The unit was decommissioned in May 2021 as part of the service Force Design 2030 initiative which saw it move away from larger armor formations.

The jousting shield is a unique device of mounted and armored warriors and has the upper corner cut away to better wield one's weapons.

To provide combat power to the 1st Marine Division in the form of amphibious and/or Maritime Preposition Forces; conduct operations ashore utilizing maneuver, armor protected firepower and shock action in order to close with and destroy the enemy.

After the outbreak of World War II the unit subsequently was ordered to the South Pacific and began movement to the area in the spring of 1942.

The two companies continued to engage the enemy until the end of the year when the 1st Marine Division was relieved by the Army forces.

Late that year the battalion moved to New Guinea to begin preparations for the Cape Gloucester, New Britain operation.

1st Marine Division units including the 1st Tank Battalion made an amphibious assault on Cape Gloucester the day after Christmas 1943.

Battalion tanks were immediately committed to the drive to expand the beachhead; but progress was impeded, not only by the resistance of the Japanese but also by the torrential rains and the rough terrain.

Company B, which had been located on New Guinea, landed in the Arawe area of New Britain on 12 January 1944 to support Army forces there.

The cessation of hostilities was followed by the deployment of the battalion to North China in early October for occupation duty in Tientsin.

Shortly after the Communist invasion of South Korea in June 1950, the battalion was ordered to prepare to mount out for the Far East.

When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, 1st Tank Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia's part of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

On 7 September, the battalion was fully equipped with M60A1 Combat Tanks from Maritime Preposition Squadron 3 and was deployed from Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia as the armored backbone of the multinational force which was established during Operation Desert Shield in 1990.

On 24 February 1991, less than a month into the Desert Storm phase of the campaign, the 1st Tank Battalion spearheaded the assault of Task Force Papa Bear into Kuwait.

On 2 June 1992 the colors of 1st Tank Battalion were transferred to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.

They were present when Corporal Edward Chin of Bravo Company, (attached to 3rd Battalion 4th Marines) placed the American flag over Saddam's statue in Firdos Square before it was demolished.

[1] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.