United States Army Armored Divisions of the Second World War

The routing of the British and French Armies in May and June 1940 by the Wehrmacht’s armored divisions caused a major rethink by the US Army’s senior leadership. The result was the formation of the two armored divisions in July 1940; the first named ‘Old Ironside’ and second designated ‘Hell on Wheels’.

In 1941, a further three armored divisions were created; the third (Spearhead), the fourth (remained unnamed) and the fifth called ‘Victory’. The following year seven more were created, the s...