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The Corps changed to its present title in 1939, with the formation of the Royal Tank Regiment. The RTC had, up until 1928, been entirely responsible for all "armour" in the British Army. Its schools began the mechanisation and training of the cavalry, and the RTR itself expanded between 1935 and 1938 into eight regular battalions.

From the start of World War II, both Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, made it clear that they wanted to be associated with the Royal Tank Regiment - the value of the tank as a decisive battlefield weapon was being recognised.

By the end of the Second World War, the tank had once again proved itself a major battle winner, and having fought in most of the major engagements in Europe, North Africa, the Middle and Far East, the Regiment had Battalions spread all over the world. Two more VC's had been awarded, together with countless other decorations, to men who, "...cheerfully went to war in tin cans, closely surrounded by a lethal mixture of petrol and ammunition.

DUNKIRK
Both 4th and 7th RTR fought in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. At Arras, on 21 May 1940 they smashed into the rear of Rommel's 7th Panzer Division with good effect. However, both regiments suffered heavily in the end and the survivors escaped via Dunkirk. Three other RTR regiments fought in Western France as part of the British First Armoured Division.

ALAMEIN
Throughout the desert war, elements of the RTR saw almost continuous action. In particular the great victory over the Italian at Beda Fomm. The RTR was heavily committed at El Alamein in October 1942, not only in conventional tanks but also in mine-sweeping tanks called Scorpions. While Montgomery's Eighth Army chased retreating Axis forces across Libya, a new Army under General Eisenhower landed in Tunisia.

Here RTR crews in Churchill tanks met and defeated the mighty German Tigers.

D-DAY
Major General Sir Percy Hobart, an RTR officer since 1923, is best known as Commander of the famous 79th Armoured Division. Equiped with special purpose tanks known as Funnies this Division spearheaded the British attack on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and continued to support Allied forces in Europe until the end of the war. Once again the RTR played a vital part, notably in such events as the attack on Le Havre, the fantastic six-day dash from Normandy to Belgium and the crossing of the river Rhine in March 1945.

My first selection of tanks are British and American. I will follow with German and Russian

Used by 1st Armoured Div. France
7th Armoured in North Africa
Approximately 50% of all tanks in use during 1941 in Africa were the old Cruiser's. Inferior to the German tanks under General Gott of the 7th Army successes were still achieved.
In Nov.41 under Gen.Auchinleck and Gen.Cunningham the 8th Army moved towards Tobruk.operation 'Crusader'had begun.
On the 18th Nov.after fierce fighting and terrible losses
Operation 'Crusader ' succeeded in relieving Tubruk. Rommel retreated to the Ghazala Line.
10,200 British and 8,400 German and Italian men were killed

Used in France 1940 and North Africa.Very Slow

Virtually invulnerable to all but
German Flak 88. Was used for
specialized roles.
These were the main support tanks to the Crusader's.
On 21st Jan.42 Rommel began a 2nd offensive.
On 7th Feb. Benghazi fell to the german 7th Army.
21st June Tubruk was re-taken and the garrison surrendered.

Drivers adapted the engine goveners and
increased the speed up to 64 kph.
They were grossly undergunned.
On 13th Aug.42 the 8th Army came under the control of Gen. Montgomery.
he addressed the 7th Army Division which included the 5th Tanks.The men did not feel drawn to the man one bit.To them he seemed a bit of a showman and they resented him for wearing the black beret and RTR badge.For he had never been a tankman.His service had been in the Infantry.
'Montgomery,he's a bit of a 'bull-shitter', was the unglossed view of one old squaddie desert man from 'B' Squadron 5th RTR.

Churchill's were made from Mark I thru.Mark IX
They were used in North Africa and Italy.
They were not very reliable and were later used
for specialized activities