This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| 59 (Royal Tanks) Commando Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 59 (Royal Tanks) Commando Squadron |
| Dates | 1943–1946 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Commando (armoured) |
| Role | Armoured support for No. 4 Commando and Royal Marine Commandos |
| Size | Squadron |
| Garrison | Dorset / HMS Algiers |
| Notable commanders | Brigadier George Todd, Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Salmond |
| Battles | Operation Overlord, Battle of Normandy, Battle of the Scheldt, Operation Infatuate |
| Decorations | Military Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Military Medal |
59 (Royal Tanks) Commando Squadron
59 (Royal Tanks) Commando Squadron was an armoured commando unit of the British Army formed during the Second World War to provide specialised tank support for amphibious assaults and combined-arms operations in the European Theatre. Raised from elements of the Royal Tank Regiment and trained alongside No. 4 Commando, the squadron equipped Churchill and Sherman tanks modified for coastal and urban operations, participating in major campaigns including Normandy campaign and the Battle of the Scheldt. The unit bridged armoured tactics from the Western Desert Campaign with commando doctrine refined during operations in North Africa, Sicily and the Italian Campaign.
The squadron originated in late 1943 as part of a wartime reorganisation influenced by lessons from the Battle of El Alamein, Operation Torch, and the use of specialised armour during Operation Husky. The creation drew personnel from the Royal Tank Regiment, the Royal Engineers, and volunteers from Army Commandos, with administrative oversight by Combined Operations Headquarters established by Winston Churchill and Admiral Sir Roger Keyes legacy structures. Training occurred at depots including Dorset Regiment areas, Aldershot Garrison, and specialised schools such as the School of Tank Technology and HMS Excellent coastal training facilities, emphasizing amphibious landings, close infantry-tank cooperation seen in Battle of Gazala, and assault engineering procedures from Operation Flipper.
After formation the squadron integrated into larger formations supporting Second British Army units under commanders like Bernard Montgomery and operated in coordination with formations including 1st Canadian Infantry Division, 3rd Canadian Division, and 2nd Canadian Corps during Operation Overlord. Deployments followed the Mulberry harbour operations and the breakout from Sword Beach, supporting infantry advances through bocage against positions held by elements of the Wehrmacht and units from Fallschirmjäger. As Allied forces advanced, the squadron shifted roles in the Liberation of Belgium and support for amphibious raids tied to Operation Infatuate at the Scheldt Estuary, cooperating with naval units such as HMS Rodney and with air cover from Royal Air Force squadrons like No. 303 Squadron RAF. Postwar, the squadron participated in occupation duties influenced by directives from Allied Control Council and was disbanded in 1946 amid wider demobilisation overseen by British War Office planners.
Organisationally the squadron maintained troop-level structure common to armoured units, with command elements liaising with commando assault groups from formations including No. 4 Commando, No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando, and 2nd Special Service Brigade. Key equipment included modified Churchill tanks with fascine, flame-thrower and AVRE-style engineering adaptations influenced by designs tested at Weymouth and Dorset training ranges, alongside lend-lease M4 Sherman variants and armoured carriers such as the Maultier. Support vehicles ranged from Universal Carriers to specialist bridgelayers and recovery vehicles derived from Sherman Firefly recovery practices. Communications equipment included radios standardised with Royal Corps of Signals protocols to coordinate with naval fire-control from vessels like HMS Warspite and air liaison with RAF Second Tactical Air Force.
The squadron took part in the D-Day landings phase supporting assaults on Sword Beach and subsequent operations in the Battle for Caen, working alongside formations such as 3rd Infantry Division (United Kingdom), 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, and units from the Polish Armed Forces in the West. In the Battle of the Scheldt the squadron provided armoured support for actions at Walcheren Island during Operation Infatuate, cooperating with Royal Navy bombardments and Royal Canadian Navy units during amphibious operations. Other deployments included actions in Belgium during the liberation of Antwerp approaches, countering mechanised elements of the Panzer Lehr Division and supporting operations against Fascist Italian holdouts earlier in the Mediterranean theatre. The squadron’s actions earned recognition by commanders including Sir Miles Dempsey and Harry Crerar for effectiveness in combined-arms assaults.
Command leadership included officers drawn from the Royal Tank Regiment and experienced commando leaders; notable figures included Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Salmond and coordination under brigadiers experienced in amphibious doctrine like George Todd. Personnel received decorations such as the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, and Military Medal for actions in Normandy and the Scheldt, with individuals seconded from formations including Royal Engineers, Royal Infantry Corps, and Royal Armoured Corps. The squadron roster featured NCOs trained at Marlborough Lines and junior officers who had served in earlier campaigns such as Sicily Campaign and North African Campaign.
Insignia combined symbols from the Royal Tank Regiment cap badge and commando emblems akin to those worn by No. 4 Commando and Royal Marine Commandos, reflecting dual heritage. Traditions emphasised amphibious proficiency traced to Combined Operations badges and association with units deployed from bases like HMS Algiers and training at Lulworth Cove. Battle honours recorded in unit diaries referenced actions recognised in official lists such as Normandy, Scheldt, and Walcheren, and veterans maintained links through associations formed alongside organisations like the Royal Tank Regiment Association and postwar remembrance at memorials including the National Memorial Arboretum.
Category:Armoured units and formations of the British Army Category:World War II British Commando units Category:Royal Tank Regiment