4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade
abbreviation=


caption=
dates= 1943 - 1945
country= New Zealand
allegiance=New Zealand Crown
branch=New Zealand Army
type= Armoured
role=
size= Brigade
command_structure= 2nd New Zealand Division
equipment=
Past Commanders=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=New Zealand Fern
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=The Sangro
Battle of Monte Cassino
Central Italy
Adriatic Coast
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade' was formed in 1943 from the remnants of the 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade they were part of the 2nd New Zealand Division, which had already seen action in the Battle of Greece the Battle of Crete and in the North African Campaign, having a leading part in the Battle of El Alamein. [cite web|title=diggerhistory|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nz/2div-nzef-ww2.htm 2 Div NZFE]

Italian Campaign

The Brigade arrived in Italy in October 1943 and were involved in the first actions to break through the Bernhardt_Line on the Sangro front. cite web|title=flamesofwar|url=http://www.flamesofwar.com/?tabid=108&art_id=246] [The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, edited by Charles Hazlitt Uphman, 1966 edition. Available on-line at: http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/W/WarsSecondWorldWar/TheArmy/en]

In 1944 they were transferred to the American 5th Army on the Italian western coast. The New Zealand Division was joined by the 4th Indian Division and the 78th British Division, and together with units of the 1st US Armored Division formed the New Zealand Corps and was tasked with the capture of the town of Cassino, its skyline dominated by a 13th Century Monastery. [cite web|title=diggerhistory|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nz/2div-nzef-ww2.htm 2 Div NZFE]

During this period the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade was tasked with supporting the infantry. Individual squadrons were employed in a fire support role, often being used as makeshift artillery.

The 20th Armoured Regiment participated in a flanking attack, approaching the Monastery on a specially constructed road from behind. Surprise was achieved, but insufficient infantry reserves to press the initiative saw the German defenders regain the upper hand and the tanks fall back. In March tanks from the 19th Armoured Regiment entered the town proper to support members of the 28th Māori Battalion in the bitter house to house fighting, using their 75mm guns to dig the defenders out of strong points. The degree of rubble clogging the streets made progress slow and by the end of the month when relieved by the 20th Armoured Regiment the Shermans had reverted to the role of static fire support.

This continued for the next two months, with the tanks able to provide little more than morale support to the infantry until the monastery finally fell to Polish forces on the 19th of May.

In August the 18th Armoured Regiment during an attack on Castelle, were employed as gun tows for 6pdr and 17pdr guns, the guns crews being carried as tank riders.

The Brigade's next major engagement was to assist in the 8th Army’s attack on the Adriatic end of the Gothic Line in September 1944.

The final campaign began on the 9 April 1945 with some New Zealand armoured units again being used ad artillery support.A number of rivers blocked the advance and these were progressively assaulted by infantry and then in turn the armour moved up to support as bridges were constructed. By this point the German troops had begun surrendering in large numbers.

With the final rivers behind them the bulk of the New Zealand armoured brigade raced to the city of Trieste where they accepted the surrender of the German garrison. Members of Tito’s Yugoslav partisan army had also occupied the city and the presence of the New Zealanders in an area the Yugoslavs considered their spoils of war was not welcome. Tensions remained high, at one point escalating to a face off between 25 Yugoslav T-34s, which had entered the city, and the 19th Armoured Regiment.

Post War

The 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade remained as a garrison in Trieste for a month before surrendering most of their equipment to a British depot whilst retaining approximately 100 vehicles to form the core of an armoured force for deployment to the Pacific or Far East. With the war in the pacific also drawing to a close these tanks were also retired and on the 2nd December 1945 the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade was officially disbanded.

Formation

The 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade was composed of three armoured regiments, the 18th, 19th and 20th. The armoured regiments were organized along British lines although with fewer tanks than their British counterparts.A New Zealand armoured regiment consisted of 52 Sherman tanks. These composed a Regimental HQ troop of four tanks and three Squadrons of sixteen tanks. In addition the regiment contained a Recce Troop equipped with Stuart V light tanks in both turreted and turret less configurations and an Intercommunication troop equipped with Lynx light scout cars.Each Squadron consisted of a Squadron Headquarters with four tanks and four troops each of three tanks.
**18th New Zealand Armoured Regiment
**19th New Zealand Armoured Regiment
**20th New Zealand Armoured Regiment
**22nd New Zealand Motor Bn ( Oct 1943- Nov 1944) [cite web|title=balagan.org|url=http://www.balagan.org.uk/war/nz/1939/org.htm]

Battles

*The Sangro (October–December 1943)
*Battle of Monte Cassino (February–March 1944)
*Central Italy (May–December 1944)
*Adriatic Coast (April–May 1945). [cite web|title=diggerhistory|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nz/2div-nzef-ww2.htm 2 Div NZFE]

References

Further Reading

*Phillips, N. C. (1957). Italy (Vol. 1): The Sangro to Cassino. War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. New Zealand.
*Plowman, J. and Thomas, M. (2000). 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade in Italy. Kiwi Armour 1.