Order of battle of armour units of the Belgian Army in May 1940 facts for kids

The Belgian Army had special units with armoured vehicles in May 1940. This was during World War II, when Belgium was invaded. These units were important for defending the country.

Belgian Army's Armoured Units in 1940

When World War II began, the Belgian Army had different types of fighting vehicles. These included light tanks, tank destroyers, and armoured cars. They were organized into various army groups, like infantry divisions and cavalry divisions. Knowing how many vehicles each unit had is called an "order of battle." It helps us understand the army's strength at that time.

What is an "Order of Battle"?

An "order of battle" is like a list that shows how an army is set up. It tells us which units exist, how many soldiers are in them, and what equipment they have. For the Belgian Army in May 1940, it showed where their armoured vehicles were placed. This information was very important for planning battles.

Types of Armoured Vehicles

The Belgian Army used a few main types of armoured vehicles in 1940. These were the T 13, the T 15, and the ACG-1. Each vehicle had a different job on the battlefield.

The T 13 Tank Destroyer

The T 13 was a type of tank destroyer. This means its main job was to find and destroy enemy tanks. It was built on a light tank chassis but carried a powerful gun. The T 13 was the most common armoured vehicle in the Belgian Army at this time. Many infantry divisions had a small number of these vehicles to help them fight.

The T 15 Light Tank

The T 15 was a small, fast light tank. It was mainly used for scouting and reconnaissance. This means it would go ahead of the main army to find out where the enemy was. It had a machine gun for defense. The T 15 was often found in cavalry units, which were known for their speed.

The ACG-1 Armoured Car

The ACG-1 was an armoured car. Armoured cars are wheeled vehicles, not tracked like tanks. They are usually faster on roads than tanks. The ACG-1 was a heavier armoured car with a strong gun. Only a few of these were available, and they were used by a special unit called the "Escadron d'Autos blindées."

How the Army was Organized

The Belgian Army was divided into different types of units. Each unit had a specific role and was equipped with certain armoured vehicles.

Infantry Divisions

Most of the Belgian Army's infantry divisions had some armoured support. Each of the first four infantry divisions, and several reserve (R) divisions, had 12 T 13 tank destroyers. These vehicles helped the foot soldiers defend against enemy tanks.

Chasseurs Ardennais and Cyclistes-Frontière

The Chasseurs Ardennais were special light infantry units. The 1st Division of Chasseurs Ardennais had a larger number of T 13s (48) and also some T 15 light tanks (3). The 2nd Division of Chasseurs Ardennais had 3 T 15s. These units were often used in the Ardennes forest region. There were also "Cyclistes-Frontière" units, which were bicycle-mounted troops. Some of these units had 12 T 13s each.

Cavalry Divisions

The Belgian Army also had cavalry divisions. These units were designed for speed and movement. Both the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions had similar setups. Each of their regiments, like the 1er Régiment de Guides and the 2e and 3e Régiment de Lanciers, had 6 T 13s and 6 T 15s. This mix of tank destroyers and light tanks helped them with both fighting and scouting.

The Escadron d'Autos blindées was a unique unit. It had the only 10 ACG-1 armoured cars in the army. This unit was likely used for specialized tasks requiring heavier armoured car support.