The British Armoured Division, 1941 to mid 1942
Divisional Troops
Divisional Headquarters
Employment Platoon
Field Security Section
Divisional Intelligence Section
Armoured Divisional Signals
Armoured Car Regiment
Two Armoured Brigades, each comprised of;
Brigade Headquarters
Three Armoured Regiments
Motor Battalion - click on The British Motor Battalion 1941 to 1942 link for more detail.
Support Group
Support Group Headquarters
Field Regiment - with twenty four towed 25-pdr guns divided into three Batteries, with two Troops of four guns per Battery.
Anti-tank Regiment - with thirty six anti-tank guns, divided into three Batteries, with three Troops of four guns per Battery.
Light Anti-aircraft Regiment - with thirty six towed 40-mm light anti-aircraft guns, divided into three Batteries, with three Troops of four guns per Battery.
Infantry Battalion - found in Home Forces only.
Engineers
Two Field Squadrons
Field Park Squadron
Supply and Transport
Headquarters, Armoured Divisional Royal Army Service Corps
Two Armoured Brigade Companies
Support Group Company
Armoured Divisional Troops Company
Medical
Three Light Field Ambulances
Light Field Hygiene Section
Repair
Divisional Ordnance Workshop
Divisional Ordnance Field Park
Light Aid Detachments
Miscellaneous
Divisional Provost Company
Divisional Postal Unit
Comments
Attempts to produce a standard Armoured Division for use by the British Army were generally dashed by the reality of the situation in North Africa. Armoured Divisions in the Middle East underwent numerous amendments throughout 1942, which eventually affected the organisation used in the United Kingdom.
The key change was the replacement of one Armoured Brigade with a normal Infantry Brigade, which began to occur towards the end of summer 1942. At the end of that year there were further amendments to the Divisional Artillery and repair units, which are detailed in the final entry.
Return to...