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2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
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The 2nd Armoured Division was a Second World War British Army formation, created on 15 December 1939 and disbanded on 10 May 1941 after most of the division was captured at Mechili in Libya by German forces.
History
This formation had a short and unlucky history; formed in December 1939 it was sent to Cyrenaica in early 1941 guarding the line of communication, its 1st Armoured Brigade was detached to Greece at this time. It was sent to the Western Desert front where, due to its inexperience and poor equipment, was mostly captured on 8 April 1941. Some of its units escaped and were evacuated from Tobruk . On 10 May 1941 the division was officially disbanded and not reformed.
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. Following further reorganisation in 1983 it was converted back into an infantry division.
General Officers Commanding
Structure
(On 8 April 1941 when it surrendered)
3rd Armoured Brigade
3rd Indian Motor Brigade
( 6 April 1941 - 8 April 1941 )
2nd Support Group
See also
Sources
Footnotes
- ^ a b c Mackenzie (1951), p. 71
External links
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