The tank destroyer battalion was a type of unit used by the United States Army during World War II. The unit was organized in one of two different forms—a towed battalion equipped with anti-tank guns, or a self-propelled battalion equipped with armored tank destroyers. The tank destroyers were formed as a counter force to massed formations of enemy armored units, acting as independent battalions attached to divisions or corps. In practice they were usually parceled out in smaller units and used to support infantry units. Over a hundred battalions were formed, of which more than half saw combat service, but the force was disbanded shortly after the end of the war when more effective and powerful tanks were developed.