25th Army Tank Brigade

25th Army Tank Brigade 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade 25th Army Tank Brigade 25th Tank Brigade
Active	1939–1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Armoured
Size	Brigade
Engagements	Tunisia Campaign, Italian Campaign

The 25th Army Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade formation of the British Army that was active before and during World War II. It served with the British First Army and the British Eighth Army during the battles in North Africa and Italy.

History

Churchill tanks of 25th Tank Brigade going forward to support 1st Canadian Division, Italy, 17 May 1944. This was the first deployment of Churchills in Italy

The unit was formed on 3 September 1939 as a 2nd Line Territorial Army Tank Brigade, but had very few tanks. On 28 May 1940 it was converted to the 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade in recognition of this lack of tanks, but reconverted back on 10 December 1940 and then to the 25th Tank Brigade on 1 June 1942.^[1]

It fought in Tunisia under the British First Army and in the Italy as part of the British Eighth Army.

Commanding officers

• Brig. T.D. Murray
• Brig. R.H. Maxwell
• Lieut.Col. D. Dawnay (acting)
• Brig. J.N. Tetley
• Brig. E.W.H. Clarke

Order of battle

• 43rd Royal Tank Regiment (until 28 May 1940, rejoined 27 April, left 17 October 1941)
• 49th Royal Tank Regiment (until 28 May 1940, rejoined 27 April 1941, left 28 February 1942)
• 51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment (until 28 May, rejoined 10 December 1940, left 1 January 1945)
• 11th Royal Tank Regiment (from 10 December 1940, left 26 April 1941, rejoined 29 February, left 5 August 1942)
• 12th Royal Tank Regiment (from 10 December 1940, left 26 April 1941)
• 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (from 9 November 1941, disbanded 18 December 1944)
• 151st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (from 5 August, left 2 September 1942)
• North Irish Horse (from 3 September 1942 until 3 December 1944)^[2]

See also

• British Armoured formations of World War II
• British Army Order of Battle (September 1939)

Notes

External links

• 25 Army Tank Brigade at Orders of Battle.com

References

• Hughes, David; Ryan, David A.; Rothwell, Steve (2002). British Tank and Armoured Brigades, 79th Armoured Division, Armoured Car Regiments, African, Malayan and other Colonial Forces. The British Armies in World War Two: An Organizational History Four. George F. Nafziger. ISBN 1-58545-085-5. 
• Joslen, H. F. (1990). Orders of Battle, Second World War 1939-1945 (reprint ed.). London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2.