List of British Divisions in World War II - Armoured

Armoured

• Guards Armoured Division

The division was formed on 17 June 1941, in the United Kingdom. On 12 June 1945, the division was reorganised as the Guards Division. The division served in North West Europe from June 1944 until the end of the war. The Guards took part in the Battle of Normandy, initially having a minor role in Operation Epsom, before taking on much larger roles in Operation Goodwood, and Operation Bluecoat. In September 1944, the division played a prominent role in Operation Market Garden. Afterwards, the division took part in the battles for the Rhineland, the crossing of the Rhine, and the advance to the Elbe.

• 1st Armoured Division

The division was founded in 1937. The division briefly served in France during 1940, from November 1941 until 1944 the division served in the Western Desert and Tunisia, taking part in the battles of Gazala, and the First and Second Battle of El Alamein. On 27 May 1944, the division was transfered to Italy, were it fought until 28 October when it ceased operations. On 11 January 1945, the division was disbanded in Italy.

• 2nd Armoured Division

The division was formed on 15 December 1939, in the United Kingdom. In October 1940, the division was dispatched to Egypt and arrived in January 1941. The division was used to reinforce the 7th Armoured Division, while elements were shipped to Greece. This left an under strength, inexperienced, and ill-equipped division, which was overrun during Rommel's first offensive. The divisional headquarters was captured on 8 April, and on 10 May 1941 the division was formally disbanded.

• 6th Armoured Division

The division was formed on 12 September 1940, in the United Kingdom. The division first saw service in North Africa from November 1942 - where "it was among the first to reach Tunisia as part of First Army - till March 1944, when it was then deployed to Italy. The division fought at Bou Arada, Fondouk, El Kourzia, Tunis, the Liri Valley, Arezzo, Florence, along the Gothic Line, and in the Argenta Gap.

• 7th Armoured Division

The division was initially formed, in Egypt during the autumn of 1938, as the Mobile Division (Egypt). At the outbreak of the Second World War, the division was redesignated The Armoured Division (Egypt), before finally being called the 7th Armoured Division on 16 February 1940. The division served in the Western Desert and North Africa from the outbreak of the war until September 1943 when it was shipped to Italy. After three months of fighting in Italy, the division was returned to the United Kingdom for the upcoming Battle of Normandy. The division then fought in North West Europe from June 1944 until the end of the war. The division fought in every major battle of the Western Desert Campaign - including Operation Compass and the Second Battle of El Alamein - and took part in the Tunisian campaign. The division fought in the Battle of Normandy (in particular at the Battle of Villers-Bocage), helped in the liberation of the Low Countries, and crossed the Rhine into Germany.

• 8th Armoured Division

The division was formed on 4 November 1940, in the United Kingdom. In July 1942 the division was deployed to Egypt, however it never operated as a complete formation during the following six months and was disbanded on 1 January 1943.

• 9th Armoured Division

The division was formed in the United Kingdom on 1 December 1940. It was never deployed overseas and was disbanded on 31 July 1944.

• 10th Armoured Division

The division was formed in Palestine, on 1 August 1941, by the redesignation and reorganization of the 1st Cavalry Division. In April 1942 the division moved to Egypt and later took part in the battles of Alam el Halfa and the Second Battle of El Alamein. In January 1943 the division moved back to Palestine, then on to Syria, before returning to Egypt in September. The division stayed in Egypt until it was disbanded on 15 June 1944.

• 11th Armoured Division

The division was formed in the United Kingdom, on 9 March 1941. The division was deployed to Normandy in June 1944, playing a prominent role in Operation Epsom. The division would spearhead Operation Goodwood, and take part in Operation Bluecoat. It later liberated Antwerp, helped clear the Low Countries, and took part in Operation Veritable.

• 42nd Armoured Division

The division was formed on 1 November 1941, in the United Kingdom, by conversion of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division. The division was never deployed overseas and was disbanded on 17 October 1943.

• 79th Armoured Division

The division was formed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 1942. In April 1943, the division was reorganised as an administrative formation for the development and useage of specialist vehicles ("Hobart's Funnies"). In this role it never acted as a division. Depending on the needs of any particular battle, the division would allocate squadrons, regiments, or brigades to other formations to provide support. The 'division' operated throughout the 1944-45 North West Europe campaign.