ArmorArmorThe present insignia was authorized in 1951 and consists of the front view of the M26 tank superimposed upon the old cavalry insignia.
Close with and destroy the enemy through firepower, shock action, and mobility.
The tank was invented out of military necessity. The allies developed the tank to support infantry, batter down strong points of resistance, and serve as a defense against the deadly machine gun. It brought mobility to the battlefield and changed the course of land warfare.
The US Army Tank Corps was created on January 26, 1918, with COL Samuel D. Rockenbach assigned as its chief. COL George S. Patton Jr, commanded the 304th US Tank Brigade. The American Tank Corps proved its effectiveness in battles at St. Mihiel, the Meuse Argonne, and with the British, cracked the Hindenburg line near LeGatelet.
The Chief of Infantry was assigned the development of tanks by the National Defense Act of 1920. The Tank Corps was inactivated the same year, with battalions broken into separate companies. One company was assigned to each division. The Infantry Tank Board continued testing tank modifications and new equipment.
Secretary of War Dwight Davis observed maneuvers by a British experimental mechanization force in 1927. Davis was so impressed that he directed the General Staff to organize a similar American unit. Chief of Staff, GEN Charles P. Summerall, assigned MAJ Adna R. Chaffee to supervise the General Staff's efforts to organize the force. COL Daniel Van Voorhis, Cavalry, commanded the Mechanized Force at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Later, in 1931, GEN Van Voorhis laid down the basic principles of the Armored Force, earning him the title "Grandfather of the Armored Force.
The War Department disbanded the Mechanized Force that same year. Existing arms and services carried on the work of mechanization by developing vehicles to meet particular needs.
Chaffee launched a one man campaign for mechanization while assigned to the Budget and Legislative Planning Branch of the War Department. He believed the Army needed both machines and men. In 1938, COL Chaffee assumed command of the newly created 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was promoted to brigadier general shortly afterward.
GEN Chaffee, acting on a directive from GEN Marshall, created on paper in 1940, a definite program leading to the creation of an Armored Force. The Armored Force was born July 10, 1940, at Fort Knox. GEN Chaffee, the "Father of the Armored Force was designated its first chief. The 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized) was the backbone of the new force.
The first Chief of the Armored Force was a mechanized Cavalryman, and as a result, much of the early doctrine stemmed from the mechanized Cavalry. Little attention was given to Field Artillery doctrine and tank gunnery. The rightful importance of these factors was brought into focus by MAJ GEN Jacob L. Devers, Field Artillery, when he became the second Chief of the Armored Force in August 1941. MAJ GEN Allan C. Gillem, Jr., Infantry, was made acting chief in May 1943, when GEN Devers took command of the European Theater of Operations. The Armored Force was redesignated the Armored Command on July 2, 1943, and Gillem became its commanding general. Under Gillem's command, Armored activities became more closely coordinated with the Army Ground Forces.
Cadets can select assignments from the following locations in the Continental United States
Cadets can select assignments from the following locations outside the Continental United States
The first commander of the Armored Force was Colonel Daniel Van Voorhis. Fort Eustis, Virginia was selected as the site for the experimental force. However, as Colonel Van Voorhis and General Chaffee discovered, the area lacked the necessary maneuver terrain. They both felt the size and varied terrain of Camp Knox was more suitable for organizing and training the "Mechanized Cavalry Brigade." In November 1931, the first elements of the Armored Force began moving into Camp Knox and it was here that the new vehicles and concepts were tested.
The Third Army held mechanized maneuvers in Georgia and Louisiana in 1940 in what has become known as the Louisiana Maneuvers. This was the first real test and evaluation of the mechanized force. However, it was apparent that the traditional Cavalry and Infantry tactics were used and the special capabilities of the armored vehicles were not being utilized. Following these maneuvers, a meeting, which included General Chaffee and Colonel George S. Patton, Jr., was held. They decided that the unified development of armored units must be initiated, separated from Cavalry and Infantry, and their use perfected. The German blitzkrieg of Poland and France led to new thoughts on the uses of Armor and provided additional impetus for the formation of armored units.
During this period, Congress designated the installation as a permanent garrison on 1 January 1932. Later, the Treasury Department selected a portion of Fort Knox as the site for the gold depository; and in 1936, the US Bullion Depository was completed and the first gold shipments arrived at Fort Knox between January and June. The building and adjacent grounds are now under the control of the Director of the Mint. In July 1940, the Armored Force was created with the Headquarters, I Armored Corps; 1st Armored Division; Armored Force Board and a comparatively small Armored Force School centered at Fort Knox. The School and Armored Force Replacement Training Center were officially authorized on 1 October 1940 and their functions were initially combined. Shortly afterwards, on 25 October 1940, they were redesignated as separate units. The School trained men in both military fundamentals and specialized areas such as Armor tactics, communications and gunnery. It expanded rapidly as WW II and the need for Armor grew. The School opened with a cadre of 155 officers and 1,458 enlisted men; by May 1943, there were over 700 officers and 3,500 enlisted men. The School itself utilized over 500 buildings of the installation. In addition, to increase the number of graduates, classes were started on a weekly basis rather than quarterly. At its peak, the School operated on two daily shifts in order to accommodate the requirements for qualified Armor personnel. During this time, construction activities rapidly expanded the post. In 1940, there were 864 buildings on post; but by 1943, there were 3,820--a rate of 160 buildings a month. By 1943, the total acreage had increased to 108,861 square acres.
The mission of the Armor Center is to train officers and enlisted soldiers for mounted combat, to develop weapons and tactics for their use and to establish doctrine for the Armor force.
The Armor Center is a subordinate command of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). It is the largest of all TRADOC installations in population, operating budget and missions.
One of the most important functions of the Armor Center is training the individual soldier. Initial entry soldiers in training at Fort Knox today are young and usually arrive in poor condition. Most come from urban areas and are away from home for the first time. The majority of them are single and unskilled. At the Armor Center they begin the conversion from civilian to soldier. They learn discipline, esprit, and certain combat skills. They are prepared physically and mentally for assignment to units throughout the world.
Armor crew training emphasizes hands on work. Crewmen now get five times more driving than they did before January 1977. Gunners and loaders get nearly three times more practice in their jobs. Innovative techniques such as sub caliber and laser firing enhance hands on training. Turret trainers and driver simulators supplement actual tank use to reduce costs.
Also the Armor Center is responsible for other institutionalized training for both active and reserve soldiers. That training includes officer, non-commissioned officer and enlisted programs. The Armor Officer Advanced (Course prepares officers for company command.
Enlisted courses include master gunner, turret mechanic, and tracked vehicle mechanic. In the Armor Officer Basic Course a hands on approach is used to develop the officers' skill as an Armor or cavalry crewman To do this the officer performs all crew duties to include maintenance, driving and firing. Only when these skills are fully developed does he take part in tactical exercises. Crew training and tactical experience round out the lieutenant's ability to train his platoon and lead it in combat.
Today, Fort Knox is a post of 109,738 acres (171.6 square miles) with a
daytime population of over 42,000 military and civilians. The installation
services over 110,000 persons to include active Army personnel and retirees and
their dependents and reserve personnel. It is considered to be the fifth largest
community in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
