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Royal Armoured Corps

 Introduction

The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) was formed on 4 April 1939, just months before the outbreak of the Second World War, making it one of the younger corps in the British Army. However, it is also unique among the corps, since it was not formed by amalgamating existing corps into a single overarching unit.

Instead, it is the umbrella for a large number of existing regiments, each of which also retained its individual regimental identity. These regiments were mainly former cavalry regiments, but also included the battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment, which was known as the Royal Tank Corps before the RAC’s formation.

Since then the Royal Armoured Corps has acted as the overall corps for all mechanised cavalry units and now includes ten regular and four territorial regiments, operating both as main armour and reconnaissance. The Reconnaissance Corps also became a part of the Royal Armoured Corps from 1944 until the Reconnaissance Corps’s disbandment in 1946.

Royal Tank Regiment

Introduction

The unit’s origins lie in the six tank companies of the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps. These had risen to eight by November 1916, when they were each expanded into battalions and given the letters A to H. These eight battalions were officially split off from the Machine Gun Corps on 28 July 1917 by Royal Warrant to form the Tank Corps – its battalions thus switched from letters to numbers.

The new unit’s first commander was Hugh Elles, who had already commanded Heavy Branch for a year. By the time of the Armistice, after only two years’ existence, four officers in or attached to the regiment had been awarded the Victoria Cross and in 1923 it was granted the prefix ‘Royal’.

Conqueror tanks of 5 Royal Tank Regiment on exercise in West Germany, c1960
NAM. 2003-03-618-2

By January 1918 the Corps had 15 battalions, rising to 26 by December the same year. However, far fewer tanks were needed for Britain’s post-war commitments, so from 1919 onwards the 26 battalions were reduced to a depot battalion and four active battalions. However, three more regular battalions had been re-formed by 1939, giving a total of eight, supplemented by a large number of territorial battalions. In April that year, the Royal Tank Corps was renamed the Royal Tank Regiment and placed under the umbrella of the new Royal Tank Corps, alongside all the British Army’s mechanised cavalry units.

The Royal Tank Regiment served on all fronts during the Second World War, but then underwent another set of amalgamations and disbandments, with the number of regular battalions falling to five in 1959, four in 1969 and finally two in 1994. The two remaining battalions are two of the regiment’s oldest, tracing their ancestry back to B Battalion formed in 1917 and the 1st Light Battalion established in 1934.

Key facts

Motto:

• ‘Fear Naught’

Titles to date:

• Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps
• Tank Corps
• Royal Tank Corps
• Royal Tank Regiment

Reconnaissance Corps

The Reconnaissance Corps, or simply Recce Corps, was a Second World War corps of the British Army whose units provided the mobile spearhead of infantry divisions. It was formed from infantry brigade reconnaissance groups on 14 January 1941.

All the brigade reconnaissance groups of each infantry corps were formed into reconnaissance battalions, each usually bearing the number of its relevant division. For example, the 43rd Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps (based on the 5th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment) was the divisional reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division.^[1]

Initially, coming from infantry units, reconnaissance units used the infantry designations of battalions, companies and platoons. However, from 6 June 1942, the Corps changed to the cavalry descriptions of regiments, squadrons and troops.^[2]

It became part of the Royal Armoured Corps in 1944, still maintaining its own cap badge with two lightning strikes supporting an upright spear. With the end of the war, this number of reconnaissance units was not needed and the Corps was disbanded in August 1946. Reconnaissance duties reverted to regular armoured units of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Organisation and equipment

The Reconnaissance Corps was charged with gathering vital tactical information in battle for infantry divisions, probing ahead and screening the flanks of main advances. The training centre was established at Winchester in February 1941, until the home of the Corps moved to Catterick in Yorkshire. Although the Corps was raised from various regular army units, it did not follow that all men would be retained, as potential reconnoiterers were required to take an IQ test and other tests before being accepted. Many failed and were sent to normal infantry battalions, but those who succeeded enjoyed the kudos of belonging to an elite unit and were determined to prove their own worth. Before beginning training with his unit, each man undertook a five week course with technical units, which determined his role as a driver, wireless operator or mechanic. Most recce men became efficient in two of these roles e.g. driver and operator. During training with a reconnaissance unit, emphasis was placed on both aggressiveness and initiative, as these were the characteristics expected of the men selected for such units, and, as a result, a proud offensive spirit was created, similar to other newly founded units such as The Parachute Regiment. Reconnaissance regiments were organised into a headquarters squadron (including anti-tank, signals and mortar troops) and three reconnaissance (or “recce”) squadrons. Each recce squadron comprised three scout troops and an assault troop. Scout troops were equipped with light reconnaissance cars such as the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and with Bren Gun Carriers. The assault troop comprised lorried infantry and were called up when enemy resistance needed to be overcome. Later in the war more efficient and well-armed armoured cars such as the Humber Armoured Car, Daimler Armoured Car, Staghound and Greyhound augmented the light reconnaissance cars in scout troops.^[3]

Units

The following units served in the Recce Corps:

• 1st Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 in the 1st Division from the Hampshire Regiment.^[4]
• 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment formed April 1941 in the 2nd Division, mainly from the 6th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), the division’s motorcycle battalion.^[5][6]
• 3rd (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Reconnaissance Regiment formed April 1941 in the 3rd Division, from the 8th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.^[7][8]
• 4th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 mainly from the anti-tank companies of the 10th, 11th and 12th Brigades of the 4th Division.^[9]
• 5th Reconnaissance Regiment formed February 1941 in the 5th Division from the 3rd Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles.^[10][11]
• 11th (East African) Reconnaissance Regiment formed May 1943 in the 11th (East Africa) Division by conversion of the Kenya Armoured Car Regiment^[12]
• 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment formed February 1943 in the 15th (Scottish) Division from the 15th, 45th and 54th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons.^[13][11]
• 18th Reconnaissance Battalion formed in the 18th Division from the 5th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire); surrendered at Singapore 1942.^[14]
• 38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment formed October 1943 in the 38th (Welsh) Division from the 47th, 38th and 55th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons; disbanded October 1944, number taken by 80th (Holding) Reconnaissance Regiment.^[15]
• 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment transferred to the 43rd (Wessex) Division from the 48th (South Midland) Division November 1941; lost ‘A’ and ‘C’ Sqns through the sinking of the Motor Transport Ship T72 off Sword Beach on 24 June 1944; one replacement squadron received from the 161st Reconnaissance Regiment.^{[16][17][11][18][19]}
• 44th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 in the 44th (Home Counties Division) from the 7th Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment; transferred to 56th (London) Division) in 1943, but retained number.^[20]
• 45th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 mainly from the 134th, 135th and 136th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies of the 45th Division; transferred to 70th Division in August 1942; converted to infantry and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment in October 1944.^[21]
• 46th Reconnaissance Regiment formed July 1941 in the 46th Division from the 23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and the 137th, 138th and 139th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies.^[22]
• 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment formed September 1942 in the 49th (West Riding) Division from the 29th and 148th Independent Reconnaissance Sqns, with the 1st Belgian Fusiliers as ‘C’ Sqn, later replaced by 24th (Guards) Independent Reconnaissance Squadron.^[23][11]
• 50th Reconnaissance Regiment formed April 1941 in the 50th (Northumbrian) Division from the 4th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, previously the division’s motorcycle battalion; disbanded and remnants returned to the 4th RNF after action at the Battle of Gazala June 1942.^{[24][25][11][8]}
• 51st (Highland) Reconnaissance Regiment formed February 1941 from the brigade anti-tank companies of the 51st (Highland) Division: 152 (Camerons and Seaforths) as ‘A’ Sqn, 153 (Gordons and Black Watch) as ‘B’ Sqn and 154 (Black Watch and Argylls) as ‘C’ Sqn; converted to infantry and redesignated as the 14th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry in January 1943.^[26][11]
• 52nd (Lowland) Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 from the three Brigade Reconnaissance Groups of the 52nd (Lowland) Division: ‘A’ Sqn (Royal Scots and King’s Own Scottish Borderers); ‘B’ Sqn (Royal Scots Fusiliers and Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)); ‘C’ Sqn (Highland Light Infantry and Gordon Highlanders).^[27][11]
• 53rd (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 from the 158th, 159th and 160th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies of the 53rd (Welsh) Division.^[28][11]
• 54th Reconnaissance Regiment formed July 1941 in the 54th (East Anglian) Division from the 21st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers; split into the 45th, 54th and 76th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons in November 1941.^[29]
• 56th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 from the 167th, 168th and 169th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies of the 56th (London) Division; transferred to the 78th Division, but retained its number.^[30][11]
• 59th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 in the 59th (Staffordshire) Division; disbanded 31 August 1944.^[31][32]
• 61st Reconnaissance Regiment formed September 1941 from the 182nd, 183rd and 184th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies of the 61st (South Midland) Division; transferred to the 50th (Northumbrian) Division; disbanded December 1944.^[33][11]
• 63rd Reconnaissance Training Centre formed January 1942, absorbed Reconnaissance Training Centre (formed January 1941) in August 1943.^[34]
• 80th (Holding and Training) Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1943 from the 48th, 76th and 77th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons, attached to the 80th (Reserve) Division;^[35] renumbered 38th Reconnaissance Regiment October 1944.^[36]
• 81st (West African) Reconnaissance Regiment formed in the 81st (West Africa) Division.^[37]
• 82nd (West African) Reconnaissance Regiment formed in the 82nd (West Africa) Division.^[38]
• 161st (Green Howards) Reconnaissance Regiment converted from the 161st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (formerly 12 Battalion, Green Howards) October 1943; attached to the 55th (West Lancashire) Division from December 1943 to July 1944,^[39] then supplied reinforcements, including a complete squadron to the 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment in July 1944.^[17][19] Attached to the new 45th Division in September 1944.^[40]
• 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry converted from an armoured car regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps and assigned to the 51st (Highland) Division.^[41][42]
• 6th Armoured Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment formed in 6th Airborne Division^[43][44]
• GHQ Liaison Regiment (Phantom).

Independent reconnaissance squadrons (this list is probably incomplete)

• 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron^[43][47][48]
• 15th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred in February 1943 to the 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment.^[29]
• 24th (Guards) Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment.^[23]
• 29th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred in September 1942 from the 78th Division to the 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment.^[23]
• 38th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment in October 1943^[15]
• 45th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed November 1941 from the 54th Reconnaissance Regiment; transferred in February 1943 to the 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment.
• 47th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment in October 1943
• 48th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed January 1942 in the 48th (South Midland) Division after the original 48th Battalion, transferred to the 43rd (Wessex) Division; transferred to the 80th (Holding and Training) Reconnaissance Regiment in January 1943
• 54th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed November 1941 from the 54th Reconnaissance Regiment; transferred in February 1943 to the 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment.
• 55th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment in October 1943
• 76th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed November 1941 from the 54th Reconnaissance Regiment; transferred to the 80th (Holding and Training) Reconnaissance Regiment in January 1943.
• 77th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 80th (Holding and Training) Reconnaissance Regiment in January 1943
• 148th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed January 1941 in the 148th Independent Brigade Group; transferred in September 1942 to the 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment.