40th Armored Division (United States)

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40th Armored Division
40th US Armored Division SSI.svg
40th Armored Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1954–67
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type Armor
Role Armored warfare
Size Division
Nickname(s)"Grizzly" [1]
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Charles A. Ott Jr.

The 40th Armored Division was a division of the United States Army National Guard from July 1954 until 1967.

Contents

History

Division soldiers direct traffic away from an area of South Central Los Angeles burning during the Watts riots. 40th in Watts.jpg
Division soldiers direct traffic away from an area of South Central Los Angeles burning during the Watts riots.

After its return from the Korean War, the 40th Infantry Division was reorganized on 1 July 1954 as the 40th Armored Division. [2]

In August 1965 the division was deployed to help suppress the Watts riots. [3] :169–70

On 1 December 1967, a major reorganization of the National Guard reduced the Guard to eight combat divisions, with the 40th Armored Division as one of the units designated for inactivation. On 29 January 1968, the Division was eliminated and the 40th Infantry Brigade and 40th Armored Brigade were organized. [4]

1956 order of battle

1967 order of battle

Notes

  1. Nathaniel T. Robertson (17 February 2001). "The 40th Infantry Division's March to the Korean War". California State Military Museum. California State Military Department. Retrieved 21 March 2013. The next day on 1 July 1954, the 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard, combined with the 111th Armored Cavalry Regiment, California Army National Guard, and formed the 40th Armored Division (*Grizzly*), California Army National Guard.
  2. "40th Armoured Division Order of Battle, 1956". The California State Military Museum. Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. Scheips, Paul (2005). The Role of Federal Military Forces in Domestic Disorders, 1945–1992 (PDF). US Army Center of Military History. ISBN   9781517253783.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. "40th Infantry Division (Mechanized)". Military. GlobalSecurity.org. 17 July 2006. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2009.

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References