4th Light Brigade Combat Team
4th Light Brigade Combat Team, previously known as 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East, and before that as 4th Mechanized Brigade and before that 4th Armoured Brigade is a brigade formation of the British Army, currently based in Catterick, North Yorkshire as part of 1st (United Kingdom) Division. The brigade, now known as the 'Black Rats', was formed in 1939 and fought in the Second World War in the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa. The Black Rats were subsequently involved in the invasion of Sicily and fighting in Italy before taking part in the Battle of Normandy and the advance through Belgium, Holland and into Germany.
| Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt) 4th Armoured Brigade 4th Armoured Brigade Group 4th Mechanized Brigade 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East 4th Light Brigade Combat Team | |
|---|---|
Current insignia of the 4th Infantry Brigade & HQ North East. | |
| Active | 1939–1945 1976–Present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 1st (United Kingdom) Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Catterick, North Yorkshire |
| Engagements | Second World War
Bosnian War Kosovo Campaign Iraq War Afghanistan |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier Oliver Brown |
| Notable commanders | Michael Carver |
More recently, the Brigade took part in the First Gulf War and completed a number of tours to the Balkans during the 1990s. The Black Rats have also since deployed twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan as the lead formation.