The Australian 3rd Armoured Division was an armoured unit of the Australian Army

Australian Army

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...

 that was established on 15 November 1942 by redesignating the 1st Motor Division (which was previously the 1st Cavalry Division). As an armoured division the 3rd Armoured was equipped with M3 Grant medium tanks and M3 Stuart light tanks. The Division's 3rd Motor Brigade was gradually disbanded between March to August 1943 and the 3rd Armoured Division was disbanded in Queensland on 19 October 1943.

Order of battle upon formation

• Divisional Headquarters
• 12 Armoured Car Regiment
• 3rd Armoured Divisional Signals
• 2nd Armoured Brigade
  • 2/4 Armoured Regiment
  • 2/8 Armoured Regiment
  • 2/9 Armoured Regiment
• 1st Motor Brigade
  1st Motor Brigade (Australia)
  The 1st Motor Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II. The brigade was converted in April 1942, from the 1st Cavalry Brigade. The brigade was assigned to the 5th Division on formation, then transferred to the 1st Motor Division in September 1942, and transferred again in...
  
  
  • 5 Motor Regiment
  • 11 Motor Regiment
  • 16th Motor Regiment
• Divisional Artillery
  • 21 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
  • 102 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
• Divisional Administration Troops

Order of battle upon disbandment

• Divisional Headquarters
• 12 Armoured Car Regiment
• 3rd Armoured Divisional Signals
• 2nd Armoured Brigade
  • 2/4 Armoured Regiment
  • 13 Armoured Regiment
  • 20 Motor Regiment
• Divisional Artillery(?)
  • 21 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
  • 102 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
• Divisional Administration Troops

Commanding officers

The 3rd Armoured Division had three commanders through its brief existence:

• Major General W.A.B. Steele (November 1942 – March 1943)
• Major General W.J.M. Locke (March – April 1943)
• Major General W. Bridgeford
  William Bridgeford
  Lieutenant General Sir William Bridgeford KBE, CB, MC was a senior officer in the Australian Army. He began his military career in 1913 and fought on the Western Front during the First World War, before rising to command the 3rd Infantry Division during the Bougainville campaign in the Second...
  
  (April – October 1943)