27th Armored Division (United States)

{{Use American English|date=October 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= 27th Armored Division | image=27th Armored Division Empire.jpg | image_size = 200 |caption= |dates= 1955 - 1968 |country= {{flag|United States}} |allegiance= |branch= {{army|United States}} |type= Armored |role= |size= |command_structure= |garrison= |equipment=  |current_commander= |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |notable_commanders=Major General Ronald C. Brock<br/>(first commander)  |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_2=  |nickname="Empire" |patron= |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= }} {{Military unit sidebar|title=U.S. Armored Divisions|previous=25th Armored Division (''Phantom'')|next=30th Armored Division (''Inactive'')}} The '''27th Armored Division''' was a United States Army formation. It was part of the New York Army National Guard in the 1950s and 1960s.

==Activation== In February, 1955 a reorganization of the Army National Guard included reorganizing the 27th Infantry Division as the 27th Armored Division.<ref>J.B. Lyon Company, [https://books.google.com/books?id=x6jb3X0Uh_cC&q=%2227th+armored+division%22 New York State Legislative Documents], Volume 6, 1955, page 13</ref> This included exchanging the black and red "NYD" (New York Division) shoulder patch for the triangle-shaped patch of the Army's armor divisions. The 27th Armored Division was called the "Empire Division," after New York's nickname, the Empire State.<ref>Jack Raymond, ''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/20/archives/most-reservists-could-join-guard-mcnamara-plan-envisions-initial.html Most Reservists Could Join Guard: McNamara Plan Envisions Initial Overstrengths], 20 December 1964</ref>

The division headquarters was originally in Buffalo, and was later moved to Syracuse.<ref>Peter B. Taub, Gannett News Service, Newburgh Evening News, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OfZGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6zMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4506,3074709&dq=27th-armored-division+buffalo+headquarters&hl=en Upstate Shift Due National Guard], 28 February 1963</ref><ref>John B. Wilson, Center of Military History, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ByO5AAAAIAAJ&q=%2227th+armored+division%22+buffalo+headquarters Armies, Corps, Divisions, and Separate Brigades], 1988, page 361</ref>

==Composition, 1955== In 1955, the composition of the 27th Armored Division was:

*Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 27th Armored Division *Combat Commands A, B, and C

'''Infantry:'''

*105th Armored Infantry Battalion *108th Armored Infantry Battalion *174th Armored Infantry Battalion *175th Armored Infantry Battalion

'''Armor:'''

*127th Tank Battalion *205th Tank Battalion *208th Tank Battalion *274th Tank Battalion

'''Artillery:'''

*Headquarters, 27th Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY) *106th Armored Field Artillery Battalion *186th Armored Field Artillery Battalion *249th Armored Field Artillery Battalion *270th Armored Field Artillery Battalion *210th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (from 127th AAA)

'''Separate Units:'''

*27th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion *152nd Armored Engineer Battalion *27th Armored Signal Battalion

'''Trains:'''

*Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Armored Division Trains *727th Armored Ordnance Battalion *134th Armored Medical Battalion *27th Armored Quartermaster Battalion *27th Military Police Company *27th Replacement Company

==Composition, 1960== *Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 27th Armored Division *Combat Commands A, B, and C

'''Infantry: armored rifle battalions'''

*1st Battalion, 105th Infantry *1st Battalion, 108th Infantry *2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry *1st Battalion, 174th Infantry

'''Armor: medium tank battalions'''

*1st Battalion, 127th Armor *1st Battalion, 174th Armor *1st Battalion, 205th Armor *1st Battalion, 108th Armor *1st Battalion, 210th Armor (from 210th Anti-aircraft Artillery) *1st Squadron, 121st Armor (from 27th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion)

'''Artillery:'''

*Headquarters, 27th Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY)

Howitzer battalions: *1st Battalion, 104th Artillery *1st Battalion, 180th Artillery *1st Battalion, 270th Artillery *1st Battalion (Rocket), 106th Artillery

'''Separate units:'''

*127th Aviation Company *152nd Engineer Battalion *227th Signal Battalion (from 27th Signal Battalion).

'''Trains:'''

==Composition, 1966== *Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 27th Armored Division *1st Brigade: **1st Battalion, 105th Infantry **1st Battalion, 205th Armor **1st Battalion, 210th Armor *2nd Brigade: **1st Battalion, 108th Infantry **2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry **1st Battalion, 208th Armor *3rd Brigade: **1st Battalion, 174th Infantry **1st Battalion, 127th Armor **2nd Battalion, 127th Armor **1st Battalion, 174th Armor **1st Squadron, 121st Cavalry *Headquarters, 27th Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY): **1st Battalion, 104th Field Artillery **1st Battalion, 106th Field Artillery **1st Battalion, 156th Field Artillery **2nd Battalion, 156th Field Artillery **1st Battalion, 170th Field Artillery *Separate commands: **27th Armored Division Band **27th Administrative Company **27th Supply & Transportation Battalion **134th Medical Battalion **152nd Engineer Battalion **727th Maintenance Battalion<ref>New York National Guard, [http://ny.ng.mil/27bct/Pages/History.aspx History of the 27th Infantry Division], 27th Armored Division composition 1955, 1960, 1966. Retrieved 26 July 2013</ref>

==Commanders== 100px|thumb|right|Ronald C. Brock, first commander of the 27th Armored Division. Three individuals served as commander of the 27th Armored Division:

*Major General Ronald C. Brock (1955–1957).<ref>Toledo Blade, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zFZIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ygAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5975,6043397&dq=27th-armored-division&hl=en Ike Pledges Guard to be Maintained], 4 February 1957</ref> Brock had been commander of the 27th Infantry Division.<ref>Schenectady Gazette, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-3czAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dYEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=982,765315&dq=ronald-c-brock+general&hl=en Kearney Resigns Post in NY Guard], 5 June 1948</ref> He subsequently served as commander of the New York National Guard.<ref>New York Secretary of State, [https://books.google.com/books?id=TsUSAAAAIAAJ&q=%22ronald+c.+brock%22 State Legislative manual], 1958, page 446</ref> *MG Almerin C. O'Hara (1957–1959).<ref>Williams Press, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6MwGAQAAIAAJ&q=%2227th+armored+division%22 New York Red Book], 1959, page 367</ref> O'Hara later served as commander of the New York National Guard, and state Commissioner of General Services. When Albany County shifted to a county executive/county legislature form of government in 1975, O'Hara was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Albany County Executive.<ref>Associated Press, Newburgh Evening News, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kNVgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y24NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4505,597897&dq=almerin-o-hara+county+executive&hl=en Coyne 'New Look' County Executive], 5 November 1975</ref> *MG Collin P. Williams (1959–1968)<ref>U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=CcsQAAAAIAAJ&q=%22collin+p.+williams%22+27th+armored+1959 Hearing Record], Military Cold War Education and Speech Review Policies, Biographical sketch, Collin P. Williams, 1962, page 2662</ref> Williams had served as commander of Combat Command B, 27th Armored Division and the division's Assistant Division Commander.<ref>Army and Navy Journal Incorporated, [https://books.google.com/books?id=dZMXAQAAMAAJ&q=%22collin+p.+williams%22+commander+center Army, Navy, Air Force Journal], Volume 94, Issues 27–52, 1957, page 955</ref> He retired in 1968.<ref>Ruth Collin Stong, [https://books.google.com/books?id=7GxGAAAAMAAJ&q=%22collin+p.+williams%22+retired+1968 John Collin, Stem and Branches], 1980, page 209</ref>

==Deactivation== The 27th Armored Division was inactivated in February, 1968 during another reorganization of the Army National Guard.<ref>New York Times, [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0811F83C5E1A7B93CAA8178AD85F4C8685F9 State Guard to Disband Division That Once Chased Pancho Villa], 19 January 1968</ref> During its existence the 27th Armored Division was not activated for federal service and saw no combat.<ref>National Guard Educational Foundation, [https://archive.today/20130415125121/http://www.ngef.org/index.asp?bid=96 27th Armored Division], 2011</ref> It was activated for state service, including the response to the 1964 Rochester riot.<ref>United Press International, Lexington Dispatch, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yXEcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a1EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2285,1548921&dq=27th-armored-division&hl=en National Guard Troops on Duty in Rochester], 27 July 1964</ref>

==Subsequent history== 100px|thumb|left|27th Infantry Division SSI. The division was reorganized in 1968 as the 27th Armored Brigade, a unit of the 50th Armored Division.<ref>Associated Press, Newburgh Evening News, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19680118&id=Bl1GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cCkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2192,2949081 Guard Streamlined: 27th Division Ends], 18 January 1968</ref>

The 27th Armored Brigade was reorganized as an Infantry brigade in 1975 and aligned with the 42nd Infantry Division.<ref>John J. McGrath, [https://books.google.com/books?id=KWrLJj-iTlAC&dq=27th+infantry+brigade+roundout&pg=PA232 The Brigade: A History, Its Organization and Employment in the US Army], 2009, page 232</ref>

In 1985 the 27th Infantry Brigade was activated as part of the New York Army National Guard, and assigned as the "roundout" brigade of the Army's 10th Mountain Division.<ref>Michael Dale Doubler, John W. Listman, Jr., [https://books.google.com/books?id=cpaCSfXbbusC&dq=27th+infantry+brigade+roundout&pg=PA120 The National Guard: An Illustrated History of America's Citizen-Soldiers], 2007, page 120</ref>

The 27th Brigade was later reorganized as the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and reestablished use of the 27th Infantry Division's NYD shoulder sleeve insignia.<ref>Uniformed Services Almanacs, [https://books.google.com/books?id=W5L-2yprpWMC&q=%2227th+infantry+brigade+combat+team%22 2008 National Guard Almanac], 2008, page 143</ref> The 27th Infantry Brigade carries on the lineage and history of the 27th Infantry Division.

==References== {{reflist}} {{Army Divisions (United States)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:027}} 27th Armored Division, U.S. Category:Divisions of the United States Army National Guard Category:Military units and formations established in 1955 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1968 Category:1955 establishments in New York (state) Category:1968 disestablishments in New York (state)