{{Short description|Armoured brigade of the British Army from 1941 to 1944}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= 33rd Tank Brigade | image=British 33rd Armoured Brigade - Tactical Formation Sign.png | image_size = 100 |caption=Formation Insignia of the 33rd Tank Brigade |abbreviation= |Caption= |dates=30 August 1941 – 17 March 1944 |country={{flag|United Kingdom}} |allegiance= |branch=23px British Army |type=Armoured |role= Infantry Tank |size=Brigade |command_structure= Independent Brigade<br />3rd Division |equipment= <!-- Commanders --> |Past Commanders= |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_2= <!-- Culture and history --> |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= }} {{Infobox command structure | name = 33rd Tank Brigade | date = November 1941 | parent = Eastern Command | subordinate = 43rd Royal Tank Regiment <br/> 144th Regiment, RAC <br/> 148th Regiment, RAC }} {{Infobox command structure | name = 33rd Tank Brigade | date = March 1944 | parent = I Corps | subordinate = 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry <br/> 144th Regiment, RAC <br/> 148th Regiment, RAC }} The '''33rd Army Tank Brigade''' (later '''33rd Tank Brigade''') was an armoured brigade formation of the British Army raised during the Second World War.

==Origin== '''33rd Army Tank Brigade''' was created on 30 August 1941 under GHQ Home Forces to supervise the training of infantry battalions converted to the armour role. On 15 October, Brigade HQ was completed to full establishment and it became an active brigade in Eastern Command and later I Corps. Its initial composition was one Territorial Army tank battalion and two converted infantry battalions of the Royal Armoured Corps. It was based in the "Dukeries" area of Nottinghamshire, the 43 RTR at Welbeck Abbey, 144 RAC at Rufford Abbey and 148 RAC at Thoresby Hall.<ref>Joslen, p. 206.</ref><ref>144 RAC War Diary November–December 1941, The National Archives, Kew, file WO 166/1433.</ref><ref>148 RAC War Diary November–December 1941, The National Archives file WO 166/1436.</ref>

==Service== On 22 June 1942, the brigade dropped 'Army' from its title and became the tank brigade in 3rd Infantry Division, which had reorganised as a 'mixed' division. However, in April 1943, 3rd Division reverted to being an infantry division and, on 4 May 1943, 33rd Tank Brigade became an independent formation again.<ref>Joslen, pp. 43–4, 206.</ref>

The brigade's regiments had trained in the Infantry Tank role, latterly on Churchill tanks, but in the spring of 1944 converted to Sherman and Sherman Firefly medium tanks.<ref>Jolly.</ref> Reflecting this changed role, 33rd Tank Brigade was redesignated 33rd Armoured Brigade on 17 March 1944.<ref>Joslen, p. 206.</ref>

==Units== ''The following units served in 33rd Tank Brigade'':<ref>Joslen, p. 206.</ref>

* 43rd Royal Tank Regiment 18 October 1941 – 5 August 1943 * 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 22 November 1941 – 16 March 1944 * 148th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 22 November 1941 – 8 October 1943, 17 February – 16 March 1944 * 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry 21 September 1943 – 16 March 1944 * 1st East Riding Yeomanry 8 October 1943 – 17 February 1944

==Commanders== The following officers commanded 33rd Tank Brigade:<ref>Joslen, p. 206.</ref>

* Brigadier R.M. Jerram ''from 30 August 1941'' * Brigadier C.H. Montague ''from 22 December 1942'' * Brigadier H.B. Scott ''from 7 March 1944''

==See also== {{Portal|United Kingdom}} * British Armoured formations of World War II * List of British brigades of the Second World War

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== * A. Jolly, ''The Battle of Noyers 16–18 July 1944'', Appendix to 144 RAC War Diary July 1944 The National Archives, Kew, file WO 171/878. * {{Joslen-OOB}}

{{British mobile brigades of the Second World War}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

Category:Military units and formations established in 1941 Category:Armoured brigades of the British Army in World War II Category:Tank brigades Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944