BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg WestForces Organisation

British Armoured Division, 1939 to 1940

Divisional Troops

Division Headquarters (3 Light Cruiser & 5 Heavy Cruiser Tanks)

Armoured Divisional Signals

Light Armoured Brigade

Brigade Headquarters (6 Light Cruiser & 4 Heavy Cruiser Tanks)

3x Light Armoured Regiments, each (36 Light & 22 Light Cruiser Tanks)

Heavy Armoured Brigade

Brigade Headquarters (6 Light Cruiser & 4 Heavy Cruiser Tanks)

3x Heavy Armoured Regiments or Battalions, each (26 Light Cruiser & 8 Close Support Cruiser & 15 Heavy Cruiser Tanks)

From April 1940, the separate Light and Heavy Armoured Brigades were reorganised into two identical Brigades2x Armoured Brigades, each

Brigade Headquarters (6 Light Cruiser & 5 Heavy Cruiser Tanks)

3x Armoured Regiments, eachRegiment Headquarters (4 Cruiser Tanks)

3x Armoured Squadrons, eachSquadron HQ (2 Cruiser & 2 Close Support Cruiser Tanks)

4x Troops, each (3 Cruiser Tanks)

Support Group

Support Group Headquarters

2x Motor Battalions, each (26 Officers & 774 men; 2 Scout Cars)Battalion Headquarters (5 Officers & 26 men)

Headquarters Company (5 Officers & 116 men)Company HQ (1 Officer & 5 men)

Signals Platoon (1 Officer & 27 men)

Administrative Platoon (3 Officers & 86 men)

4x Motor Companies, each (4 Officers & 158 men)Company HQ (2 Officers & 28 men)

Scout Platoon (1 Officer & 41 men)

Motor PlatoonPlatoon HQ (1 Officer & 5 men)

3x Motor Sections, each (8 men)

2x Motor Platoons, eachPlatoon HQ (6 men)

3x Motor Sections, each (8 men)

Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery2x Batteries, each (12 25pdr guns)

Light Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank Regiment2x Light AA Batteries, each3x Troops, each (4 towed 40mm guns)

2x AT Batteries, each3x Troops, each (4 towed 2pdr guns)

Engineers

Field Squadron

Field Park Troop

Supply and Transport

Headquarters, Armoured Divisional Royal Army Service Corps

Light Armoured Brigade Company

Heavy Armoured Brigade Company

Both Light and Heavy Brigade Companies became Armoured Brigades Companies from May 1940Support Group Company

Armoured Divisional Troops Company

Medical

2x Light Field Ambulances

Light Field Hygiene Section

Repair

Armoured Division Workshop

Miscellaneous

Divisional Provost Company

Divisional Postal Unit

*In April 1940 a major reorganisation of the Armoured Division was begun. The intention was to eliminate light tanks from the formation, and equip all six Armoured Regiments with cruisers. However, this project coincided with the German offensive in the West in May 1940, and 1st Armoured Division was rushed across the Channel to help stem the advance*Motor BattalionIt was intended that one Motor Battalion would be assigned to each Armoured Brigade of an Armoured Division. The Battalion had no organic anti-tank guns or 3 mortars, relying on attached armour and artillery units for this type of fire support

The Motor Section was commanded by a Corporal, assisted by a Lance-Corporal, with six privates. One of these men acted as driver for the 15-cwt truck used to transport the Section, and so was required to stay with the vehicle when his colleagues dismounted

The first Platoon in each Company was commanded by an Officer. The second and third Platoons of each Company were each commanded by a Platoon Sergeant Major

The Platoon truck also carried a 2 mortar

The Scout Platoon provided each Company with its own Carrier Platoon. There were three carriers per Section, plus a motorcycle orderly, and three Sections per platoon. Platoon HQ deployed three more carriers, plus two Scout Cars and two motorcycles. Each carrier and Scout car had a Bren Gun, and each carrier a Boys ATR

References

NAFZIGER, George; The Nafziger Collection of Orders of Battle

http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/