79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)

79th Armoured Division
Badge of the 79th Armoured Division
Active	14 August 1942–20 August 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Specialised armour
Size	Division
Engagements	Battle of Normandy Battle of the Scheldt Geilenkirchen salient Rhine crossing Elbe crossing, Battle for the Roer Triangle
Commanders
Notable commanders	Major General Sir Percy Hobart

The 79th Armoured Division was a specialist armoured division of the British Army created during World War II. The division was created as part of the preparations for the Normandy invasion on 6 June 1944, D-Day. The division operated armoured vehicles modified for specialist roles, intended to assist with the landings on the beaches. The division remained in action during the North-west European Campaign, providing specialised support during assaults to the 21st Army Group and, occasionally, to American units.

The division was formed as a standard armoured formation in November 1942, but, in March 1943, it was about to be disbanded for lack of resources. General Sir Alan Brooke, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), however, foresaw the need for specialised armoured vehicles and offered its command to Major-General Percy Hobart. Hobart accepted on the understanding that the 79th would be an operational division, not just a training and development one. The number assigned - 79 - appears to be in the higher infantry division series between the 78th Infantry Division and the low grade 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division. As an all-armoured formation, its infantry brigade, the 185th, was removed; the 27th Armoured Brigade remained as the nucleus of its new role, but was moved to the British 3rd Infantry Division in early 1944.