4th Mechanized Brigade (United Kingdom)

4th Mechanized Brigade (The Black Rats) is a British Army brigade formation, currently based in Catterick, North Yorkshire as part of 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division. The brigade, now known as the 'Black Rats', was formed in 1939 and fought in the Western Desert Campaign. The Black Rats were subsequently involved in the Invasion of Sicily and fighting in Italy before taking part in the Battle of Normandy and the advance through Belgium, Holland and into Germany.

More recently, the Brigade took part in the First Gulf War and completed a number of tours to the Balkans during the 1990s. The Black Rats have since deployed twice to Iraq and once before to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 12 in 2010. The Brigade returned to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in October 2012 for Operation Herrick 17 to take over as the lead formation of British troops. The roulement tour saw the brigade working in support of the Afghan Army's 3/215 Brigade and elements of the Afghan National Police.

World War II
In 1939, at the start of the Second World War this brigade changed its title from Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt) to 4th Armoured Brigade.

On 27 July 1941 it handed over its units to the 1st Army Tank Brigade and received new units from Egypt. It was reformed again when the HQ arrived in Sicily and it took control of new units there. The 4th Armoured Brigade saw service in North Africa, Sicily and Italy and in the North West Europe Campaign. Although it served under many different formations it was most famous as part of the 7th Armoured Division, the Desert Rats.

The Brigade left 7th Armoured Division in North Africa in 1943 for the Allied Invasion Force for Normandy. In June 1944 Brigade troops landed in Normandy and was the first Brigade to cross the Rhine into Germany.

Cold War Era
The Brigade spent many years in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine. The Brigade deployed to the First Gulf War on Operation Granby in 1990/91 and was involved in the liberation of Kuwait. It moved to Osnabrück in 1991 to replace 12th Armoured Brigade as part of 1st (UK) Armoured Division.

Post-Cold War
4th Armoured Brigade deployed to Bosnia in October 1995 as UNPROFOR HQ Sector South-West and subsequently as the leading UK element of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR). On its return to the United Kingdom it was transferred from 1st (UK) Armoured Division to 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division. The Black Rats have since deployed twice to Iraq and once before to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 12 in 2010. The Brigade returned to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in October 2012 for Operation Herrick 17 to take over as the lead formation of British troops. The roulement tour saw the brigade working in support of the Afghan Army's 3/215 Brigade and elements of the Afghan National Police.

Under Army 2020, it will lose its armour and convert to an infantry brigade.

Current Formation

 * 4 Mechanized Brigade Units 2013
 * 204 Signal Squadron (Signals and Brigade HQ)
 * The Queen's Royal Lancers (Formation Reconnaissance)
 * The Royal Dragoon Guards (Armoured)
 * 1st Battalion, Scots Guards (Armoured Infantry)
 * 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border) (Mechanized Infantry)
 * 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) (Light Role)
 * 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Royal Scots Borderers (Light Role Infantry)
 * Affiliated units:
 * 4th Regiment Royal Artillery (Self Propelled Artillery)
 * 21 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers
 * 1 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
 * 12 Logistic Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps
 * 3 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps

World War II Commanders
During World War II
 * 3 September 1939 - 1 November 1939 Lieutenant-Colonel HRB Watkins
 * 1 November 1939 - 16 November 1939 Brigadier JAL Caunter
 * 16 November 1939 - 5 December 1939 Lieutenant-Colonel HRB Watkins
 * 5 December 1939 - 8 May 1941 Brigadier JAL Caunter
 * 8 May 1941 - 26 June 1942 Brigadier AH Gatehouse
 * 26 June 1942 - 7 July 1942 Brigadier AF Fisher
 * 7 July 1942 - 4 October 1942 Brigadier WG Carr
 * 4 October 1942 - 18 November 1942 Brigadier MG Roddick
 * 18 November 1942 - 10 December 1942 Colonel RCG Joy
 * 10 December 1942 - 24 January 1943 Brigadier CBC Harvey
 * 24 January 1943 - 27 February 1943 Brigadier DS Newton-King
 * 27 February 1943 - 30 December 1943 Brigadier JC Currie
 * 30 December 1943 - 16 March 1944 Brigadier HJB Cracroft
 * 16 March 1944 - 26 June 1944 Brigadier JC Currie
 * 26 June 1944 - 27 June 1944 Colonel JL Young
 * 27 June 1944 - 25 January 1945 Brigadier RMP Carver
 * 25 January 1945 - 22 February 1945 Lieutenant-Colonel GC Hopkinson
 * 22 February 1945 - 31 August 1945 Brigadier RMP Carver

Brigade Commanders
Recent commanders have included:
 * 1976-1978 Brigadier HDA Langley
 * 1981-1984 Brigadier CRL Guthrie
 * 1994-1996 Brigadier FR Dannatt
 * 1996-1998 Brigadier DJ Richards
 * 1998-2000 Brigadier WR Rollo
 * 2005-2007 Brigadier CM Deverell
 * 2007-2009 Brigadier Julian Free
 * 2009-2011 Brigadier Richard Felton
 * 2011–Present Brigadier Bob Bruce

Notable former soldiers
Former BBC Motor sports commentator Murray Walker served with 4th Armoured Brigade during the Second World War as a member of The Royal Scots Greys. After the war he started a motorcycle club, organising trials and scrambles for the soldiers within the Brigade.