British armoured formations of the Second World War
During the
Background
During the
In the 1930s,
British doctrine defined light tanks as reconnaissance vehicles armed only with
Armoured divisions
Formation
At the start of the Second World War, in September 1939, the British Army possessed two armoured divisions; one in Britain and a second in Egypt.[a] On 15 December 1939, the 2nd Armoured Division was established in Britain. Despite being formed, it had no fighting sub-units until the following month, when an independent armoured brigade and elements of the 1st Armoured Division were transferred to it.[15] The 3rd Armoured Division also began to form and several armoured regiments were earmarked to join it. Early war tank production went to formations in France or in Egypt resulting in little availability at home. With the British Army defeated in France and evacuated from Dunkirk, these units were equipped with a motley of armoured cars (improvised and factory built) and assigned to an armoured car brigade called a Motor Machine Gun brigade.[16][17]
Following the Allied defeat during the Battle of France, in 1940, new tank production orders were placed. The Army recognised that German armoured success during the fighting had come about as a result of the concentration of tanks in divisions. The Army intended to raise another seven armoured divisions by mid 1941.[18] This resulted in the 6th, the 8th, and the 9th Armoured Divisions being formed over the final months of 1940.[19] This was followed in 1941 by the 11th and the Guards Armoured Division.[20] These new divisions were supplemented by the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division being converted into the 42nd Armoured Division.[21] In Palestine, the 1st Cavalry Division was reorganised as an armoured formation and renamed the 10th Armoured Division.[22] Another armoured division, beyond the initial request for seven more formations, was formed in 1942. The 79th Armoured Division was short-lived as a traditional armoured division, and in April 1943 was assigned to the development and use of Hobart's Funnies (specialised tanks). In this capacity, it did not act en masse, it maintained command and administrative control of its sub-units, they were assigned to other formations to provide specialised support as and when.[23][24]
Structure
Between May 1939 and May 1945, there were nine changes in the organisation of the divisions.[25] When first formed, the Mobile Division had six light tank regiments in two cavalry brigades and a tank brigade of three medium regiments. The division was supported by a Pivot Group of two motorised infantry battalions and two artillery regiments.[5] Mobile Division (Egypt) consisted of a light armoured brigade, a cavalry brigade, a heavy armoured group of two Royal Tank Regiments and a Pivot Group.[8] On 25 May 1939, the Army decided that the organisation should change to an armoured division of a light and a heavy armoured brigade, each of three armoured regiments, totalling 349 tanks; 159 light cruisers, 108 light tanks, 58 heavy cruisers and 24 close support tanks. The two armoured brigades would have a Support Group that contained the divisional field artillery regiment, a mixed light anti-aircraft–anti-tank regiment, two motorised infantry battalions and the division's engineers.[26] The support group provided whatever support the armoured brigades needed, being able to provide motorised infantry, field artillery, anti-tank artillery or light anti-aircraft artillery as needed.
The next change (on paper) was made in April 1940; the tank strength of the division was reduced to 340 tanks by changes in the armoured regiments, the two armoured brigades now became homogeneous, dropping their prefixes and the division's engineers were removed from the Support Group, becoming divisional troops under their own headquarters.[26] Following the Battle of France, the Army realised that mixing light and cruiser tanks in the same brigade had been a mistake and that there were insufficient infantry and support units within the division.[27] In October, the Support Group's motorised infantry battalions were transferred to the armoured brigades, each receiving one, while the Support Group was given a lorried infantry battalion, increasing the infantry strength of the division to three battalions. The mixed anti-aircraft–anti tank regiment was replaced by two specialised regiments. More engineers were added to the division. In Britain, an armoured car regiment was placed under the command of the division but not in the Middle East.[28] While these theoretical changes were made, they did not reflect the armoured divisions' composition; in July, the 7th Armoured Division only had 65 cruiser tanks, lacking spare parts (some even lacking proper armament) while the division was operating two armoured regiments in each of its brigades.[29] In January 1941, the 1st Armoured Division, the best equipped armoured division in Britain, was 30 per cent below its tank establishment and was equipped with many obsolescent light tanks.[30]
In 1942, the British Army decided that an infantry brigade was needed in each division and on 27 February 1942 the next change was made for divisions operating in the Middle East; an armoured brigade would be replaced by an infantry brigade.
Prior to the Battle of Alam el Halfa, in August–September 1942, the armoured divisions in North Africa were again authorised to change; the armoured division became the basic battle formation again and the brigade groups were reorganised as they had previously. The artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft regiments would be put under the control of the Royal Artillery divisional headquarters and would be reinforced with additional batteries, the Royal Engineers would be reinforced and returned to the divisional engineer headquarters. The divisional tank establishment was increased to 186 and anti-aircraft tanks were also allocated to the division.[34]
In April 1943, the armoured car regiment was removed from the division and replaced with an armoured reconnaissance regiment. Additional troops were allocated to the infantry brigade. The artillery regiments were also reorganised, one would now be equipped with
During March 1944, further amendments were made; the additional troops allocated to the infantry brigade the year before were removed while, for the divisions allocated to the
During the
The armoured divisions (including the
In 1939, the armoured division comprised 9,442 men all ranks, this increased to 14,964 men all ranks by 1944; of this latter figure, the division had a combat strength of around 7,000 men with only 3,400 of these men being in the division's nine rifle companies compared to a combat strength of around 5,000 men in the American armoured division, of which 3,000 were in the rifle companies.
Role and tactics
The doctrine of the British Army in 1938 was for Army Tank Brigades, attached as Corps troops, to work with the Infantry divisions and
Analysis
The historian David French wrote that the Army's intention had been to create balanced all-arms formations but following the formation of their first armoured divisions, they had instead created tank-heavy divisions with too few infantry or supporting arms.[5] He wrote that the reforms that took place in 1940 forfeited an opportunity to transform the tank-heavy armoured divisions into a balanced all-arms force.[27]
Armoured Brigade and regiment structure
Like the division, the armoured brigade went through nine changes to its basic organisation, while the tank brigade went through four changes before a complete conversion of its role.[49] The structural changes did not mean the brigades conformed to each paper reorganisation and the actual changes sometimes took place prior or after their authorisation.[50] The two basic armoured brigades at the start of the war were the light armoured brigade and the heavy armoured brigade. The light armoured brigade was to be composed of three light armoured regiments each consisting of 22 light cruisers, 36 light tanks, 24 officers, and 492 other ranks. The brigade headquarters had six light cruisers and four heavy cruisers allocated to it, while each regimental headquarters had four light cruisers. The three sabre squadrons of each regiment consisted of two light tank squadrons, made up of five troops of three tanks and a squadron headquarters of three tanks, and one light cruiser squadron, made up of five troops of three light cruisers, and a squadron headquarters of three tanks.[51]
The heavy armoured brigade, laid out the same as the light armoured brigade, had 157 tanks, with each regiment made up of 26 light cruisers, 15 heavy cruisers, 8 close support tanks, 30 officers and 573 other ranks. Each regiment contained a headquarters with two light cruisers and two close support tanks, three squadrons each made up of a squadron headquarters, of one light cruiser and two close support tanks, a light squadron, with three troops of two light cruisers with a squadron headquarters of one light cruiser, and a heavy squadron, of two troops of two heavy cruisers, and squadron headquarters of one heavy cruiser.[51]
In May 1940, the armoured brigades became homogeneous and were reorganised; all now would contain 10 cruisers within the brigade headquarters, while the regimental headquarters would have four cruisers. Each regimental headquarters would control a headquarters squadron and three sabre squadrons; each of which consisted of a squadron headquarters, with two cruisers and two close support tanks, and four troops each comprising three cruisers. In total, each regiment would consist of 46 cruisers and 8 close support tanks, 31 officers and 546 other ranks, with the brigade being able to muster 166 tanks. The October 1940 authorised changes allocated an infantry battalion to the brigade, but made no other changes.[52]
The early 1942 Brigade Groups have already been described; however, the regiments were organised on two bases: those equipped with American tanks and those equipped with a mixture of American and British. The American equipped regiments, totalling 44 tanks, were organised as such: four M3 Stuarts allocated to the regimental headquarters, which controlled three sabre squadrons; one squadron of four troops of four Stuarts and a headquarters with a further four Stuarts, and two squadrons composed of M3 Grants each consisting of three troops of three tanks and a squadron headquarters of a further three Grants. The mixed regiments were laid out the same except with one squadron made up of Grants and two squadrons made up of Crusader tanks bringing the total to 48 tanks; 36 Crusaders, and 12 Grants.[53] The changes in late 1942 reverted the structure of the brigade and regiments to their 1941 layout, but also increased the regiment to 52 tanks, 4 anti-aircraft tanks, 54 officers and 600 other ranks. The regiments were to be equipped with M4 Shermans as they became available. The brigade headquarters would now only have 8 tanks allocated to it, while the regimental headquarters remained the same, but they were each given four anti-aircraft tanks. In the United Kingdom and the 6th Armoured Division, two additional troops were attached to each Sabre Squadron along with eight anti-aircraft tanks being attached to the regimental headquarters, bringing the regiment's strength up to 55 cruisers, 6 close support tanks, 8 anti-aircraft tanks, 36 officers and 644 other ranks.[54]
The November 1943 organisation removed a number of anti-aircraft tanks from each regiment and added a reconnaissance troop to the regiment bringing its strength to 55 cruisers, 6 close support tanks, 11 light cruisers and 6 anti-aircraft tanks. Each regiment would be manned by 37 officers and 655 other ranks.[55] By June 1944, the sabre squadrons in North West Europe were operating four tank troops. All Sherman equipped units, including the 7th Armoured Division's sabre squadrons but excluding the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiments, were equipped with Sherman Fireflys; 36 were generally provided to each brigade, enough to equip each troop with one. Later in the campaign, as more Fireflys became available, the troops were issued with two.[56] The final change to the brigade and regiment was authorised on 18 January 1945, but was not implemented till May; it was to standardise all armour and tank brigades and regiments. No changes were made to the layout of the regiments; however, three tanks were removed from the brigade headquarters, two anti-aircraft tanks would be added and eight Observation Post tanks would also be allocated to the brigade.[55]
Tank Brigades
The initial April 1938 Tank Brigade establishment was for the brigade to muster 175 tanks; each of its three battalions comprising 57 tanks, 29 officers, and 484 other ranks. The brigade headquarters would contain four tanks but could vary depending on the situation, while the battalion headquarters would contain two infantry tanks and four light tanks. Under the command of the battalion was three companies; each consisting of a headquarters, issued with one infantry tank and one light tank, and five sections, each mustering three infantry tanks.[57]
On 7 April 1941, the first change was made; the formations would drop army terminology and adopt cavalry terms. The brigade would now be able to muster 178 tanks, with each battalion made up of 58 tanks, 35 officers, and 547 other ranks. The brigade headquarters was issued four cruiser tanks and the battalion headquarters four infantry tanks. The battalion's three squadrons would comprise five troops, each of three infantry tanks, and a squadron headquarters of one infantry tank and two close support infantry tanks. The battalion remained the same through to August 1942, when each battalion headquarters was given an anti-aircraft troop of eight anti-aircraft tanks raising the battalions strength to 66 tanks, 37 officers and 588 other ranks.[58]
In November 1943, each brigade was allocated two anti-aircraft tanks and three bridge laying tanks, while each tank battalion headquarters had two of its anti-aircraft tanks replaced by observation tanks. The headquarters of each regiment was allocated 11 light tanks, while the squadrons themselves remained unchanged. Each battalion could muster 52 infantry tanks, 11 light tanks, six close support tanks, six anti-aircraft tanks, two observation tanks, 38 officers and 670 other ranks. The brigade totalling 240 tanks. Later in the year, the observation tanks would be removed from the battalion headquarters and eight would be assigned to the brigade headquarters. In January 1945, the final change was made to the tank brigade; they were to be redesignated armoured brigades and be reorganised along to the final armour brigade structure as authorised on 18 January.[58]
Independent armoured and tank brigades
Independent brigades could operate independently without being permanently attached to any other units. The difference between an armoured and tank brigade were the tanks they were issued. Armoured brigades used
The independent armoured brigades could in most cases trace their formation to an armoured division, 4th and 7th brigades to the 7th Armoured, 8th Brigade was part of 10th Armoured, before it was disbanded. 23rd Brigade part of 8th Armoured and 27th Brigade the 9th Armoured. Only 33rd Brigade was not originally part of an armoured division but was a tank brigade converted to an armoured brigade.
See also
- Australian armoured units of World War II
- British Army during the Second World War
- Panzer division
- Italian armoured divisions during the Second World War
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ The Mobile Division was renamed the 1st Armoured Division in April 1939.[5] The Mobile Division (Egypt) was renamed the Armoured Division (Egypt) on the outbreak of the war, and then the 7th Armoured Division on 16 February 1940.[14]
- ^ Artillery Observation Post (OP) tanks belonged to the division's artillery regiments. Some had their main guns replaced with a dummy gun to allow additional radio equipment and a map table to be installed.[37][38]
Citations
- ^ French 2001, pp. 28–29.
- ^ French 2001, pp. 36–37.
- ^ a b French 2001, pp. 37–41.
- ^ Perry 1988, p. 45.
- ^ a b c d e French 2001, p. 42.
- ^ Bell 1997, pp. 3–4.
- ^ Bell 1997, pp. 258–275, 277–278.
- ^ a b Carter, p. 11
- ^ Gibbs 1976, pp. 503–504.
- ^ Gibbs 1976, p. 511.
- ^ Gibbs 1976, pp. 514, 525.
- ^ Playfair et al. 2004, p. 478.
- ^ Zaloga 2015, pp. 80, 82.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 19.
- ^ Joslen 2003, pp. 14, 16, 168–169.
- ^ Crow 1972, p. 26; The Royal Armoured Corps Journal 1956, p. 79; Fletcher 1989, p. 38; Fraser 1999, pp. 78, 88.
- ^ "badge, formation, 9th Armoured Division & 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ Butler 1957, p. 256.
- ^ Joslen 2003, pp. 17, 22–23.
- ^ Joslen 2003, pp. 11, 27.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 29.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 25.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 30.
- ^ Buckley (2004), p. 13
- ^ a b Joslen 2003, p. 8.
- ^ a b Joslen 2003, p. 4.
- ^ a b French (2000), p. 192
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 5.
- ^ Playfair (1954), pp. 186, 188
- ^ French(2000), p. 107
- ^ French (2000), p. 269
- ^ Joslen 2003, pp. 5, 140.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 6.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 7.
- ^ Fortin,p. 82
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 9.
- ^ Taylor, p. 24
- ^ Reynolds, p. 103
- ^ Reynolds, p. 295
- ^ Buckley (2006), pp. 28–29
- ^ Buckley (2004), p. 40
- ^ French (2000), p. 270
- ISBN 978-0-7183-0386-0.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 10.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 129.
- ^ Reynolds, pp. 29–31
- ^ Reynolds, p. 31
- ^ French, p. 41
- ^ Joslen 2003, pp. 137, 192.
- ^ Joslen 2003, pp. 145, 149, 152, 161, 169.
- ^ a b Joslen 2003, p. 138.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 139.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 140.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 141.
- ^ a b Joslen 2003, p. 142.
- ^ Fortin, p. 92
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 192.
- ^ a b Joslen 2003, p. 194.
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- Brayley, Martin; Chappell, Mike (2001). British Army 1939–45 (1): North-West Europe. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-052-8.
- OCLC 154699922.
- Butler, J. R. M. (1957). Grand Strategy: September 1939–June 1941. History of the Second World War. Vol. II. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. OCLC 1035320124.
- Carter, R.M.P. (2005) [1988]. The History of the 4th Armoured Brigade. Merriam Press. ISBN 1-57638-018-1.
- Chappell, Mike (1987). British battle insignia (2): 1939-1940. Men-At-Arms. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-739-4.
- Crow, Duncan (1972). British and Commonwealth Armoured Formations (1919-46). AFV/Weapons series. Windsor: Profile Publications Limited. ISBN 978-0-853-83081-8.
- ISBN 978-0-11290-460-1.
- French, David (2001) [2000]. Raising Churchill's Army: The British Army and the War Against Germany 1919–1945. Oxford: ISBN 978-0-199-24630-4.
- Fortin, Ludovic (2004). British Tanks in Normandy. Histoire & Collections. ISBN 2-915239-33-9.
- ISBN 978-0-304-35233-3.
- Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
- ISBN 978-0-116-30181-9.
- Perry, Frederick William (1988). The Commonwealth Armies: Manpower and Organisation in Two World Wars. War, Armed Forces and Society. Manchester: ISBN 978-0-71902-595-2.
- ISBN 978-1-84574-065-8.
- Reynolds, Michael (2001) [1997]. Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy. Da Capo Press Inc. ISBN 1-885119-44-5.
- Taylor, Daniel (1999). Villers-Bocage Through the Lens. Old Harlow: Battle of Britain International. OCLC 43719285.
- The Royal Armoured Corps Journal (1956). "43rd Royal Tank Regiment". The Royal Armoured Corps Journal. London: Committee of the Royal Armoured Corps Journal. pp. 77ff. OCLC 828213850.
- Zaloga, Steven (2015). Armored Champion: The Top Tanks of World War II. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-81171-437-2.