British Motorised Formations*
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The Motor Battalion was the single most powerful infantry formation of its size fielded by the British Army.  It was also amongst the rarest.  The Motor Battalion was a specialist unit which worked in concert with the tanks they were entrusted to protect.  It provided close support to the Armoured Brigades of the Armoured Divisions.  From 1944 onwards it also provided support to some independent Armoured Brigades on the Western Front.*
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The Motor Battalion was one of the most sophisticated and powerful infantry based unit deployed by the British Army.  It was handicapped by the usual problems British commanders had in deploying tanks and infantry in a combined arms operation, but without it the Armoured Regiments would have been vulnerable to German anti-tank weapons when on the move, and unable to move at a fast pace for fear of outpacing the infantry.  However, the Motor Battalion did not have the manpower reserves of a regular Infantry unit, and if deployed as one its resources could be squandered meaninglessly. *
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The Motor Battalion should not be confused with the Motorised Battalions of the Infantry Brigade of an Armoured Division; these were normal infantry units who were transported by the lorries of the Royal Army Service Corps.*
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In 1926, The King's Royal Rifle Corps (aka 60th Rifles, The Green Jackets) was chosen for the first British mechanised infantry trials, which were to lead to its reorganisation, with the Rifle Brigade, into motor battalions to operate with armoured brigades in time for World War II.