2nd Armoured Brigade (Australia)

2nd Armoured Brigade
HQ 2nd Armoured Brigade Colour Patch
Active	1941–1944 1948–1957
Country	Australia
Allegiance	Australian Crown
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Armoured
Size	Brigade
Part of	1st Armoured Division (1941–1942) 3rd Armoured Division (1942–1943) First Army (1943–1944) Southern Command (1948–1957)
Equipment	Tank
Commanders
Notable commanders	William Locke Maurice Fergusson David Whitehead

The 2nd Armoured Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in July 1941, at Puckapunyal, Victoria, from Second Australian Imperial Force volunteers. It was assigned to the 1st Armoured Division in July 1941, with the intention of deploying it to the Middle East. However, it was reassigned to home defence following Japan's entry into the war, and was then transferred to the 3rd Armoured Division in October 1942. The brigade remained in Australia, undertaking defensive duties in Victoria and Queensland before being disbanded in January 1944. While it did not see any active service as a formation, some of its constituent units eventually took part in the campaigns on Tarakan, Labuan, Bougainville and around Aitape–Wewak in 1944–1945 after transferring to other brigades.

It was re-raised in the postwar period, serving as a part-time Citizens Military Force formation between 1948 and 1957. During this period, the 2nd Armoured Brigade was based in Victoria and formed part of Southern Command. Its headquarters was broken up when the Australian Army determined that there was no need for large scale armoured formations as the focus shifted to jungle operations and close infantry-armoured cooperation. Its constituent units were subsequently dispersed to other formations.