68th Armor Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=68th Armored Regiment


caption=
dates=1933-10-01 - Present
country=USA
allegiance=
branch=Regular Army
type=Armored Regiment
role=
size=Regiment
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=Fort Carson
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=Red, Yellow and Blue
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

Lineage

Assembly

*Constituted 1933-10-01 in the Regular Army as the 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks), by redesignation of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Tank Companies as Organic Companies of the 68th Infantry Regiment. See Below.

1st Tank Company

*Organized 1918-06-07 in the National Army in France as Company A, 327th Battalion, Tank Corps, American Expeditionary ForcePart of the World War One Light Tank Brigade established in the American Expeditionary Force Commanded by COL. George S. Patton, Junior.] .
*Redesignated 1918-09-12 as Company A, 345th Battalion, Tank Corps.
*Reorganized and redesignated 1921-01-08 as the 1st Tank Company and allotted to the Regular Army
*Assigned 1921-04-01 to the 1st Division
*Relieved 1939-10-16 from assignment to the 1st Division
*Consolidated 1940-01-01 with Company A, 68th Infantry and consolidated unit designated as Company A, 68th Infantry.
*Inactivated 1940-06-05 at Fort Benning.
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company A, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to 2nd Armored Division.
*Activated 1940-08-01 at Fort Benning.
*See Regiment for further history

2nd Tank Company

*Organized 1918-06-07 in the National Army in France as Company C, 327th Battalion, Tank Corps, AEF.
*Redesignated 1918-09-12 as Company C, 345th Battalion, Tank Corps.
*Reorganized and redesignated 1921-01-08 as the 2nd Tank Company and allotted to the Regular Army
*Redesignated 1940-01-01 as Company D, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks).
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company D, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.

3rd Tank Company

*Organized April, 1918 in the National Army at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania as Company A, 328th Battalion, Tank Corps
*Reorganized and redesignated 1921-01-08 as the 3rd Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army.
*Redesignated 1940-01-01 as Company E, 68th Infantry (Light Tanks).
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company E, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.

4th Tank Company

*Organized April, 1918 in the National Army at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania as Company C, 328th Battalion, Tank Corps
*Reorganized and redesignated 1921-01-08 as the 4th Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and assigned to the 4th Division)
*Inactivated 1921-09-27 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
*Activated 1931-09-15 at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
*Redesignated 1940-01-01 as Company B, 68th Infantry (Light Tanks), and relieved from assignement to the 4th Division.
*Inactivated 1940-06-05 at Fort Benning, Georgia
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company B, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to 2nd Armored Division.
*Activated 1940-08-01 at Fort Benning.

5th and 6th Tank Companies

*Organized 1918-02-17 as B Company (Provisional), Tank Service, American Expeditionary Force.
*Redesignated 1918-04-16 in the National Army at Borg, France as Company B, 1st Tank Center, American Expeditionary Force.
*Redesignated on 1918-06-06 as Company B, 326th Battalion, Tank Corps.
*Redesignated 1918-09-01 as Company B, 344th Battalion, Tank Corps.
*Reorganized and redesignated 1921-01-08 as the 5th Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army.
*Consolidated 1940-01-01 with 6th Tank Company, and then reorganized and redesignated as Company C, 68th infantry Regiment
*Inactivated 1940-06-05 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company C, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to 2nd Armored Division.
*Activated 1940-08-01 at Fort Benning.

7th Tank Company

*Organized 1918-06-07 as Company B, 327th Battalion, Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Force.
*Redesignated 1918-09-12 as Company B, 345th Battalion, Tank Corps.
*Reorganized and redesignated 1921-01-08 as the 2nd Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army.
*Inactivated 1921-09-06 at Camp Meade, Maryland.
*Redesignated 1940-01-01 as Company F, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks), and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia.
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company F, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to 2nd Armored Division.

Company G, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks)

*Constituted 1933-10-01 in the Regular Army as Company G, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks).
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company G, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to 2nd Armored Division.
*Activated 1940-08-13 at Fort Benning.

Company H, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks)

*Constituted 1933-10-01 in the Regular Army as Company G, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks).
*Redesignated 1940-07-15 as Company G, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to 2nd Armored Division.
*Activated 1940-08-13 at Fort Benning.

Armored Regiment

*(1st and 2nd Battalions activated 1940-01-01 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as Infantry Tank Battalions (See Above);
*1st Battalion inactivated 1940-06-05 at Fort Benning, Georgia, (See Above).
*Converted and redesignated 1940-07-15 as the 68th Armored Regiment and assigned to the 2d Armored Division.
*Regiment (less the 2nd Battalion, which was already active) activated 1940-08-01 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
*Inactivated 1942-01-08 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and relieved from assignment to the 2d Armored Division
*Assigned 1942-02-15 to the 6th Armored Division and activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky
*Moved to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas on 1942-03-20 for divisional training and maneuvers.
*Moved to Camp Young, California on 1942-10-12 to train at the Desert Training Center.

Triangulation

*Regiment broken up 1943-09-20 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows:
#Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company and 2d Battalion as the 68th Tank Battalion and remained assigned to the 6th Armored Division
#1st Battalion as the 773d Tank Battalion and relieved from assignment to the 6th Armored Division
#3d Battalion as the 15th Tank Battalion and remained assigned to the 6th Armored Division
#Reconnaissance Company as Troop D, 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, and remained an element of the 6th Armored Division
#Maintenance and Service Companies, and Band disbanded.

World War Two Service

Troop D, 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron

*Deployed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 1944-02-11.
*Arrived in England on 1944-02-23.
*Deployed further to France on 1944-07-19.
*Was located at Kahla, Germany on 1945-08-14VJ Day]
*Return to Boston Port of Embarkation on1945-09-18

15th Tank Battalion

*Deployed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 1944-02-11.
*Arrived in England on 1944-02-24.
*Further deployed to France on 1944-07-22
*Located at Jena, Germany on 1945-08-14
*Returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on 1946-02-20

68th Tank Battalion

*Deployed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 1944-02-11.
*Arrived in England on 1944-02-24.
*Further deployed to France on 1944-07-22
*Located at Buttstadt, Germany on 1945-08-14
*Returned to the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation on 1945-12-29

773rd Tank Battalion

*Battalion did not deploy.

Reconsolidation

*After 1943-09-20 the above units underwent changes that resulted in reconsolidation as follows:
#68th Tank Battalion relieved 1945-07-19 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division
Inactivated 1945-12-29 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
Redesignated 1950-08-21 as the 68th Medium Tank Battalion and assigned to the 6th Armored Division
Activated 1950-09-05 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Inactivated 1956-03-16 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Relieved 1957-07-01 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division.
#773d Tank Battalion reorganized and redesignated 1943-10-27 as the 773d Amphibian Tank Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 1944-01-10 as the 773d Amphibian Tractor Battalion
Inactivated 1946-04-15 in Japan
Redesignated 1946-12-24 as the 56th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
Redesignated 1949-04-18 as the 56th Amphibious Tank and Tractor Battalion
Activated 1949-05-10 at Fort Worden, Washington
Inactivated 1954-12-15 at Fort Worden, Washington
#15th Tank Battalion relieved 1945-07-09 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division
Inactivated 1946-02-22 — 1946-02-25 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
#Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 15th Tank Battalion, redesignated 1946-08-01 as 15th Tank Company, and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
Inactivated 1946-11-06 at Fort Riley, Kansas
Activated 1947-06-01 in Italy
Inactivated 1949-12-01 in Italy
Redesignated 1950-08-21 as Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company, 15th Medium Tank Battalion (organic elements of the 15th Tank Battalion redesignated as elements of the 15th Medium Tank Battalion), and assigned to the 6th Armored Division
Battalion activated 1950-09-05 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Inactivated 1956-03-16 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Relieved 1957-07-01 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division.
#Troop D, 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, inactivated 1945-09-19 at Camp Myles Standish, *Massachusetts
Redesignated 1950-08-21 as Company D, 86th Reconnaissance Battalion, and remained an element of the 6th Armored Division
Activated 1950-09-05 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Inactivated 1956-03-16 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Relieved 1957-07-01 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division.
#Maintenance and Service Companies, 68th Armored Regiment, reconstituted 1957-07-01 in the Regular Army
*68th and 15th Medium Tank Battalions; 56th Amphibious Tank and Tractor Battalion; Company D, 86th Reconnaissance Battalion; and Maintenance and Service Companies, 68th Armored Regiment, consolidated, reorganized, and redesignated 1957-07-01 as the 68th Armor Regiment, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

Post World War Two

*Relieved 1963-04-01 from assignment to the 3d Infantry Division; concurrently redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor, and assigned to the 8th Infantry Division.
*Withdrawn 1984-04-01 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System (USARS)
*1st Battalion Inactivated 1991-03-15 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 8th Infantry Division.
*1st Battalion Assigned 1996-01-16 to the 4th Infantry Division and activated at Fort Carson, Colorado
*4th Battalion 68th Armor was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division in the seventies and early eighties, until replaced by a unit of the 17th cavalry.

Honors

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT

*World War I:

#St. Mihiel;
#Meuse-Argonne

*World War II:

#Normandy;
#Northern France;
#Rhineland;
#Ardennes-Alsace;
#Central Europe;
#Western Pacific (with arrowhead);
#Ryukyus (with arrowhead)

*Korean War:

#Korea, Summer 1953

DECORATIONS

#Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) for SAIPAN AND TINIAN

 

History of the silver lions

The 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, was the "only" Armor Battalion located on Fort Carson, with 48 M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks, 32 Armored Personnel Carriers, Over 50 Tactical Wheeled vehicles, 5 Tracked Maintenance/Recovery vehicles and over 600 personnel, the "Silver Lion" Battalion was a large Self Reliant organization. 1-68 Armor had 4 Company's (Companies A, B, C & HHC) that when combined into a team made a well organized combat unit. There were 14 M1A1 Main Battle Tanks in each Line Company (Companies A, B, & C). The combined strength of the 14 M1A1's with all guns blazing made each company, theoretically, more powerful than a WWII Battleship. With 3 "Battleships" at its disposal there was no mission that the "Silver Lions" Could not handle. To Support the 3 line Company's there was Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) which was the largest of the 4 Company's with over 300 personnel. Located in HHC were platoons of Cavalry Reconnaissance, Mortar, Maintenance, Headquarters, Signal, Supply, Intelligence, Cooks, Chemical, Administration and Medics for the Battalion.

Before the Force 21 Concept, 1st battalion 68th Armor had at the time 5 Company's that were headquarters and Headquarters Company, A, B, C & D Companies. On April 13, 2000, A Company was deactivated turning all 14 Tanks to the Mississippi National Guard. D Company was deactivated on April 14 2000 and re-flagged A Company, leaving the Battalion with only 4 Company's instead of 5.

Current setup of 1-68

Upon return from deployment to OIF 1, The 4th Infantry Division immediately began reorganization into the "modular brigade" structure of the new U.S. Army. 4th Infantry Division was again deployed to OIF in late 2005, replacing 3rd ID in Baghdad. The 3rd brigade was attached to the 101st and the 1-68 was sent to Baqubah, Iraq.

After being reorganized the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment became known as the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment. HHC known as Havoc with Medics, snipers, mortars and medics and staff positions. Alpha known as Attack and Bravo known as Blackhawk were designated as infantry companies with M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles. Charlie company known as Steel, widely known as the most lethal and tactically proficient unit in 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and Delta known as Destroyer were setup as tank companies [14 M1A2 Main Battle Tanks each] . Echo company known as Easy company as an engineering company. Fox company known as Forerunner was attached from 64th Brigade Support Battalion to provide Dining Facility (DFAC), maintenance/recovery and a Supply Distribution platoon. The final company is Golf company which is the rear-detachment company for the Battalion when it is deployed.

1-68 Armor is currently deployed to Iraq as part of OIF6 conducting counter-insurgency and combat operations in north east Baghdad (northern Adamiyah security District) and northern Baghdad province (Istaqlal Qada).

Sources

* http://www.army/1-68ar.htm
* http://www.carson.army.mil/units/4id/index.htm
* http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/

References