79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) explained

Unit Name:79th Armoured Division
Dates:14 August 1942–20 August 1945
Country: United Kingdom
Type:Specialised armour
Size:Division
Battles:Second World War
Notable Commanders:Major-General Sir Percy Hobart

The 79th Armoured Division was a specialist armoured division of the British Army created during the Second World War. The division was created as part of the preparations for the Normandy invasion on 6 June 1944, D-Day.

Major-General Percy Hobart commanded the division and was in charge of the development of armoured vehicles that were solutions to problems of the amphibious landing on the defended French coastline; these unusual-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. The practical use of these specialist tanks was confirmed during the landings on the beaches. Its vehicles were distributed as small units across the divisions taking part in the landings and subsequent operations. The division remained in action during the North-west European Campaign, providing specialised support during assaults to the 21st Army Group and, occasionally, to American units outside 21st. Again they were of significant use during the Rhine crossings.

History

Hobart had formed the 7th Armoured Division (then known as the Mobile Division) in Egypt before being removed by GOC British Troops in Egypt and went into retirement. He was brought back into regular army by Churchill in 1941 to train the new 11th Armoured Division but ill-health meant he was considered unfit to command the division in battle and he had to give up the appointment. In 1942 Hobart was selected to train another new division.[1]

The 79th was formed as a standard armoured formation serving in the UK under Northern Command in August 1942.[2] General Sir Alan Brooke, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, who foresaw the need for specialised armoured vehicles, offered command of the division to Major-General Percy Hobart in October 1942.[2]

Initially the division based on the 27th Armoured Brigade included infantry, artillery and engineers but the infantry unit, 185th, and its artillery regiments were all removed by April 1943. Its engineer units were generally removed by November 1943.[2]

In March 1943 Hobart met Brooke who gave him the role of developing and training a division of specialist armoured vehicles that would lead the invasion of France in 1944[3] The initial new organization of the 79th was a tank brigade, an armoured brigade, and a Royal Engineers assault brigade; this was expanded with additional brigades of the new armoured vehicles developed by the 79th.[4]

Hobart gave firm direction and the strange-looking tanks it developed and operated were known as Hobart's Funnies.[5] 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. The division landed in France in June 1944. The division was further used during the Battle for Brest, the battle for the Scheldt estuary (Operation Infatuate), the battle for the Roer Triangle (Operation Blackcock), the Rhine crossings (Operation Plunder) and the Elbe crossing.[6]

The 79th Armoured Division was disbanded on 20 August 1945. Hobart subsequently commanded the Specialized Armour Development Establishment (SADE), which was formed from elements of the 79th together with the Assault Training and Development Centre.[7]

Equipment

The equipment included the following:[5]

Order of battle

14 August 1942The 79th Armoured Division was first raised as a conventional armoured division, with one Armoured Brigade, one Infantry Brigade and supporting arms.[9]

27th Armoured Brigade - Attached to the 79th Armoured Division from 8 September 1942 until 20 October 1943.

185th Infantry Brigade - Transferred out to 3rd Infantry Division on 9 April 1943.

HQ Royal Artillery – converted into 9th Army Group Royal Artillery on 1 May 1943[10]

194330th Armoured Brigade - Transferred to the division on 17 October 1943.

1st Assault Brigade and Assault Park Squadron RE - Formed on 1 November 1943

Operation Overlord (Normandy landings)[15]

The division was under direct command of the 21st Army Group, portions being placed in support of the Second Army for Operation Overlord.

1st Assault Brigade and Assault Park Squadron RE (AVRE)

30th Armoured Brigade (Sherman Crab)

September 1944This is the order of battle on 17 September 1944, at the beginning of Operation Market Garden. The division was not involved in that battle, but was involved heavily in the battles for the Channel ports, such as Operation Astonia at Le Havre, and the Battle of the Scheldt.

30th Armoured Brigade (Sherman Crab)

1st Assault Brigade and Assault Park Squadron RE (AVRE)

1st Tank Brigade

31st Tank Brigade

Divisional troops, Royal Armoured Corps

Operation Varsity (Rhine crossing)This is the order of battle for the division on 23 March 1945, which was the commencement of the crossing of the River Rhine, and the beginning of the final advance into Germany. As can be seen, the establishment of the division had grown as the requirement for specialised armour had increased.

1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers (AVRE)

30th Armoured Brigade (Sherman Crab)

31st Armoured Brigade (Churchill Crocodile, Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier))

33rd Armoured Brigade (LVT 4)

Divisional troops, Royal Armoured Corps

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Fletcher, 1984 p5
  2. Web site: 79th Armoured Division. Unit Histories. 23 May 2020.
  3. Fletcher, 1984 p5
  4. Fletcher, 1984 p5
  5. Web site: The Funny Tanks of D-Day. Imperial War Museum. 23 May 2020.
  6. Web site: The crossing of the Elbe near Lauenburg. Imperial War Museum. 23 May 2020.
  7. Fletcher, p. 39
  8. Web site: limited . http://ghostarchive.org/varchive/wne2AUKseuA . 2022-07-07. AVRE 230MM - FACT CHECKING . YouTube.
  9. Joslen, p. 30.
  10. http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/nweuro/page29.html 9th AGRA at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015
  11. Web site: 142nd Fd Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015 . 30 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160331000314/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/field/page142.html . 31 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  12. http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/field/page150.html 150th Fd Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015
  13. Web site: 55th A/T Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015 . 30 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160331000324/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/atk/page12.html . 31 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  14. Web site: 119 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45, accessed 30 March 2015 . 30 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150723221235/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page113.html . 23 July 2015 . dead . dmy-all .
  15. Web site: 79th Armoured Division, 21st Army Group British Army, 06.06.44 . 3 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160605222238/http://www.niehorster.org/017_britain/44-06-06_Neptune/Land/div_GB_79.htm . 5 June 2016 . dead . dmy-all .

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