33rd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 33rd Armoured Brigade was a British Army brigade active in 1944-45, in the 1970s, and in 1980-92.

Normandy
The brigade was formed in the UK on 17 March 1944 by re-designating of the 33rd Tank Brigade. The brigade took part in the Normandy campaign and landed on Gold Beach on 6 June 1944. The brigade, consisting of three armoured regiments, was assigned to any infantry who were in need of armoured support; because of this mission, the brigade rarely fought as a single unit.



The brigade took part in several actions that comprised the Battle for Caen. On 11 June the brigade took part in fighting at Le Mesnil-Patry. Between 8–9 July the brigade participated in Operation Charnwood; the capture of northern Caen. Supplementing the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division, on 16 July, the brigade took part in Operation Pomegranate, part of the Second Battle of the Odon; an attack launched to divert German attention away from the upcoming Operation Goodwood attack. Following the Battle for Caen the brigade was then involved in the First Canadian Army’s attack towards Falaise; on 8 August the brigade took part in Operation Totalize.

Rhine Crossing
The brigade was reformed and re-equipped with LVT 4 (Buffalo amphibious armoured fighting vehicles) for the Rhine crossing and was placed under the command of the 79th Armoured Division.

Post War
On 1 December 1977 the brigade was renamed Task Force Echo. Three years later, on 1 January 1980, Task Force Echo was reverted to 33rd Armoured Brigade. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, in December 1992, the brigade was merged with the 20th Armoured Brigade and disbanded as part of the Options for Change programme.

1940 - 1944

 * 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry (Sherman I & Firefly VC)
 * 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (Sherman I & Firefly VC)
 * 148th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (Sherman I & Firefly VC)

Rhine Crossing

 * 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry
 * East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry
 * 4th Royal Tank Regiment
 * 11th Royal Tank Regiment

1980 - 1992
The Following served with the Brigade during this time.

RHD/G 1 Royal Scots QLR


 * Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
 * 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars
 * 1st Btn Black watch
 * 3rd Btn Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
 * 1st Btn Queens Regiment