79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
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| 79th Armoured Division | |
|---|---|
 Badge of the 79th Armoured Division |
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| Active | 14 August 1942 - 20 August 1945 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Specialised armoured division |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Normandy Battle of the Scheldt Geilenkirchen salient Rhine crossing Elbe crossing |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Major General Sir Percy Hobart |
The 79th Armoured Division was a specialist British Army armoured unit formed as part of the preparations for the Normandy invasion of 6 June 1944. The unit comprised armoured vehicles modified for specialist roles, intended to assist with the landing phase of the operation.
Contents |
[edit] History
The unit was formed as a standard armoured formation, but in March 1943, it was about to be disbanded for lack of resources. Alan Brooke (Chief of the Imperial General Staff), however, foresaw the need for specialised armoured vehicles and offered its command to Major General (later Sir) Percy Hobart. Hobart accepted on the understanding that the 79th would be an operational unit, not just a training and development one.
Hobart gave firm direction and the strange-looking tanks it developed and operated were known as Hobart's Funnies. They included tanks that floated, could clear mines, destroy defences, carry and lay bridges, and roadways - anything that would enable the invasion force to get ashore and break through the German defences. One less successful development was the Canal Defence Light a giant light intended to dazzle enemy gunners, although it was used to provide artificial daylight during the attack on the Geilenkirchen salient.
The Division also had the usual contingents of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and other Army units attached. After formation in October 1942, the 79th, based at the time mostly in Yorkshire, trained as a regular armoured division for about six months before the change of role.
The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, two Canadian units, the 1st Hussars and Fort Garry Horse and three American units joined for training on the DD tanks. In mid-1943 the Assault Brigade RE was formed: its units were the Assault Squadrons RE.
The unit did not operate as a single division, its vehicles were distributed as small units across the Divisions taking part in the landings and subsequent operations. Difficulties were encountered in persuading infantry commanders to use use the specialised armour to best effect.
The Division was further used during the battle for the Roer Triangle (Operation Blackcock), the Rhine crossings (Operation Plunder) and the Elbe crossing to transport the assault troops and to re-supply.
The 79th Armoured Division was disbanded on 20 August 1945. Hobart later commanded the Specialised Armour Experimental Establishment.
[edit] Component Units
The 79th was raised as a conventional armoured division.
[edit] 27th Armoured Brigade
Attached to the 79th Armoured Division from 8 September 1942 until 20 October 1943.
- 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
- 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own).
- The East Riding Yeomanry
[edit] 30th Armoured Brigade
- 141st Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps
- 22nd Dragoons
- 2nd County of London Yeomanry
- 1st Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry
Three regiments were issued with the Sherman Crab flail mine-clearing tanks from December 1943.
[edit] 1st Tank Brigade
- 11th Royal Tank Regiment
- 42nd Royal Tank Regiment
- 49th Royal Tank Regiment
[edit] 185 Infantry Brigade
- King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry
- The Royal Norfolk Regiment
- Royal Warwickshire Regiment
[edit] 1st Assault Brigade, Royal Engineers
Churchill AVRE
- 5th, 6th and 42nd Assault Regiments, R.E.
[edit] 79th Armoured Division Signals
[edit] 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment
Equipped with Kangaroos
[edit] 35th Tank Brigade
Operating Canal Defence Light searchlight tanks
[edit] External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Royal Engineers and Second World War (Assault Engineers)
- Royal Engineers Museum Biography of Major General Sir Percy Hobart
- Royal Engineers Museum Royal Engineers and Operation Overlord
- 79 Armoured Division at Orders of Battle.com?
- http://www.operation-blackcock.com
- http://79armoured.moonfruit.com/
[edit] References
- Keegan, John; Kenneth Macksey (1991). Churchill's Generals. London: Cassell, pp 250-254. ISBN 0-304-36712-5.
- Hastings, Max (1999). Overlord. London: Pan, p 396. ISBN 0-330-39012-0.
