4th Tank Battalion

4th Tank Battalion
4th Tanks Insignia
Active	May 12, 1943 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Armor battalion
Role	Armor protected firepower and shock action
Part of	4th Marine Division Marine Forces Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center, San Diego California
Motto(s)	"53 Days"
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Kwajalein * Battle of Saipan Battle of Tinian * Battle of Iwo Jima Korean War * Battle of Inchon * Battle of Chosin Reservoir Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Col Long

4th Tank Battalion (4th Tanks) is an armored battalion of the United States Marine Corps reserve. Their primary weapon system is the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank and they are part of the 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve. The unit headquarters is at the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center San Diego, California but other units in the battalion are located throughout the United States. With six lettered companies, 4th Tank Battalion is the largest Marine tank battalion.

Insignia

The coat of arms of the 4th Tank Battalion consists of a green jousting shield bordered gold with two bendlets of gold each bearing a riband of scarlet. It is charged with a gold M5 Stuart tank behind the insignia of the Fourth Marine Division with a U.S. Marine Corps emblem of silver and gold in the shields upper left. The crest of a U.S. Marine Corps emblem of silver and gold above a wreath (or heraldic torse) of gold and scarlet is above the shield. A gold banner inscribed "Fourth Tank Bn" appears above the arms and another below the arms inscribed "53 Days" in scarlet.

The jousting shield is a unique device of the mounted and armored warrior, designed with its upper corners cut away so the warrior could better wield his weapons. Green is the color of armor, while scarlet and gold are the colors of the Marine Corps. The bendlets and ribands are diminutives of the heraldic bend, which is the symbol of cavalry, from which tank battalions descend. The M5 Stuart tank was the first tank used by the battalion in combat, and the battalion was the only Marine tank battalion to ever use the M5 Stuart tank in offensive operations. (However, Marine defense battalions did use it.) The motto of "53 Days" recalls the battalion being deployed into combat during the Korean conflict's Inchon landings in September 1950, fifty-three days after activation from reserve status.

This coat of arms is derived from designs found in Marine Corps files from at least the 1970s. Variations of this design exist, typically substituting the "tank-de-jour" for the original M5 tank. In October 1995, this version of the coat of arms (with M5 Stuart tank) received official endorsement from the Battalion Commander, Lt.Col. Darryl Stanley, and Executive Officer, Maj. Michael Santa Anna, as it best memorialized the history of the battalion.

(From "U.S. Marine Corps Ground Unit Insignia.")

Mission

To provide armored combat power for the 4th Marine Division in the amphibious assault and subsequent operations ashore utilizing maneuver, armor protected firepower and shock effect to close with and destroy the enemy.

The battalion is also tasked to organize, train, and equip individual Marines and combat ready tank companies to augment and reinforce the active duty component when required to serve as part of the Total Force of the United States. 4th Tank Battalion is a self-sustaining, autonomous unit capable of performing all the tasks of the regular force.

Subordinate units

Name	Location
Headquarters and Services Company	San Diego, California
Alpha Company	Camp Pendleton, California
Bravo Company	Yakima, Washington
Charlie Company	Boise, Idaho
Delta Company	29 Palms, California
Echo Company	Fort Knox, Kentucky
Fox Company	Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
TOW/Scout Platoon	Lafayette, Louisiana

History

World War II

The battalion was first formed on May 12, 1943 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It was composed, with the exception of 2 officers, entirely of reservists. It was the first unit to capture Japanese mandated territory in the Pacific. It participated in the Battle of Kwajalein, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian, and the battalion's last major operation in World War II was the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Late in 1946, a group of World War II veterans began meeting at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on a volunteer basis. This became the formation of the first organized Marine Corps Reserve unit in San Diego. The unit was officially designated as the 11th Tank Battalion in 1947 and became home for a headquarters and a tank company.

Korean War

In July, 1950, the unit was activated for the Korean War. Those members with sufficient experience as tankers formed the nucleus of B Company, 1st Tank Battalion, at Camp Pendleton. The 4th Tank Battalion motto is "53 days." When Marine reservists were activated for the Korean War, it was just 53 days until they participated in their first combat action, the landing at Inchon in September 1950. San Diego reservists served with this unit, participating in the landings at Inchon and Wonsan, fighting to Hagaru-Ri and Koto-Ri. B Company remained in Korea until the armistice.

In May 1952, the unit was reactivated in San Diego, now bearing the name 1st Tank Battalion, and headquartered at MCRD. In 1958, the battalion was transferred to Camp Elliot as a more appropriate location for tank operations. In July 1963, the battalion was redesignated as 4th Tank Battalion, Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, USMCR.

The 1960s through to the 1990s

Between November 1990 and January 1991, 4th Tank Battalion was mobilized in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Elements of the battalion were "in country" and combat ready within 32 days of activation. During the fighting, Bravo Company engaged Iraqi tanks in combat on February 25, reporting 34 enemy tanks destroyed or disabled in less than 90 seconds.^[1] This battle was named the “Reveille Engagement” and went on to be the biggest and fastest tank battle in United States Marine Corps history. They were the only Marine unit equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks.^[2] Bravo company went on to destroy 59 tanks, 32 APCs, 26 non armored vehicles, and an artillery gun.^[3] Bravo Company destroyed a total of 119 enemy vehicles and took over 800 POWs.^[4] Tank crew “Stepchild” has the longest confirmed live kill (Iraqi BMP) by a tank at 3,750 meters (2.33miles).^[5]

Global War on Terror

During Operation Iraqi Freedom portions of the battalion were activated and deployed to Iraq, and to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Most recently, the Marines of Echo Company, based out of Ft. Knox, deployed to Afghanistan to conduct route clearance missions throughout Helmand Province from April 2012 to October 2012. Echo Company was attached to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

Notes

↑ US Navy Desert Storm chronology, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY - NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
↑ bravocompany4thtankbattalion.org
↑ Chenoweth p.408
↑ bravocompany4thtankbattalion.org
↑ bravocompany4thtankbattalion.org

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Bibliography

Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.

Web

4th Tanks website

United States Marine Corps

Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower

Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific

Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division

Personnel and training	Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program

Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment

History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots White House Sentries

Portal Category

4th Marine Division

14th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 4th Battalion 5th Battalion

23rd Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion TOW Platoon

24th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion

25th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion

Other Battalions	4th Combat Engineer 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance 4th Reconnaissance 4th Tank 4th Assault Amphibian Anti-Terrorism

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