HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The 50th Armored Division was a division of the
Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized militia force and a federal military reserve force of the United States Army. They are simultaneously part of two different organizations: the Army N ...
from July 1946 until 1993.


History

On 13 October 1945 the
War Department War Department may refer to: * War Department (United Kingdom) * United States Department of War (1789–1947) See also * War Office, a former department of the British Government * Ministry of defence * Ministry of War * Ministry of Defence * D ...
published a postwar policy statement for the entire Army, calling for a 27-division Army National Guard structure with 25 infantry divisions and two armored divisions. Once the process of negotiation was complete, among the new formations formed were the 49th and 50th Armored Divisions, the first armored divisions in the Army National Guard. The 50th Armored Division replaced the 44th Infantry Division within the
New Jersey Army National Guard The New Jersey Army National Guard consists of more than 6,000 Citizen-Soldiers. The New Jersey Army National Guard is currently engaged in multiple worldwide and homeland missions. Units have deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germ ...
, with the 50th Armored assuming the 44th Infantry's "Jersey Blues" nickname. Most 50th Armored Division units were legacy units of the 44th Infantry and inherited the lineage and history of those units. In a 1968 reorganization, the 50th Armored was joined by the 27th Armored Brigade from New York, the legacy units left after the inactivation of the 27th Armored Division. Since the 50th Armored Division was no longer completely within New Jersey, it retired the "Jersey Blues" nickname. In 1968, the 50th Armored Division was reorganized to draw its units from New Jersey and the Vermont Army National Guard. Armor battalions in New Jersey and Vermont were upgraded to M48A1 and M48A3
Patton George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France ...
medium tanks. Between 1975-76 Vermont and New Jersey armor battalions started turning in their M48A3 tanks and began receiving the M48A5 which had the same 105mm gun and fire control system as the M60A1 in use by the active Army. During this time, many Vermont tank crews competed in gunnery exercises held in West Germany and consistently brought back awards. The division's training was rigorous during the Soviet threat peak years of the late 1970s to mid 1980s. Germany was the primary area of operations for the division if it was to have been activated. The bi-state organization comprised: *Headquarters, 50th Armored Division (
Somerset, New Jersey Somerset is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States.Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 39,776, reflecting an increase of 516 (+1.3%) f ...
. Co.D, Vermont **5th Squadron, 117th Cavalry **150th Aviation Battalion (UH-1 & AH-1 Hueys) (later 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation) *1st Brigade (
Woodbridge, New Jersey Woodbridge Township is a township in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is both a regional hub for Central New Jersey and a major bedroom suburb of New York City in the New York metropolitan area located within the ...
) *2nd Brigade (
Cherry Hill, New Jersey Cherry Hill is a township within Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the township had a population of 74,553, which reflected an increase of 3,508 (+4.94%) from the 71,045 counted in the 2010 census.< ...
) * 86th Brigade (
Montpelier, Vermont Montpelier () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Vermont and the seat of Washington County. The site of Vermont's state government, it is the least populous state capital in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population ...
) *Division Artillery (
Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784.Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized militia force and a federal military reserve force of the United States Army. They are simultaneously part of two different organizations: the Army N ...
to meet the new 'Division 86' structures in the mid-1980s was a challenging process, and most Guard divisions expanded their recruiting areas. The 50th Armored Division did not, and instead had the allotment for one of its brigades moved to the Texas Army National Guard, making the future of the division within the force structure 'uncertain'. During this time, both battalions of Vermont's 172nd Armor 86th Brigade began doing their annual training at
Fort Hood, Texas Fort Hood is a United States Army post located near Killeen, Texas. Named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, it is located halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas. The post is the headquart ...
, a change from their former armor deployment base of
Fort Drum, New York Fort Drum is a U.S. Army military reservation and a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson County, on the northern border of New York, United States. The population of the CDP portion of the base was 12,955 at the 2010 census. It is home t ...
. By October 1986, Vermont's 86th Brigade left the 50th Armor Division and became part of the 26th Infantry Division. A few years later the 86th went to the 42nd ID and received M60A3 medium tanks.


Inactivation

On 1 September 1993, the 50th Armored Division was inactivated and its remaining brigades joined other divisions. New Jersey's 50th Infantry Brigade, which took the Division's lineage, was made part of the 42nd Infantry Division. The 36th Infantry Brigade from Texas was reabsorbed into the
49th Armored Division The 49th Armored Division —nicknamed the "Lone Star"— was an armored division of the Texas Army National Guard during the Cold War. Active from 1947, the division formed part of the Texas Army National Guard together with the 36th Infantry ...
. In the early 1990s further consolidation followed the fall of the Soviet Union, and the 26th Infantry Division inactivated, causing Vermont's 86th Brigade to join the 42nd Infantry Division and soon receive M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks. While under the 50th Armor Division, Vermont's 1st and 2d Battalion, 172nd Armor of the 86th Brigade excelled at tank gunnery and field exercises, making the 86th Brigade the only Army National Guard unit to ever consistently accomplish Tank Table XIII, an honor it continued to earn even after the 50th AD inactivated. Due to further military consolidations, the 86th Brigade turned in its Abrams tanks in 2006 and ended its Armor designation just short of 40 years.


Organization 1989

At the end of the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...
the division was a unit of the
New Jersey Army National Guard The New Jersey Army National Guard consists of more than 6,000 Citizen-Soldiers. The New Jersey Army National Guard is currently engaged in multiple worldwide and homeland missions. Units have deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germ ...
, with a round-out brigade from the
Texas Army National Guard The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army, the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces (along with the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard). Texas Army National Guard units are tra ...
. The division was organized according to the Army of Excellence
table of organization and equipment A table of organization and equipment (TOE or TO&E) is the specified organization, staffing, and equipment of units. Also used in acronyms as 'T/O' and 'T/E'. It also provides information on the mission and capabilities of a unit as well as the u ...
: * 50th Armored Division,
Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lor ...
,
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...
** Headquarters & Headquarters Company ** 1st Brigade, Woodbridge *** Headquarters & Headquarters Company *** 1st Battalion, 102nd Armor, Phillipsburg *** 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry, Newark *** 3rd Battalion, 113th Infantry, Riverdale ** 2nd Brigade, Cherry Hill *** Headquarters & Headquarters Company *** 2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor, West Orange *** 3rd Battalion, 102nd Armor Vineland *** 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry, Woodbury *** 2nd Battalion, 114th Infantry Long Branch ** 36th Brigade,
Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 ...
,
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
(
Texas Army National Guard The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army, the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces (along with the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard). Texas Army National Guard units are tra ...
) *** Headquarters & Headquarters Company *** 7th Battalion, 112th Armor, Bryan, Texas *** 8th Battalion, 112th Armor,
Dallas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...
, Texas ** Aviation Brigade, 50th Armored Division, West Trenton *** Headquarters & Headquarters Company *** 5th Squadron, 117th Cavalry (Reconnaissance), Westfield Army Airfield *** 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation (Attack), West Trenton *** Company D, 150th Aviation (Command Support), Burlington Army Airfield ( Vermont Army National Guard) *** Company E, 150th Aviation (Assault), New Castle Army Airfield (
Delaware Army National Guard The Delaware Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau. The Delaware Army Nat ...
) ** 50th Armored Division Artillery, Trenton *** Headquarters & Headquarters Battery *** 1st Battalion,
112th Field Artillery Eleven or 11 may refer to: *11 (number), the natural number following 10 and preceding 12 * one of the years 11 BC, AD 11, 1911, 2011, or any year ending in 11 Literature * ''Eleven'' (novel), a 2006 novel by British author David Llewellyn *''E ...
, Cherry Hill (18 × M109A3 155mm self-propelled howitzers) *** 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery, Morristown (18 × M109A3 155mm self-propelled howitzers) *** 4th Battalion, 112th Field Artillery, Lawrenceville (12 × M110A2 203mm self-propelled howitzers) *** 1st Battalion, 133rd Field Artillery, Beaumont (Texas Army National Guard) (18 × M109A3 155mm self-propelled howitzers) *** Battery A, 197th Field Artillery (Target Acquisition), (
New Hampshire Army National Guard The New Hampshire Army National Guard is a federal military reserve force of the Army National Guard of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Along with the New Hampshire Air National Guard, it is an element of the New Hampshire National Guard. As a ...
) ** 50th Armored Division Support Command, East Orange *** Headquarters & Headquarters Company *** 50th Support Battalion (Forward),
Teaneck Teaneck () is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 39,776, reflecting an increase of 516 (+1.3%) f ...
*** 150th Support Battalion (Forward),
Jersey City Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark. *** 250th Support Battalion (Main), Sea Girt *** 536th Support Battalion (Forward), (Texas Army National Guard) *** Company F, 150th Aviation (Aviation Intermediate Maintenance),
Dover Dover () is a town and major ferry port in Kent, South East England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies south-east of Canterbury and east of Maids ...
** 3rd Battalion, 200th Air Defense Artillery, (
New Mexico Army National Guard The New Mexico Army National Guard (NM ARNG) is a component of the United States Army and the New Mexico National Guard. The NM ARNG traces its history back to units formed when New Mexico was still a territory. Nationwide coordination of the S ...
) ( MIM-72 Chaparral, M163 Vulcan &
FIM-92 Stinger The FIM-92 Stinger is an American man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). It can be adapted to fire from a wide variety of ground vehicles, and from helicopters as the Air-t ...
) ** 104th Engineer Battalion, Teaneck ** 250th Signal Battalion, Plainfield ** 550th Military Intelligence Battalion, Pedricktown ** 50th Military Police Company, Somerset ** 50th Chemical Company, Sea Girt ** 50th Armored Division Band, Jersey City The brigade's armor battalions were equipped with
M60A3 TTS The M60 is an American second-generation main battle tank (MBT). It was officially standardized as the Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60 in March 1959. Although developed from the M48 Patton, the M60 tank series was never officially ...
main battle tank A main battle tank (MBT), also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver in many modern armies. Cold War-era development of more powerful engines, better suspension sys ...
s. M48A5 Patton tanks had been replaced by M60A3 TTS tanks by May 1987 and by the end of 1989 the National Guard fielded 3,072 M60A3 TTS. The 410
M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern armored ground warfare and now one of the heaviest t ...
tanks of the National Guard were issued to round-out units of army divisions. The division's infantry battalions were equipped with M113
armored personnel carrier An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones. Since World War I, APCs have become a very common piece of military equipment around the world. Ac ...
s, of which the National Guard had 6,870 at the end of Fiscal Year 1987, with a further 1,411 due to be taken in service in 1988. The standard helicopters of National Guard units were the AH-1S Cobra, of which the National Guard had approximately 350 by 1989, the OH-58C Kiowa and the UH-1H Iroquois helicopters. Cavalry Reconnaissance units fielded 19 × M60A3 TTS, 8 × AH-1S Cobra, 12 × OH-58C Kiowa and 1 × UH-1H Iroquois helicopters; attack battalions fielded 21 × AH-1S Cobra, 13 × OH-58C Kiowa and 3 × UH-1H Iroquois helicopters, while the assault aviation company fielded 15 × UH-1H Iroquois helicopters and the command support aviation company UH-1 helicopters in various configurations.


Commanders of the 50th Armored Division

{, border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="20" align="center" , - , valign="top" width="33%", *Major General Clifford R. Powell, July 1946 - November 1948 *Major General Donald W. McGowan, November 1948 - October 1955 *Major General Edward O. Wolf, October 1955 - December 1965 *Major General James H. Weyhenmeyer Jr., December 1965 - March 1977 *Major General Herman S. Tenkin, April 1977 - October 1979 *Major General George J. Betor, October 1979 - September 1981 *Major General Melvin J. Crain, September 1981 - March 1986 *Major General Mark B. Mullin, March 1986 - April 1990 *Major General Richard S. Schneider, April 1990 - October 1991 *Major General Robert J. Byrne, October 1991 - September 1993


References

;Notes ;Bibliography * *http://www.geocities.com/armored50th/50th_Armored.html
Archived
2009-10-23) {{DEFAULTSORT:050 500th Armored Division, U.S. Divisions of the United States Army National Guard Military units and formations established in 1946 Military units and formations disestablished in 1993