.