255th Indian Tank Brigade

The 255th Indian Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the Indian Army during World War II. It was part of the Fourteenth Army and saw action in the Burma Campaign. The 255th Tank Brigade's tactical sign was a black bull, with yellow horns and red eyes, on a royal blue triangle. The brigade fought with the 17th Indian Infantry Division in Burma and was involved in the Battle of Meiktila, the Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations and during Operation Dracula.[1]

5th Indian Armoured Brigade
255th Indian Armoured Brigade
255th Indian Tank Brigade
1st Armoured Brigade
Active1941–1946
Country British India
Allegiance British Empire
Branch British Indian Army
EquipmentStuart tank
M4 Sherman tank
EngagementsBattle of Meiktila and Mandalay
Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations
Battle honoursBurma 1944–1945

The brigade was raised in June 1941 as 5th Indian Armoured Brigade and redesignated 255th Indian Armoured Brigade in October 1941. The name was changed again to the 255th Indian Tank Brigade in August 1944. In October 1944 it moved to the Imphal plain and came under command of IV Corps. The brigade crossed the Irrawaddy under command of the 17th Indian Infantry Division in February 1945.[2]

The brigade was redesignated in June 1946 as the 1st Armoured Brigade and assigned to the 1st Armoured Division, with which it was serving at Secunderabad when the Partition of India took place in August 1947.[3]

Component units (February 1945)

[5]

Commander

  • Brigadier H. H. Stable (June 1941 - November 1943)[5]
  • Brigadier C. E. Pert (November 1943 - May 1945)[5]
  • Brigadier R. Younger (May - November 1945)[5]
  • Brigadier J. M. W. Martin (November 1945 - November 1947)[6]
  • Brigadier Tara Singh Bal (November 1947 - March 1948)

See also

Notes and references

  1. M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45 By Steven J. Zaloga, Hugh Johnson
  2. Loyalty & Honour The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947 volume 2 Brigades. p. 3.
  3. Renaldi and Rikhye (2011), p.166
  4. "fireandfury" (pdf). www.fireandfury.com.
  5. Loyalty & Honour The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947 volume 2 Brigades. p. 4.
  6. The Army Gradation List February 1956. Appointed 2nd in command 255th Indian Tank Brigade February 1945

Further reading

  • Moreman, Tim (2005). The Jungle, the Japanese and the British Commonwealth Armies at War, 1941–45. Routeledge. ISBN 978-0-7146-4970-2.
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