6th Motor Brigade (Australia)

6th Motor Brigade
Active 1942
Country  Australia
Allegiance Australian
Branch Australian Light Horse
Type Motorised
Role Motorised Infantry Brigade
Size Brigade
Part of 2nd Motor Division
Garrison/HQ Adelaide
Equipment Trucks, Universal Carriers
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

The 6th Motor Brigade was a militia formation of the Australian Army which was formed during World War II.

Its lineage begins with the 6th Cavalry Brigade which was formed from the existing 8th Light Horse Brigade in the reorganisation of the Army in 1921. Upon the declaration of war in 1939, the brigade was placed on a war footing. Following the invasion of Malaya, bombing of Pearl Harbor and fall of Singapore, the 6th was called up for full-time service in Australia. The evolution of Australia's mounted forces, the Australian Light Horse, had lagged well behind that of other countries who had converted their horse mounted cavalry to motorised (trucks) or mechanised (armoured fighting vehicles) forces.[1]

Consequently, the 6th Cavalry Brigade became the 6th Motor Brigade in February 1942, and its subordinate units were also motorised. The 3rd, 9th and 18th Light Horse regiments were directed to reorganise and re-equip as Motor Regiments, which were effectively lorry/truck borne motorised infantry, similar to the British Motor Battalions, US Armoured Infantry or German Panzer Grenadier units. However, this was short lived and most units never completed the process of motorisation.[2]

As part of the broader mechanisation and motorisation of the 2nd Motor Division, which would become the 2nd Armoured Division, the brigade was converted to a mechanised formation, the 6th Armoured Brigade in May 1942, joining the 3rd Motor Brigade and other divisional troops.[3]

Brigade units

All units that served with the brigade during the war.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Morrison, James (2006). "Land Warfare Studies Centre Study Paper No. 307, Mechanising an Army: Mechanisation Policy and the Conversion of the Light Horse, 1920–1943" (PDF). p. 61.
  2. ↑ Morrison. op cit. pp. 69–71.
  3. ↑ "6 Australian Motor Brigade". Order of Battle. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  4. ↑ "6 Motor Brigade units". Order of Battle. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
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