33rd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

33rd Armoured Brigade
Formation Insignia of the 33rd Armoured Brigade
Active	17 March 1944 - 22 August 1945 1 January 1980 - 1 December 1992
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Armoured
Size	Brigade
Part of	Independent Brigade 79th Armoured Division 3rd Armoured Division 4th Armoured Division
Garrison/HQ	Alanbrooke Barracks, Paderborn Garrison
Equipment	M4 Sherman LVT 4
Engagements	Second World War Invasion of Normandy Le Mesnil-Patry Operation Charnwood Operation Pomegranate Operation Totalize Rhine Crossing

The 33rd Armoured Brigade (33rd Armd Bde) was an armoured brigade of the British Army that was active in northwestern Europe in World War II from June 1944 until May 1945 and from 1980 to 1992.

The brigade was formed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 1944 by the re-designation 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. From 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.

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.