NationMaster - Encyclopedia: British 7th Armoured Division

The 7th Armoured Division (known as the "Desert Rats") of the British Army was the most famous unit of its type in British service during World War II. It was a regular division in the Middle East, designated the Mobile Division at first, renamed the Armoured Division (Egypt) in September 1939, and finally 7th Armoured Division on 16 February 1940. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

History

Founding

At first, it was one of only two British Imperial formations in Egypt. The other was an Indian Army formation, which was then replaced with an Australian division. The two divisions formed the core of the Western Desert Force (WDF). The central elements of what would become the 7th Armoured Division had arrived in the Middle East in 1938 (See: the Munich crisis) to beef up British strength in Egypt. The 'Mobile Force' was established on the coast some 120 miles west of Alexandria. It was formed of the Cairo Cavalry Brigade (three armoured regiments, the 7th, 8th and 11th Hussars) and the 1st Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) supported by 3rd Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) and a company of Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) and a Field Ambulance unit. It was joined by a battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and then its first commander, Major General Percy Hobart later "creator" of the Funnies of the Normandy Invasion. Hobart was an armoured warfare expert and saw that his troops were properly prepared to fight in the desert despite their poor equipment. The British Empire was the worlds first global power and the largest empire in history. ... The Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth Army unit stationed in Egypt. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... -1... Chamberlain holds the paper containing the resolution to commit to peaceful methods signed by both Hitler and himself on his return from Germany in September 1938. ... The Royal Tank Regiment is a unit of the British Army (formerly the Tank Corps and Royal Tank Corps). ... The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) is a corps in the British Army. ... The Royal Logistic Corps is a British Army corps that provides the logistical support for the Army. ... The Kings Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army formation. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Major-General Sir Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart (1885-19 February 1957) was a British military engineer and commander of the 79th Armoured Division during World War II. He was responsible for many of the specialised armoured vehicles (Hobarts Funnies) that took part in the invasion of Normandy. ... Badge of the 79th Armoured Division Amphibious DD tanks await blowing of breaches in sea wall on Utah Beach. ...

North Africa

In December 1939, Major General Michael Creagh succeeded Hobart who had fallen afoul of his superiors.

The unit was meant to be equipped with 220 tanks. However, at the outbreak of war the 7th Armoured Division had only 65. Most of the unit's troops had already been deployed for 2 years by 1940 and it could take as long as three months for mail to arrive. 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Postbox redirects here. ...

On 16 February 1940, the Mobile Division became the 7th Armoured Division. The Desert Rat divisional flash was adopted about the same time. Its origins were in a sketch produced by the divisional commander's wife after a visit to Cairo Zoo of a Jerboa. February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Genera 10 genera in 5 subfamilies A jerboa is a small jumping desert rodent of Asia and northern Africa that resembles a mouse with a long tufted tail and very long hind legs. ...

When conflict broke out between British and Italian troops in June 1940, after the Italian declaration of war, the Western Desert Force was massively outnumbered. However, the Italian forces proved to be no match for the British forces. The Western Desert Force captured 250,000 Italian prisoners in the early engagements in 1940. The Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth Army unit stationed in Egypt. ...

During the 1941 Italian retreat, WDF commander Major-General Richard O'Connor ordered the Desert Rats to travel south of the Jebel Akhdar and cut off the Italian forces at Beda Fomm, while Australian forces continued to push the Italians west. As the tanks were unable to travel fast enough, the maneuver was led by a brigade of armoured cars, towed artillery, and infantry, which completed the trip in 30 hours, cutting off the Italian retreat and effectively destroying the Italian Tenth Army. The rest of the force arrived sometime later. For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... General Sir Richard Nugent OConnor , KT , GCB , GBE , DSO , MC , ADC (August 21, 1889 â€“ June 17, 1981) was a British Army general who commanded the Western Desert Force (WDF) in the early years of World War II. OConnor was the field commander for Operation Compass, in which he... For the Jebel Akhdar region of Oman, see Jebel Akhdar (Oman). ... The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass September 13, 1940 - February 7, 1941 (Click to enlarge) Beda Fomm is a small coastal town in southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya located between the much larger port city Bengazi to its north and the larger town of El Agheila further to the southwest. ... Brigade is a term from military science which refers to a group of several battalions (typically two to four), and directly attached supporting units (normally including at least an artillery battery and additional logistic support). ... Military armored cars A French VBL reconnaissance vehicle. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... Infantry of the 36th Ulster Division, in the First World War Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot, mainly with small arms and operate within organized military units. ... The Italian Tenth Army consisted of ten divisions when it attacked Egypt on September 13, 1940. ...

The Italians proved so weak that Hitler was forced to send reinforcements (Afrika Korps) to stiffen them under the command of General Erwin Rommel. Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ... The seal of Afrikakorps The Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK; ) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps, the term is commonly used to refer... Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( â–¶ (helpÂ· info)) (November 15, 1891 â€“ October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals, and perhaps one of the greatest military leaders of all time. ...

The Western Desert Force later became HQ XIII Corps, one of the major parts of Eighth Army. The 7th Armoured Division took part in most of the major battles of the North African Campaign, including both Battles of El Alamein (see First Battle of El Alamein and Second Battle of El Alamein for details). It also participated in the final destruction of Axis forces in North Africa in Tunisia in 1943. The Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth Army unit stationed in Egypt. ... El Alamein is a town in northern Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea coast. ... The First Battle of El Alamein 1â€“July 27, 1942 was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of World War II, fought between the Germanâ€“Italian Afrika Korps commanded by Erwin Rommel and the British Eighth Army, commanded by Claude Auchinleck. ... Combatants Allies (mostly Commonwealth forces) Axis (mostly German and Italian) Commanders Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Strength 200,000 men, 1,030 tanks, 900 guns, 530 aircraft 100,000 men, 500 tanks, 500 guns, 350 aircraft Casualties 13,500 men dead and 710 tanks 12,000 men dead 25,000 captured... North Africa is a region generally considered to include: Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Sahara The Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira are sometimes considered to be a part of North Africa. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) is a common year starting on Friday. ...

Italy

The 7th Armoured Division then took part in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, and also the early part of the campaign in Italy. Along with other veteran formations, it was withdrawn from Italy in late 1943 to the UK to prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. This was the only time in the division's existence that it was in the United Kingdom. Husky was also the codename of Australian military support to Sierra Leone ending in February 2003. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) is a common year starting on Friday. ... The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 between the German forces occupying Western Europe and the invading Allies. ... Mont Saint Michel is a historic pilgrimage site and a symbol of Normandy Normandy is a geographical region in northern France. ...

Northern Europe

The division formed one of the follow up formations in Normandy. Although regarded as a veteran and elite formation, by this time the units were becoming seriously burnt out. Its performances in Normandy and the rest of France did not match those of its earlier campaigns, even taking into account the unsuitability of Normandy as tank country. Within 21st Army Group it took part in the liberation of Belgium, the Netherlands and northern Germany. During the invasion of Normandy the 7th Armoured Division served with distinction in clearing routes to, and then attacking Caen. (Redirected from 21st Army Group) The British 21st Army Group was an important Allied force in the European Theatre of World War II. Commanded by Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery it initially controlled all ground forces in Operation Overlord. ...

Post War

The Division remained in Germany as part of the occupation forces and then into the 1950s as part of the British Army of the Rhine standing watch against the Warsaw Pact. As the British Army became smaller in the later years, its higher numbered divisions were removed from the order of battle to make way for lower numbered formations. 7th Armoured Division's long and illustrious career finally came to an end in this fashion. However, the traditions of 7th Armoured Division are continued today by 7th Armoured Brigade, which forms part of 1 (UK) Division. There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). ... Seal of the Warsaw Pact Distinguish from the Warsaw Convention, which is an agreement among airlines about financial liability. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The 7th Armoured Brigade is a unit of the British Army. ... History The 1 (United Kingdom) Armoured Division has existed in the British Army since 1809 when the Duke of Wellington formed it, in Portugal, from two British brigades and one Hanoverian brigade of the Kings German Legion. ...

Notable Members of the 7th Armoured Division

Categories: British World War II divisions | British armoured divisions Thomas Daniel Knox, 6th Earl of Ranfurly (1914 - 1988), known as Dan Ranfurly, was a Second Lieutenant in the British 7th Armoured Division, called the Desert Rats. His exploits, along with those of his wife, Hermione, and valet, Whitaker, are chronicled in his wifes memoirs from the time, To... Field Marshal (Richard) Michael Power Carver, Baron Carver (April 24, 1915 - December 9, 2001) was a British soldier. ... Major-General George Philip Bradley {Pip) Roberts CB DSO MC (1906-1997) was a divisional commander of an armoured division during World War II. Roberts is considered to be possibly the best British Tank Commander in World War Two. ...

Contents

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