2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 2nd Armoured Division


caption=
dates= 15 December 1939-10 May 1941
country= United Kingdom
allegiance=
branch= British Army
type=Armoured division
role=
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current_commander=
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ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
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battles= North African Campaign
notable_commanders= Maj.Gen.Willoughby Norrie
anniversaries=

The 2nd Armoured Division was a Second World War British Army formation, created on 15 December 1939 and disbanded on 10 May 1941 after most of the division was captured at Mechili in Libya by German forces.

History

This formation had a short and unlucky history; formed in December 1939 it was sent to Cyrenaica in early 1941 guarding the line of communication, its 1st Armoured Brigade was detached to Greece at this time. It was sent to the Western Desert front where, due to its inexperience and poor equipment, was mostly captured on 8 April 1941. Some of its units escaped and were evacuated from Tobruk . On 10 May 1941 the division was officially disbandedand not reformed.

Following re-organisation, 2nd Infantry Division was reformed as an armoured formation in I(BR) Corps in Germany from 1976 to 1983. In this incarnation it had two armoured regiments, each nominally with 74 tanks, and three mechanised infantry battalions. Following further reorganisation in 1983 it was converted back into an infantry division.

General Officers Commanding

* 15 December 1939–17 April 1940—Maj.Gen. F.E. Hotblack
* 17 April–10 May 1940—Brig. C.W.M. Norrie
* 10 May 1940–5 January 1941—Maj.Gen. J.C. Tilly
* 16 January–12 February 1941—Brig. H.B. Latham
* 12 February–8 April 1941—Maj.Gen. M.D. Gambier-Parry

tructure

(On 8 April 1941 when it surrendered)

3rd Armoured Brigade

*5th Royal Tank Regiment
*6th Royal Tank Regiment
*1st King's Dragoon Guards
*3rd (The King's Own) Hussars

3rd Indian Motor Brigade

( 6 April 1941 - 8 April 1941 )
* 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)Mackenzie (1951), p. 71]
* 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)
* 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry

2nd Support Group

*1st The Tower Hamlets Rifles, The Rifle Brigade
*104th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery - (Until 4 April 1941 )
*102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Regiment , Royal Horse Artillery (1941)

ee also

* British Divisions in WWII

ources

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Footnotes

External links

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