70th Armor Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=70th Armor Regiment


caption=70th Armor coat of arms
country=United States
type=Armored Regiment
branch=Regular Army
dates=15 July 1940-Present.
specialization=
command_structure=1st Armored Division
size=
current_commander=
garrison=2-70 Armor Regiment: Fort Riley, Kansas
ceremonial_chief=
nickname="Thunderbolts"
motto=Strike Swiftly
colors=Green and Gold
march=
mascot=
battles=World War II
Korean War
Gulf War
Iraq War
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=

The 70th Armor is an armored (tank) regiment of the United States Army, part of the 1st Armored Division.

Heraldry

Distinctive Unit Insignia

*Description: A green color metal and enamel device 1-1/8 (2.86cm) inches in height overall consisting of the shield and motto of the coat of arms.
*Symbolism: The shield is green with five gold spearheads representing a platoon of five tanks entering into combat in a flying wedge formation.

Coat of arms

*Blazon:
** Shield: Vert, five spearheads paleways in chevron Or.
** Crest: On a wreath Or and Vert, supported by two lions rampant sable langued gules a Korean gateway of the last with doors closed of the third secured by a bar with two holders of the first.
** Motto: Strike Swiftly
*Symbolism:
** Shield: The shield is green with five gold spearheads representing a platoon of five tanks entering into combat in a flying wedge formation.
** Crest: The two lions refer to the arms of Normandy and of Belgium where the unit served with distinction in World War II. The closed and bolted Korean gateway commemorates the organization's action in repulsing the enemy's attempt to pass through the Pusan Perimeter at Taegu in the Korean War.

History

Lineage and Honors

Constituted 15 July 1940 in the Regular Army as Company B, 70th Tank Battalion and activate at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland

Inactivated 1 June 1946 at Fort Knox, Kentucky

Activated 1 August 1946 at Fort Knox, Kentucky

Reorganized and redesignated 14 June 1948 as Company B, 70th Medium Tank Battalion

Reorganized and redesignated 31 December 1948 as Company B, 70th Tank Battalion

(70th Tank Battalion assigned 10 November 1951 to the 1st Cavalry Division)

Inactivated 15 October 1957 in Korea (70th Tank Battalion concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division)

Redesignated 21 January 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, and assigned to the 24th Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted)

Battalion activated 1 February 1963 in Germany

Inactivated 15 April 1970 at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas

Activated 21 July 1977 at Fort Stewart, Georgia

Inactivated 16 October 1987 at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and relieved from assignment to the 24th Infantry Division

Assigned 16 December 1987 to the 1st Armored Division and activated in Germany

Relieved 16 August 1991 from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division

Inactivated 15 December 1993 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 3rd Infantry Division

Assigned 15 February 1996 to the 1st Armored Division and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas

References