| 2nd Tank Battalion | |
|---|---|
2nd Tanks Insignia |
|
| Active | December 20, 1941 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Armor Battalion |
| Role | Armor protected firepower and shock action. |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | 2nd Marine Division 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname | Iron Horse |
| Motto | "Ace in the Hole" |
| Engagements | World War II *Battle of Tarawa *Battle of Saipan *Battle of Okinawa Operation Urgent Fury Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom *2003 invasion of Iraq *Operation Phantom Fury |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LtCol J.M. Scharr |
| Ceremonial chief | Sgt. Major |
The 2nd Tank Battalion (2nd Tanks) is an armored battalion of the United States Marine Corps which is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
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The battalion formed on December 20, 1941 at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California, growing to the standard organization with a headquarters, service and four letter companies (Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog). Baker Company deployed to Samoa in January and Charlie Company sailed with the 2nd Marine Division to Tulagi, landing in an assault there on November 7, 1942 against heavy resistance. 2nd Tanks participated in every action of the 2nd Marine Division to include the Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan and Battle of Okinawa. After a brief tour with the Japan occupation force, the battalion returned to its permanent garrison at MCB Camp Lejeune.
With the coming of the Korean War, most of the battalion's personnel immediately augmented the 1st Tank Battalion. It also provided the cadre for the 8th Tank Battalion, a wartime expansion force battalion. Garrison duty on the East Coast of the US involved support to routine deployments in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. 2nd Tank Battalion units became involved in two interventions in Lebanon, the Cuban Missile Crisis deployment, the Dominican Republic and the Guantanamo Base defense effort.
The Vietnam War again caused the battalion to provide replacements for the tank battalions deployed there. After the Vietnam War, peacetime deployments swelled with participation in NATO exercises. Units of the battalion also saw brief combat in the invasion of Grenada.
The battalion as a whole saw its first combat since the Second World War in 1991, as it moved with the 2nd Marine Division to Saudi Arabia for the liberation of Kuwait. Augmented by companies of the 4th Tank Battalion, 2nd Tanks served as the division reserve for the four-day war in Kuwait.
The opening of 2003 found 2nd Tank Battalion preparing for deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Led by Lt. Colonel Michael J. Oehl they deployed under the operational control of the 1st Marine Division and were attached to Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT-5) upon arrival in theater. On March 20, 2nd Tank Battalion led RCT-5 and 1st Marine Division across the southern Iraqi border, initiating an attack that would ultimately result in the seizure of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and the destruction of the Saddam Hussein regime. 2nd Tank Battalion fought numerous engagements in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, to include battles in An Numaniyah, Al Aziziyah, and eastern Baghdad. Following the seizure of Baghdad, Company D and the AT-TOW Platoon supported Task Force Tripoli and their movement into Tikrit. Upon the cessation of combat operations, 2nd Tank Battalion participated in humanitarian operations in Baghdad. The battalion redeployed to MCB Camp Lejeune on May 29, 2003.
In November 2004 while deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom 2-2, Company C attached to Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT-1), 1st Marine Division and Company A attached to Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT-7), 1st Marine Division participated by assisting in portions of Operation Phantom Fury, the recapture of Fallujah.
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. 2nd Tanks has been presented with the following awards:
| Ribbon | Unit Award |
| Presidential Unit Citation with three Bronze Stars | |
| Navy Unit Commendation | |
| China Service Medal | |
| American Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star | |
| Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Silver Star and two Bronze Stars | |
| World War II Victory Medal | |
| Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia and Europe clasp | |
| National Defense Service Medal with two Bronze Stars | |
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | |
| Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal | |
| Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Stars | |
| Iraq Campaign Medal | |
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | |
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
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