Australian 3rd Army Tank Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Army Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the Australian Army
during the Second World War. The Brigade
was formed in May 1942 and disbanded in September 1943.
and bringing together three armoured regiments which had previously formed part of the 1st Cavalry Division
. As with all British Commonwealth Tank Brigades, the primary role of the 3rd Army Tank Brigade was to provide armoured support to infantry formations. In keeping with this role the Brigade was initially equipped with Matilda II tanks which had previously been issued to the 1st Armoured Brigade
.
Upon formation the 3rd Army Tank Brigade was concentrated in the Hunter Valley
region of New South Wales for training with the Brigade eventually being located at Singleton
. The 1st Army Tank Battalion was detached from the Brigade and re-assigned to the newly formed 4th Armoured Brigade
in February 1943.
As it had been decided that the 4th Armoured Brigade would be responsible for providing all armoured support to Australian Army units in the Pacific Theatre
the 3rd Army Tank Brigade headquarters and support units were gradually disbanded between 6 August and 26 September 1943. The 2nd and 3rd Army Tank battalions were, however, retained as independent battalion groups until their disbandment in March 1944 (the 2nd Army Tank Battalion was also re-equipped with M3 Grant medium tanks in September 1943). The Brigade was commanded by Brigadier J.A. Clarebrough throughout its brief history.
The 1st Army Tank Battalion was the only element of the Brigade to see action. After its separation from the Brigade the Battalion served in the Huon Peninsula campaign of 1943–1944 and, after being re-designated the 1st Armoured Regiment, the Australian liberation of Balikpapan
in Borneo in 1945.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
during the Second World War. The Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
was formed in May 1942 and disbanded in September 1943.
History
The 3rd Army Tank Brigade was formed on 6 May 1942 by the conversion of the 4th Motor Brigade4th Motor Brigade (Australia)
The 4th Motor Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II. The brigade was converted in March 1942, from the 1st Cavalry Brigade, and converted again to the 3rd Army Tank Brigade in May 1942...
and bringing together three armoured regiments which had previously formed part of the 1st Cavalry Division
Australian 3rd Armoured Division
The Australian 3rd Armoured Division was an armoured unit of the Australian Army that was established on 15 November 1942 by redesignating the 1st Motor Division . As an armoured division the 3rd Armoured was equipped with M3 Grant medium tanks and M3 Stuart light tanks...
. As with all British Commonwealth Tank Brigades, the primary role of the 3rd Army Tank Brigade was to provide armoured support to infantry formations. In keeping with this role the Brigade was initially equipped with Matilda II tanks which had previously been issued to the 1st Armoured Brigade
Australian 1st Armoured Division
The Australian 1st Armoured Division was raised in 1941 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force . While the Division was originally to be deployed to North Africa in late 1941, it was retained in Australia following the outbreak of the Pacific War...
.
Upon formation the 3rd Army Tank Brigade was concentrated in the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
region of New South Wales for training with the Brigade eventually being located at Singleton
Singleton, New South Wales
-Industry & Commerce:Major industries near Singleton include coal mining, energy generation, light industry, vineyards, horse breeding and cattle production. Dairying was once a mainstay in the area, but has declined....
. The 1st Army Tank Battalion was detached from the Brigade and re-assigned to the newly formed 4th Armoured Brigade
Australian 4th Armoured Brigade
The Australian 4th Armoured Brigade was formed in January 1943 to provide armoured support for Australian Army units operating in the South West Pacific Area. The Brigade was never intended to serve as a single formation, rather its role was to provide a pool of armoured units from which units and...
in February 1943.
As it had been decided that the 4th Armoured Brigade would be responsible for providing all armoured support to Australian Army units in the Pacific Theatre
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
the 3rd Army Tank Brigade headquarters and support units were gradually disbanded between 6 August and 26 September 1943. The 2nd and 3rd Army Tank battalions were, however, retained as independent battalion groups until their disbandment in March 1944 (the 2nd Army Tank Battalion was also re-equipped with M3 Grant medium tanks in September 1943). The Brigade was commanded by Brigadier J.A. Clarebrough throughout its brief history.
The 1st Army Tank Battalion was the only element of the Brigade to see action. After its separation from the Brigade the Battalion served in the Huon Peninsula campaign of 1943–1944 and, after being re-designated the 1st Armoured Regiment, the Australian liberation of Balikpapan
Battle of Balikpapan (1945)
The Battle of Balikpapan was the concluding stage of the Borneo campaign . The landings took place on 1 July 1945. The Australian 7th Division, composed of the 18th, 21st and 25th Infantry Brigades, with support troops, made an amphibious landing, codenamed Operation Oboe Two a few miles north of...
in Borneo in 1945.
Composition
Upon formation, the 3rd Army Tank Brigade consisted of:- 3rd Army Tank Brigade HQ
- 1st Army Tank Battalion (Matilda II) (previously the 1st Light Horse Regiment)
- 2nd Army Tank Battalion (Matilda II) (previously the 2nd Armoured Car Regiment)
- 3rd Army Tank Battalion (Matilda II) (formed by expanding the 1st Light Tank Company)
- Signals, engineers and service troops