| 2nd Armoured Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 15 December 1939–10 May 1941[1] 1976–1983 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | armoured |
| Size | Second World War 10,750 men[2][nb 1] |
| Engagements | North African Campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Willoughby Norrie |
|
||||||||
The 2nd Armoured Division was a British Army formation during the Second World War, created on 15 December 1939 and disbanded on 10 May 1941 after most of the division was captured at Mechili in Libya by German and Italian forces.
Contents |
History
This division had a short and unlucky history; formed in December 1939 it wasn't until the following month that it received any troops to command when the 1st Light Armoured Brigade and the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade were assigned.[3] Similarly the 2nd Support Group formed in February, but no troops were assigned until March.[4] The 1st Armoured Division had priority for equipment so the 2nd was forced to use whatever was available. The 1st Armoured Brigade was the most combat-ready element of the division during most of 1940 with its 150-odd Mk VI light tanks. The 22nd Armoured Brigade was forced to make do with trucks and a few light tanks.[5]
As the threat of invasion receded after the Battle of Britain the division was reorganized and reinforced for service in the Middle East. It exchanged the 22nd Armoured Brigade for the veteran 3rd Armoured Brigade from the 1st Armoured Division and each brigade exchanged regiments to ensure that it both cruisers and light tanks.[6]
The following table lists tank strengths before departure in October 1940:
| Number | Tank Type | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 169 | Mk VI | 52 each in KDG, 3rd Hussars, 4th Hussars, 4 with 1st RHA |
| 6 | A 9 CS | 2nd Royal Tank Regiment |
| 12 | A 10 CS | 6 each in 3rd and 5th RTR |
| 74 | A 10 | Two squadrons in 2nd RTR, one squadron each in 3rd and 5th RTR |
| 83 | A 13 | One squadron in 2nd RTR, two squadrons each in 3rd and 5th RTR |
In addition the division and each brigade headquarters had three Mk VI and seven cruiser (mainly A 10) tanks.[5]
The division was sent to Cyrenaica in early 1941 to guard the lines of communication, its 1st Armoured Brigade was detached to Greece at this time. It was sent to the Western Desert front to reinforce troops under General Wavell who, at the time, was on the verge of defeating Italian forces. However, shortly upon arrival in Libya, Wavell was ordered to send half his troops to Greece, not knowing that Germany had sent reinforcements to support the Italians. Immediately upon arrival at the front, both the 2nd Armoured Division and Wavell's troops were ordered to retreat. Unfortunately, most of the Division was captured in an pincer movement on 8 April 1941 by the Italian 10th Bersaglieri Regiment, the 5th Light Division, and the 15th Panzer Division. Some of its units escaped and were evacuated from Tobruk. On 10 May 1941 the division was officially disbanded and not reformed. On 28 April 1945, Russell T. Cochran and another unnamed soldier became the first to be recaptured by US troops marching to Nuremberg.
Following re-organisation, 2nd Infantry Division was reformed as an armoured formation in I(BR) Corps in Germany from 1976 to 1983. In this incarnation it had two armoured regiments, each nominally with 74 tanks, and three mechanised infantry battalions, and probably incorporated Task Force Charlie and Task Force Delta. Following further reorganisation in 1983 it was converted back into an infantry division.
(The 2nd Armoured Division also had an RAMC Brigade, but ww2 records identifying the unit number are currently unavailable.[7]
General Officers Commanding
The 2nd Armoured Division had five General Officer Commanding during its Second World War existence, with the final officer being taken prisoner.
| Appointed | General Officer Commanding |
| 15 December 1939 | Major-General F.E. Hotblack[1] |
| 17 April 1940 | Brigadier C.W.M. Norrie (acting)[1] |
| 10 May 1940 | Major-General J.C. Tilly (Died on 05 January 1941)[1] |
| 16 January 1941 | Brigadier H.B. Latham (acting)[1] |
| 12 February 1941 | Major-General M.D. Gambier Parry (captured on 8 April 1941)[1] |
Structure
(On 8 April 1941 when it surrendered)
3rd Armoured Brigade
- 5th Royal Tank Regiment
- 6th Royal Tank Regiment
- 1st King's Dragoon Guards
- 3rd (The King's Own) Hussars
3rd Indian Motor Brigade
( 6 April 1941 - 8 April 1941 )
- 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)[8]
- 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)[8]
- 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry[8]
2nd Support Group
- 1st The Tower Hamlets Rifles, The Rifle Brigade
- 104th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery - (Until 4 April 1941 )
- 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (1941)
See also
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ This is the war establishment, the on-paper strength, of the division for 1940; for information on how the division size changed over the war please see British Army during the Second World War and British Armoured formations of the Second World War.
- Citations
References
- Cochran, Russell (1991). The Lost Years. Unpublished Autobiography of Russell T. Cochran
- Hughes, David; Broshot, James and Philson, Alan (1999). British Armoured and Cavalry Divisions. The British Armies in World War Two: An Organizational History. One. George F. Nafziger.
- Joslen, Lieutenant-Colonel H.F (1960) [1960]. Orders Of Battle Second World War 1939-1945. Naval & Military Press Ltd. ISBN 978-184342-474-1.
- Latimer, Jon (2001). Tobruk 1941; Rommel's Opening Move. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
- MacKenzie, Compton (1951). Eastern Epic. London: Chatto & Windus.
External links
- 2 Armoured Division at Orders of Battle.com?
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