2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
The 2nd Armoured Division was a division of the British Army that was active during the early stages of the Second World War. The division's creation had been discussed since the beginning of 1939, with the intent to form it by splitting the 1st Armoured Division. A lack of tanks delayed this until December 1939. For a short period after its creation, the division had no assigned units until the 1st Light Armoured Brigade was assigned to it from the 1st Armoured Division, and the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade from Southern Command.
A Light Tank Mk VI of the 3rd Hussars
The division was equipped with Cruiser Mk II; this close support (CS) version of the tank was armed with a howitzer for firing smoke and high explosive rounds, and not intended to fight other tanks.
Cruiser IV tanks of the 5RTR, prior to their transfer to the division and deployment to Egypt.
Captured Italian M13/40 tanks – similar to those shown above – were used by several units of the division notably the 6RTR.
1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
The 1st Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army. It was formed as the Mobile Division on 24 November 1937, after several years of debate on the creation of such a formation. It was then renamed, in April 1939, the 1st Armoured Division. Following the start of the Second World War, in September 1939, subordinate units and formations were withdrawn from the division to reinforce others. Then, in May 1940, the division was deployed to France and then fought in the Battle of France. After several engagements and heavy tank losses, it was forced to withdraw to the UK, in June, during Operation Aerial. In late 1941, the division was sent to North Africa where it took part in the Western Desert campaign, notably fighting at the Battle of Gazala, and the First and the Second Battles of El Alamein.
A Vickers Mk VI light tank of the 3rd (The King's Own) Hussars, c. 1937, the main tank of the 1st and 2nd Light Brigades
An example of the Vickers Medium Mark II, an obsolete tank by 1938, and what the Tank Brigade was initially equipped with
A Cruiser Mk IV knocked out during the fighting on 27 May
Divisional tank transporters, moving Cruiser Mk IVs, July 1941