The 3rd Armoured Brigade, previously the 1st Heavy Armoured Brigade, was an armoured brigade of the British Army that saw service in World War II with both the 1st and the 2nd Armoured Divisions in the North African Campaign. The brigade headquarters were disbanded on 11 January 1943.
3rd Armoured Brigade was constituted as follows during the war:
2nd Royal Tank Regiment (until 11 August 1940)
3rd Royal Tank Regiment (until 22 May, rejoined 19 June, left 30 June 1940, rejoined again 29 October 1940, left again 25 January 1941)
5th Royal Tank Regiment (until 18 February 1941, rejoined 24 March, left 14 April 1941)
1st King's Dragoon Guards (from 26 February until 22 March 1941)
3rd The King's Own Hussars (from 26 February until 14 April 1941)
6th Royal Tank Regiment (from 28 February until 14 April 1941)
1st Royal Tank Regiment (from 9 to 18 May 1941)
D Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment (from 16 May until 18 September 1941)
Commanders
The following officers commanded 3rd Armoured Brigade during the war:
Brigadier V.V. Pope (until 20 April 1940)
Brigadier J.T. Crocker (from 20 April until 21 September 1940)
Brigadier R.G.W. Rimington (from 21 September 1940 until 8 April 1941)
Lieutenant Colonel H.D. Drew (Acting, from 8 April until 2 June 1941)
Colonel G.M.O. Davy (Acting, from 2 June until 18 July 1941)
Lieutenant Colonel F. Brown (Acting, from 18 to 29 July 1941)
Colonel R.C. Keller (Acting, from 29 July 1941)
