1st Armoured Regiment (Australia)
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| 1st Armoured Regiment | |
|---|---|
 1st Armoured Regiment cap badge |
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| Active | 7 July 1949 – Present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Armoured |
| Role | Armoured |
| Size | One regiment |
| Part of | Royal Australian Armoured Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Darwin |
| Motto | Paratus "Ready" (Latin) |
| March | Quick - Radetski Slow - Grand March from Aida |
| Battle honours | Coral-Balmoral, Hat Dich, Binh Ba, Vietnam 1965–72 |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HRH The Prince of Wales (Colonel-in-Chief, RAAC) |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
Lieutenant General Laurie O'Donnell, AC |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Colour Patch |  |
| Abbreviation | 1AR |
1st Armoured Regiment is an armoured regiment of the Australian Army and is the senior regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. The regiment is also the only one in the Australian Army to be equipped with main battle tanks. The regiment provides the basis for one of three battlegroups within 1 Brigade, the others coming from 5th and 7th Battalions, Royal Australian Regiment.
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[edit] History
The 1st Armoured Regiment was a formation of the 3rd Australian Cavalry Brigade during World War II. It was converted on 5 January 1940, from the 1st Armoured Car Regiment. In March 1942, it was converted to the 101st Motor Regiment, although this was short lived as it was changed again in May to the 1st Tank Battalion, becoming part of the 3rd Army Tank Brigade and being equipped with Matilda tanks. In 1943 the unit became part of the 4th Tank Brigade and was designated as an AIF unit, thus allowing it to be deployed to any theatre of the conflict. Later it deployed to New Guinea where it supported the 9th Division around Lae, on the Huon Peninsula and around Finschhafen, Sattelberg and Lakona before being withdrawn to Australia in mid 1944, during which time it adopted the title of 1st Armoured Regiment. In May 1945 it took part in the landing at Balikpapan and took part in one of the final Australian campaigns of the war in Borneo.[1]
The 1st Armoured Regiment was re-raised on 7 July 1949 at Puckapunyal in Victoria when the 1st Armoured Car Squadron, which had returned from occupation duties in Japan a few months earlier, was expanded to a full regiment and converted to a tank unit.[2] Initially the Regiment was equipped with Churchill tanks, although this was only to be a temporary measure until Centurion tanks could be acquired in 1952.[2] However, due to the unsuitability of the Churchill and the late arrival of the new platform, the Regiment was not deployed as part of Australia's commitment to the Korean War.[citation needed]
In February 1968, the regiment's 'C' Squadron was sent to Vietnam for its first operational deployment.[2] All three of the regiment's operational squadrons served in Vietnam over the next four years, gaining four battle honours.[2] The last elements of the Regiment were withdrawn from Vietnam in September 1971.[2]
In 1976 the Centurion was replaced in service by the Leopard 1, which had been selected over the American built M60 Patton tank during trials by the Australian Medium Tank Trials Unit in 1972–73.[citation needed] The Leopard MBT was subsequently replaced by 59 M1A1 Abrams AIM tanks on 26 July 2007, after 31 years of service.[3]
[edit] Current organisation
The current organisation is as follows:
- Regimental Headquarters;
- Three sabre Squadrons (A, B and C squadron) each with three tank troops, total of 14 M1A1 Abrams and 1 M88A2 Hercules.(2 M1A1 Abrams are attached to Squadron HQ);
- Operational Support Squadron.[4]
[edit] Battle honours
- World War II: South-West Pacific 1943–45, Finschhafen, Sattelberg, Wareo, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Wareo–Lakona, Gusika–Fortification Point, Borneo, Balikpapan, Milford Highway.[1][5]
- Vietnam War: Coral-Balmoral, Hat Dich, Binh Ba, Vietnam 1965–72.[2]
[edit] Alliances
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b "Unit Information—1st Armoured Regiment, World War II". Australian War Memorial. http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13757second_world_war.asp. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
- ^ a b c d e f "Unit Information—1st Armoured Regiment, Vietnam". Australian War Memorial. http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13757vietnam.asp. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ Boer 2007.
- ^ "General Info—1st Armoured Regiment". Department of Defence. http://www.army.gov.au/1ARMD/General_Info.htm.
- ^ Maitland 1999, pp. 139–145.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Australian National Audit Office. (2007). Audit Report into the Acquisition of the Abrams Main Battle Tank. ISBN 0-642-80974-7. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
- Boer, Corrine. (2007). 'Parade marks change of eras'. Army News. Edition 1171. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
- Maitland, Gordon (1999). The Second World War and its Australian Army Battle Honours. East Roseville, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0864179758.
[edit] External links
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