About this Unit
The 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armor Regiment (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, NC, was a unique unit within the U.S. Army, serving as the only airborne armor battalion. Reactivated in 1988, the battalion provided rapidly deployable armored support for the 82nd Airborne Division, utilizing the M551 Sheridan light tank. The 3-73rd Armor saw action during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 and participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The battalion was inactivated in 1997 as the Army retired the Sheridan and restructured its airborne forces.
Historical Facts
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Unique Unit Type: The 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armor (Airborne) at Fort Bragg was the only airborne armor battalion in the U.S. Army during its tenure, specializing in deploying light armored vehicles by parachute.
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Legacy of the 73rd Armor: The battalion traces its lineage back to World War II, originally activated as the 756th Tank Battalion in 1942, and later redesignated as the 73rd Armor.
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Venerable "Sheridans": The primary vehicle used by the battalion was the M551 Sheridan, a light, air-droppable armored reconnaissance/airborne assault vehicle.
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Gulf War Deployment: Elements of 3-73 Armor deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where they supported airborne and mechanized operations.
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Panama Invasion: The battalion was a vital part of Operation Just Cause in 1989, parachuting M551 Sheridans into Panama to support the 82nd Airborne Division.
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Unusual Parachute Drops: The Sheridan tanks were dropped from C-130 and C-141 aircraft using large parachutes, making for dramatic and risky airdrops during both exercises and combat.
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Distinctive Beret Flash: The battalion wore the 82nd Airborne Division’s famous “AA” patch and maroon beret, signifying their airborne status and unique role.
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Deactivation: The 3-73rd Armor (Airborne) was inactivated in 1997, marking the end of the airborne armor concept in the U.S. Army.
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Combat Training: Troopers of 3-73 Armor regularly participated in large-scale airborne assaults and live-fire exercises, honing rapid deployment and armored tactics unique among U.S. Army units.
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Legacy Preserved: Veterans of the battalion maintain an active association, and the unit's history is commemorated at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
