68th Armor Regiment

68th Armor Regiment
Coat of arms
Active	1933 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Armor
Size	Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Fort Carson
Nickname(s)	"Silver Lions"
Motto(s)	Ventre a Terre (With Great Speed)
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

U.S. Infantry Regiments

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The 68th Armor Regiment is an armored regiment of the United States Army. It was first activated in 1933 in the Regular Army as the 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks).

The regiment was originally constituted on 9 July 1918 in the Regular Army as the 68th Infantry Regiment, and assigned to the 9th Division. It was organized in July 1918 at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, from personnel of the 46th Infantry Regiment. It did not go overseas before the end of the war, and was relieved from the 9th Division and demobilized 15 February 1919 at Camp Sheridan.

During World War I in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), the 326th, 327th, and 328th Battalions, Tank Corps and the 1st Tank Center were established between April and June 1918. In September 1918, the 326th and 327th Battalions were redesignated the 344th and 345th Battalions respectively, and they fought in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns.^[1] The 345th was the predecessor lineage to the 1st, 2nd, and 7th Tank Companies, and Company B of the 344th became the 5th Tank Company. The 328th Battalion, formed in the U.S., became the 3rd, 4th, and 6th Tank Companies.

The 68th Infantry was reconstituted on 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as the 68th Infantry (Light Tanks) and absorbed the lineage of the Tank Companies. The 68th Infantry (Light Tanks) was allotted to the 6th Corps Area, and activated as a "Regular Army Inactive" (RAI) unit at Peoria, Illinois, manned with Organized Reserve personnel. On 7 April 1937, the headquarters location was changed to Chicago, Illinois. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were activated on 1 January 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia, less Reserve personnel, by redesignation of the 1st through 7th Tank Companies (organized in 1918) of the 1st through 7th Divisions. The inactive elements of the regiment were withdrawn from the Sixth Corps Area and allotted to the Fourth Corps Area. On 30 May 1940, the 2nd Battalion was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington. On 30 June 1940, the 1st Battalion was inactivated at Fort Benning. On 15 July 1940, the remaining active elements of the regiment were redesignated as the 68th Armored Regiment and assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade of the 2nd Armored Division. The regiment (less the 2nd Battalion which was already active) was activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. When the structure of U.S. armored divisions was reorganized marly in 1942, the regiment was inactivated on 8 January 1942 at Fort Benning and relieved from assignment to the 2nd Armored Division. The 68th Armored Regiment was assigned on 15 February 1942 to the new 6th Armored Division and reactivated at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

• Organized 7 June 1918 in the National Army in France as Company A, 327th Battalion, Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Force.^[2]
• Redesignated 12 September 1918 as Company A, 345th Battalion, Tank Corps.^[2]
• Reorganized and redesignated 8 January 1921 as the 1st Tank Company and allotted to the Regular Army
• Assigned 1 April 1921 to the 1st Division
• Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 1st Division
• Consolidated 1 January 1940 with Company A, 68th Infantry and consolidated unit designated as Company A, 68th Infantry.
• Inactivated 5 June 1940 at Fort Benning.
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company A, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.
• Activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Benning.
• See "Regiment" for further history

• Organized 7 June 1918 in the National Army in France as Company C, 327th Battalion, Tank Corps, AEF.^[2]
• Redesignated 12 September 1918 as Company C, 345th Battalion, Tank Corps.^[2]
• Reorganized and redesignated 8 January 1921 as the 2nd Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and assigned to the 2nd Division.
• Redesignated 1 January 1940 as Company D, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks).
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company D, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.

• Organized April 1918 in the National Army at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania as Company A, 328th Battalion, Tank Corps
• Reorganized and redesignated 8 January 1921 as the 3rd Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and assigned to the 3rd Division.
• Redesignated 1 January 1940 as Company E, 68th Infantry (Light Tanks).
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company E, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.

• Organized April 1918 in the National Army at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania as Company C, 328th Battalion, Tank Corps
• Reorganized and redesignated 8 January 1921 as the 4th Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and assigned to the 4th Division)
• Inactivated 27 September 1921 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
• Activated 15 September 1931 at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
• Redesignated 1 January 1940 as Company B, 68th Infantry (Light Tanks), and relieved from assignment to the 4th Division.
• Inactivated 5 June 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company B, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.
• Activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Benning.

• Organized 17 February 1918 as Company B (Provisional), Tank Service, American Expeditionary Force.^[2]
• Redesignated 16 April 1918 in the National Army at Borg, France as Company B, 1st Tank Center, American Expeditionary Force.^[2]
• Redesignated on 6 June 1918 as Company B, 326th Battalion, Tank Corps.^[2]
• Redesignated 1 September 1918 as Company B, 344th Battalion, Tank Corps.^[2]
• Reorganized and redesignated 8 January 1921 as the 5th Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and assigned to the 5th Division.
• Consolidated 1 January 1940 with the 6th Tank Company, 6th Division, and reorganized and redesignated as Company C, 68th Infantry Regiment
• Inactivated 5 June 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company C, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.
• Activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Benning.

• Organized 7 June 1918 as Company B, 327th Battalion, Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Force.^[2]
• Redesignated 12 September 1918 as Company B, 345th Battalion, Tank Corps.^[2]
• Reorganized and redesignated 8 January 1921 as the 7th Tank Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and assigned to the 7th Division.
• Inactivated 6 September 1921 at Camp Meade, Maryland.
• Redesignated 1 January 1940 as Company F, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks), and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia.
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company F, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.

• Constituted 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as Company G, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks).
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company G, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.
• Activated 13 August 1940 at Fort Benning.

• Constituted 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as Company G, 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks).
• Redesignated 15 July 1940 as Company G, 68th Armored Regiment, and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.
• Activated 13 August 1940 at Fort Benning.

• (1st and 2nd Battalions activated 1 January 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as Infantry Tank Battalions (See Above);
• 1st Battalion inactivated 30 June 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia, (See Above).
• Converted and redesignated 15 July 1940 as the 68th Armored Regiment and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.
• Regiment (less the already-active 2nd Battalion) activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
• Inactivated 8 January 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and relieved from assignment to the 2nd Armored Division
• Assigned 15 February 1942 to the 6th Armored Division and activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky
• Moved to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas on 20 March 1942 for divisional training and maneuvers.
• Moved to Camp Young, California on 12 October 1942 to train at the Desert Training Center.

• Regiment broken up 20 September 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows:

1. Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company and 2d Battalion as the 68th Tank Battalion and remained assigned to the 6th Armored Division
2. 1st Battalion as the 773d Tank Battalion and relieved from assignment to the 6th Armored Division
3. 3d Battalion as the 15th Tank Battalion and remained assigned to the 6th Armored Division
4. Reconnaissance Company as Troop D, 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, and remained an element of the 6th Armored Division
5. Maintenance and Service Companies, and Band disbanded.

• Deployed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 11 February 1944.
• Arrived in England on 23 February 1944.
• Deployed further to France on 19 July 1944.
• Was located at Kahla, Germany on 14 August 1945^[3]
• Return to Boston Port of Embarkation on 18 September 1945

• Deployed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 11 February 1944.
• Arrived in England on 24 February 1944.
• Further deployed to France on 22 July 1944
• Located at Jena, Germany on 14 August 1945^[3]
• Returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on 20 February 1946

• Deployed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 11 February 1944.
• Arrived in England on 24 February 1944.
• Further deployed to France on 22 July 1944
• Located at Buttstädt, Germany on 14 August 1945^[3]
• Returned to the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation on 29 December 1945

• Deployed from the San Francisco Port of Embarkation on 8 February 1944.
• Arrived in Hawaii on 15 February 1944.
• Further deployed to Saipan on 15 July 1944
• Further deployed to Tinian on 24 July 1944
• Returned to Hawaii on 17 August 1944
• Further deployed to Hojaki Shima on 26 March 1945
• Further deployed to Tokashiki Shima 27 March 1945
• Further deployed to Keise Shima 31 March 1945
• Further deployed to Ie Shima 27 March 1945
• Inactivated 15 April 1946 in Japan

• After 20 September 1943 the above units underwent changes that resulted in reconsolidation as follows:

1. 68th Tank Battalion relieved 19 July 1945 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division
   Inactivated 29 December 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
   Redesignated 21 August 1950 as the 68th Medium Tank Battalion and assigned to the 6th Armored Division
   Activated 5 September 1950 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
   Inactivated 16 March 1956 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
   Relieved 1 July 1957 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division.
2. 773d Tank Battalion reorganized and redesignated 27 October 1943 as the 773d Amphibian Tank Battalion
   Reorganized and redesignated 10 January 1944 as the 773d Amphibian Tractor Battalion
   Inactivated 15 April 1946 in Japan
   Redesignated 24 December 1946 as the 56th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
   Redesignated 18 April 1949 as the 56th Amphibious Tank and Tractor Battalion
   Activated 10 May 1949 at Fort Worden, Washington
   Inactivated 15 December 1954 at Fort Worden, Washington
3. 15th Tank Battalion relieved 9 July 1945 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division
   Inactivated 22 February 1946 – 25 February 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
4. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 15th Tank Battalion, redesignated 1 August 1946 as 15th Tank Company, and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
   Inactivated 6 November 1946 at Fort Riley, Kansas
   Activated 1 June 1947 in Italy
   Inactivated 1 December 1949 in Italy
   Redesignated 21 August 1950 as Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company, 15th Medium Tank Battalion (organic elements of the 15th Tank Battalion redesignated as elements of the 15th Medium Tank Battalion), and assigned to the 6th Armored Division
   Battalion activated 5 September 1950 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
   Inactivated 16 March 1956 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
   Relieved 1 July 1957 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division.
5. Troop D, 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, inactivated 19 September 1945 at Camp Myles Standish, *Massachusetts
   Redesignated 21 August 1950 as Company D, 86th Reconnaissance Battalion, and remained an element of the 6th Armored Division
   Activated 5 September 1950 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
   Inactivated 16 March 1956 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
   Relieved 1 July 1957 from assignment to the 6th Armored Division.
6. Maintenance and Service Companies, 68th Armored Regiment, reconstituted 1 July 1957 in the Regular Army

• 68th and 15th Medium Tank Battalions; 56th Amphibious Tank and Tractor Battalion; Company D, 86th Reconnaissance Battalion; and Maintenance and Service Companies, 68th Armored Regiment, consolidated, reorganized, and redesignated 1 July 1957 as the 68th Armor Regiment, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

A Co (A), 4-68th Armor, 82nd Airborne Division conducts live fire with their LAV-25A2s at Camp Atterbury (2019)