77th Armor Regiment (United States)

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77th Armored Regiment

77th Armor Coat of Arms
Active 25 April 1941-Present.
Country United States
Branch Regular Army
Type Armored Regiment
Part of 1st Infantry Division
Garrison/HQ 1-77 Armor Regiment: Schweinfurt, Germany
Nickname Steel Tigers
Motto Insiste Firmiter
Colors Blue, Silver and Red
Engagements World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Iraq War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 LTC Wesley Clark
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 77th Armor is an armored (tank) regiment of the United States Army.

Contents

[edit] Heraldry

[edit] Distinctive Unit Insignia

  • Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of the shield and motto of the coat of arms.
  • Symbolism: The carnivorous tiger is symbolic of the "enemy devouring" qualities of the organization. Unlike the man-eating lion, which only attacks man in its dotage, the ferocious tiger attacks at all ages and at any time; the battle-axe symbolizes the offensive mission of a tank battalion.

[edit] Coat of arms

  • Blazon:
    • Shield: Azure, on a mount a tiger sejant argent, armed and langued Gules, supporting a battle-axe in pale of the second, embrued of the third.
    • Crest: On a wreath of the colors argent and azure in front of a wreath of laurel proper and below two lances in saltire of the first a volcano sable inflamed overall proper and charged in base with an hourglass divided per fess gules and of the second and fimbriated of the first, above the flames a blue fleur-de-lis charged with a gold mullet.
    • Motto: INSISTE FIRMITER (Stand to it Stoutly)
  • Symbolism:
    • Shield: The carnivorous tiger is symbolic of the "enemy devouring" qualities of the organization. Unlike the man-eating lion, which only attacks man in its dotage, the ferocious tiger attacks at all ages and at any time; the battle-axe symbolizes the offensive mission of a tank battalion.
    • Crest: The volcano is an allusion to Mt. Etna, the most distinctive feature of the island of Sicily, where the 77th Armor landed to begin its arduous World War II campaign history. The eruption of flames refers to the unit's subsequent participation in thirteen campaigns throughout Italy, France, Germany, and finally Korea. Two awards of the French Croix de Guerre, with Palm, are identified by the surrounding branches of laurel, while a third award with silver gilt star is marked by the star on the fleur-de-lis which refers to an assault landing in Southern France. Crossed lances denote the grand courage and aggressive spirit displayed by the men of this Regiment throughout its many campaigns. The red and blue hourglass shape is an adaptation of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 7th Division with which the 77th Armor served in Korea through six campaigns, twice receiving the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

[edit] History

[edit] Lineage and Honors

Constituted 25 April 1941 in the Army of the United States as the 73d Tank Battalion

Redesignated 8 May 1941 as the 753d Tank Battalion

Activated 1 June 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia

Reorganized and redesignated 9 September 1942 as the 753d Tank Battalion, Medium

Reorganized and redesignated 29 March 1944 as the 753d Tank Battalion

Inactivated 15 January 1946 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia

Activated 1 August 1946 at Fort Knox, Kentucky

Inactivated 15 October 1946 at Fort Knox, Kentucky

Redesignated 20 March 1949 as the 77th Heavy Tank Battalion, assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, and activated in Japan.

Redesignated 5 August 1950 as the 77th Tank Battalion

Relieved 10 October 1951 from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division

Inactivated 10 November 1951 Korea

Redesignated 24 January 1962 as the 77th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

Withdrawn 16 February 1989 from the Combat arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System.

Activated 5 April 1996 at Schweinfurt, Germany as part of the 2nd “Dagger Brigade” 1st infantry division (Mechanized).