22nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade
22nd Armoured Brigade
Active 1939–1960
1981-1993
Country  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Armoured
Size Brigade
Part of 2nd Armoured Division
7th Armoured Division
1st Armoured Division
1st (United Kingdom) Division
Garrison/HQ Campbell Barracks, Hohne
Engagements Second World War
North African Campaign
Invasion of Sicily
Battle of Normandy
North West Europe Campaign

The 22nd Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army that saw service during World War II. The brigade was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three Yeomanry (Territorial Army) mechanised cavalry regiments – 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) and 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).[1]

History

Second World War

A soldier from the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, manning a M1919 Browning machine gun, 31 December 1944.

The 22nd Armoured Brigade fought in the Western Desert Campaign under command at various times of the 7th, 1st and 10th Armoured Divisions (remaining with the 7th Armoured Division from El Alamein onwards), the Italian Campaign through to the campaign in North West Europe. It was involved in Operation Crusader, the Siege of Tobruk, Battle of Gazala, Battle of Alam el Halfa, Battle of El Alamein, the Tunisia Campaign, and the Capture of Naples, and Operation Overlord.

Post-war

From 1947 onward for a time it was part of the newly re-incorporated Territorial Army's 56th (London) Armoured Division. At that time it comprised the City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders), the Westminster Dragoons, the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), and 42nd Royal Tank Regiment.[2]

The brigade was reinstated by converting "Task Force Bravo" (which itself had been created four years earlier from 11th Armoured Brigade) into an armoured brigade in 1981, assigned to 1st Armoured Division[3] and based at Campbell Barracks in Hohne.[4] It disbanded in 1993.[5]

Component Units during World War II

22nd Armoured Brigade commanded the following regiments and battalions in World War II:[6]

From To Subordinate
3 September 193916 September 19422nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
3 September 193916 September 19423rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
27 September 193929 July 19444th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
23 November 19402 August 19412nd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
16 February 194219 June 194250th Reconnaissance Regiment
4 March 19426 June 1942107th (South Nottinghamshire Hussars) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
19 June 194231 August 19451st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade
25 June 19422 August 19422nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
2 August 194212 September 19421st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
17 September 194231 August 19451st Royal Tank Regiment
17 September 194231 August 19455th Royal Tank Regiment
29 July 194431 August 19455th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bellis 1994, pp. 16–17
  2. ↑ Graham Watson (10 March 2002). "United Kingdom: The Territorial Army 1947". orbat.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Black, Harvey. "The Cold War Years. A Hot War in reality. Part 6".
  4. ↑ "Campbell Barracks". BAOR Locations. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "201 Squadron". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 168

Bibliography

  • Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN 0-85420-999-9.
  • Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (1990) [1st. Pub. HMSO:1960]. Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945. London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2.
  • "22nd Armoured Brigade". Orders of Battle.com.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.