4th Tank Battalion (United States)

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4th Tank Battalion (United States)

The 4th Tank Battalion, also known as 4th Tanks, was an armored battalion in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Its main weapon was the M1A1 Abrams tank, and it was part of the 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve. The battalion’s headquarters were in San Diego, California, with other units located across the United States. It was once the largest Marine tank battalion, made up of six line companies plus a headquarters and service company. Its motto was “53 Days.”

Formation and World War II service
4th Tank Battalion was formed on May 12, 1943, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, largely with reservists. It was the first unit to capture Japanese-held territory in the Pacific and fought in the battles of Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. On Iwo Jima, the battalion used M4A3 Shermans equipped with flamethrowers (CB-H1/H2). It operated as a regimental command under Lt. Col. William R. Collins and became the largest U.S. Marine armor command of the war.

Postwar, Korea, and reorganization
After World War II, veterans formed the first organized Marine Corps Reserve unit in San Diego in late 1946. In 1947 it officially became the 11th Tank Battalion, headquartered in San Diego. The unit was activated for the Korean War in 1950, with its experienced tankers forming the nucleus of B Company, 1st Tank Battalion, at Camp Pendleton.

In 1952 the unit was reactivated in San Diego as 1st Tank Battalion, and in 1958 it moved to Camp Elliott. In July 1963 it was redesignated as 4th Tank Battalion, Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, USMCR.

Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and later
From late 1990 to early 1991, 4th Tank Battalion was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Parts of the battalion were in combat within 32 days of activation. During the fighting, Bravo Company engaged Iraqi tanks on February 25 in the Reveille Engagement, one of the largest and fastest tank battles in U.S. Marine Corps history. Bravo Company destroyed numerous tanks, APCs, and other vehicles, and the battalion earned a reputation for its armored firepower. The battalion later participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, with Echo Company from Fort Knox conducting route clearance missions in Afghanistan in 2012.

Disestablishment
The 4th Tank Battalion was inactivated on August 2, 2020.