'Desert Rats' to be defanged

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9911295/Famed-Desert-Rats-to-lose-their-tanks-under-Army-cuts.html

The Army’s 7th Armoured Brigade Headquarters will return from Germany and become part of a new infantry unit that will only be equippped with wheeled reconnaissance vehicles, the MoD admitted.

The move ends the armoured role of a tank force that won fame in North Africa under General Bernard Montgomery with victories in battles including El Alamein.

Tank crews fighting under the famous black and red badge also fought with distinction against Iraqi forces in both the first and second Gulf Wars.

Another celebrated unit, the 4th Mechanized Brigade, known as the Black Rats, will also lose its role as a tank force and become part of an infantry formation, it emerged.

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9912065/Disgust-of-Desert-Rat-veterans-over-loss-of-tanks.html

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100205648/army-is-taking-a-great-gamble-scrapping-the-desert-rats/