During the Second World War, the British Army maintained and created several mechanised, motorised, and horse-based brigades that were not infantry-based. These mobile forces consisted of battalions and regiments, and were under the command of a brigadier. Brigades could be assigned to a division or operate as an independent formation assigned to a corps headquarters or higher. At the start of the war, in September 1939, the British Army had seven armoured brigades, five tank brigades and one support group (a mixed arms formation assigned to armoured divisions). During the war, numerous armoured and tank brigades were raised, renamed, and disbanded. The army also formed eight support groups, three brigades of cavalry, three brigades equipped with armoured cars and two brigades aimed at gro