British Divisions

Before the British army decided on a re-armament program in 1934, the army had a modest tank force. This was down to politicians and army officers who still valued the horse over mechanisation. By 1939 the British army had raised two armoured divisions and raised another nine between 1940 and 1942.

The structure of these divisions would alter as the war progressed. Early divisions were unwieldly and top heavy in tank. They also lacked in infantry support and other assets. This was addressed in 1942 in which changes were made to convert one of the armoured brigades to an infantry formation, which balanced out the division with one armoured brigade and one infantry brigade. By 1944 British armoured division were very effective formations and fought with distinction and bravery against an enemy who fielded larger and more powerful AFVs and anti-tank guns.