History
This division had a short and unlucky history; formed in December 1939, it wasn't until the following month that it received any troops to command - when the 1st Light Armoured Brigade and the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade were assigned. Similarly, the 2nd Support Group was formed in February, but no troops were assigned until March. As the 1st Armoured Division had priority for equipment, the 2nd was forced to use whatever was available. The 1st Armoured Brigade, with its 150-odd Mk VI light tanks, was the most combat-ready element of the division during most of 1940. The 22nd Armoured Brigade was forced to make do with trucks and a few light tanks.
As the threat of invasion receded after the Battle of Britain, the division was reorganized and reinforced for service in the Middle East. It exchanged the 22nd Armoured Brigade for the 1st Armoured Division's veteran 3rd Armoured Brigade and then the brigade's exchanged regiments to ensure that each had both cruisers and light tanks.
The following table lists tank strengths before departure in October 1940:
| Number | Tank Type | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 169 | Mk VI | 52 each in KDG, 3rd Hussars, 4th Hussars, 4 with 1st RHA |
| 6 | A 9 CS | 2nd Royal Tank Regiment |
| 12 | A 10 CS | 6 each in 3rd and 5th RTR |
| 74 | A 10 | Two squadrons in 2nd RTR, one squadron each in 3rd and 5th RTR |
| 83 | A 13 | One squadron in 2nd RTR, two squadrons each in 3rd and 5th RTR |
In addition, both brigade headquarters (as well as the division headquarters) had three Mk VI light tanks and seven cruiser tanks (mainly A 10s).
In early 1941, the division was sent to the Western Desert to reinforce troops under General Wavell, who, at the time, was on the verge of defeating the Italian forces. Unaware that Germany had sent reinforcements to support the Italians in Cyrenaica, Wavell's superiors ordered him to send half his troops to Greece, including the 1st Armoured Brigade and elements from the 2nd Support Group. Rommel's offensive forced Wavell's troops to retreat. Unfortunately, on 8 April 1941, the understrength 2nd Armoured Division was caught in a pincer movement by the Italian 10th Bersaglieri Regiment, the 5th Light Division and the 15th Panzer Division - some elements escaped captured and were evacuated from Tobruk. On 10 May 1941, the division was officially disbanded and not reformed.
The 2nd Armoured Division also had an RAMC Brigade, but World War II records identifying the unit number are currently unavailable.
Following re-organisation, 2nd Infantry Division was reformed as an armoured formation in I (BR) Corps in Germany from 1976 to 1983. In this incarnation, it had two armoured regiments, each nominally with 74 tanks, and three mechanised infantry battalions, and probably incorporated Task Force Charlie and Task Force Delta. Following further reorganisation in 1983, it was converted back into an infantry division.
Read more about this topic: 2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
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