33rd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 33rd Armoured Brigade | |
|---|---|
Formation Insignia of the 33rd Armoured Brigade
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| Active | 17 March 1944 - 22 August 1945 1 January 1980 - 1 December 1992 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Armoured |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Independent Brigade 79th Armoured Division 3rd Armoured Division 4th Armoured Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Alanbrooke Barracks, Paderborn Garrison |
| Equipment | M4 Sherman LVT 4 |
| Engagements | Second World War Invasion of Normandy Le Mesnil-Patry Operation Charnwood Operation Pomegranate Operation Totalize Rhine Crossing |
The 33rd Armoured Brigade (33rd Armd Bde) was an armoured brigade of the British Army that was active in North-western Europe in World War II from June 1944 until May 1945 and from 1980 to 1992.
Contents
History
Normandy
The brigade was formed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 1944 by the re-designation of the 33rd Tank Brigade.[1] The brigade took part in the Normandy campaign and landed on Gold Beach on 6 June 1944. The brigade, consisting of three armoured regiments, was assigned to any infantry who were in need of armoured support; because of this mission, the brigade rarely fought as a single unit.[1]
The brigade took part in several actions that comprised the Battle for Caen. On 11 June, the brigade took part in fighting at Le Mesnil-Patry. From 8–9 July, the brigade participated in Operation Charnwood; the capture of northern Caen. Supplementing the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division, on 16 July, the brigade took part in Operation Pomegranate, part of the Second Battle of the Odon; an attack launched to divert German attention away from the upcoming Operation Goodwood attack.[2] Following the Battle for Caen the brigade was then involved in the First Canadian Army’s attack towards Falaise; on 8 August the brigade took part in Operation Totalize.[3]
Rhine Crossing
The brigade was reformed and re-equipped with LVT 4 (Buffalo amphibious armoured fighting vehicles) for the Rhine crossing and was placed under the command of the 79th Armoured Division.[1]
Post War
During the 1970s the brigade was one of two "square" brigades assigned to 3rd Armoured Division.[4] After being briefly converted to "Task Force Echo" in the late 1970s, the brigade was reinstated in 1981, assigned to 4th Armoured Division[5] and based at Alanbrooke Barracks in Paderborn.[6] Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, in December 1992, the brigade was merged with the 20th Armoured Brigade and disbanded as part of the Options for Change programme.[6]
Formation
August 1944 until Rhine Crossing
The order of battle was as follows:[2]
- 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry
- 1st East Riding Yeomanry
- 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (became 4th Royal Tank Regiment 1 March 1945)
Rhine Crossing
The order of battle was as follows:[7]
- 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry
- 1st East Riding Yeomanry
- 4th Royal Tank Regiment
- 11th Royal Tank Regiment
1980 - 1992
The following served with the Brigade during the 1980s:[8]
- Life Guards
- 1st Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders
- 3rd Battalion The Light Infantry
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Poulsen, p. 91
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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Sources
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
