The British Armoured Division, 1939 to 1940
Divisional Troops
Divisional Headquarters
Armoured Divisional Signals
Light Armoured Brigade
Brigade Headquarters
Three Light Armoured Regiments
Heavy Armoured Brigade
Brigade Headquarters
Three Heavy Armoured Regiments or Battalions
From April 1940, the separate Light and Heavy Armoured Brigades were reorganised into two identical Brigades -
Two Armoured Brigades, each comprised of;
Brigade Headquarters
Three Armoured Regiments
Support Group
Support Group Headquarters
Two Motor Battalions - click on The British Motor Battalion 1940 for more detail.
Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery - as for Infantry Division, with twenty four towed 25-pdr guns in two Batteries of twelve guns each.
Light Anti-aircraft and Anti-tank Regiment - with two Light Anti-aircraft Batteries, each with twelve towed 40-mm guns in three Troops of four guns each, and two Anti-tank Batteries, each with twelve towed 2-pdr guns in three Troops of four guns each.
Engineers
Field Squadron
Field Park Troop
Supply and Transport
Headquarters, Armoured Divisional Royal Army Service Corps
Light Armoured Brigade Company
Heavy Armoured Brigade Company
Both Light and Heavy Brigade Companies became Armoured Brigade Companies from May 1940
Support Group Company
Armoured Divisional Troops Company
Medical
Two Light Field Ambulances
Light Field Hygiene Section
Repair
Armoured Division Workshop
Miscellaneous
Divisional Provost Company
Divisional Postal Unit
Comments
In April 1940 a major reorganisation of the Armoured Division was begun. The intention was to eliminate light tanks from the formation, and equip all six Armoured Regiments with cruisers. However, this project coincided with the German offensive in the West in May 1940, and 1st Armoured Division was rushed across the Channel to help stem the advance. Once there, it found itself operating without either of its Motor Battalions, its Field Regiment and one of its Armoured Regiments.
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British Divisional Organisations