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Royal Tank Regiment

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Royal Tank Regiment
Cap badge of the Royal Tank Regiment
Active28 July 1917–present
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeArmoured
RoleArmoured Regiment (plus CBRN AS&R Squadron)
SizeOne regiment
Part ofRoyal Armoured Corps
Garrison/HQRHQ—Bovington
Armoured Regiment—Tidworth
CBRN Area Survey and Reconnaissance Squadron—Warminster
Motto(s)Fear Naught
MarchQuick: My Boy Willie
Slow: The Royal Tank Regiment Slow March
AnniversariesWorld War I
*Cambrai, 20 November
World War II
Korean War
Iraqi War
Battle honourssee Battle Honours
Commanders
Colonel-in-ChiefHM The Queen
Colonel-CommandantBrigadier P J Allison
Notable
commanders		Hugh Elles
Percy Hobart
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
TartanHunting Rose (1st Regt pipers kilts and plaids)
Arm BadgeTank
AbbreviationRTR

The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) is the oldest tank unit in the world.[1] Today it is an armoured regiment of the British Army. Formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps, it is part of the Royal Armoured Corps.

World War I

The formation of the Royal Tank Regiment followed the invention of the tank. Tanks were first used at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme in World War I.[2] At that time the six tank companies were grouped as the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC). In November 1916 the eight companies then in existence were each expanded to form battalions (still identified by the letters A to H) and designated the Heavy Branch MGC; another seven battalions, I to O, were formed by January 1918, when all the battalion were changed to numbered units. On 28 July 1917 the Heavy Branch was separated from the rest of the Corps by Royal Warrant and given official status as the Tank Corps.[3] The formation of new battalions continued and by December 1918, 26 had been created though there were only 25 battalions equipped with tanks, as the 17th had converted to armoured cars in April 1918. The first commander of the Tank Corps was Hugh Elles. The Corps saw much action at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.[3]

Interwar period

After the war, the Tank Corps was trimmed down to a central depot and four battalions: the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Battalions.[4] On 18 October 1923,[5] it was officially given the title Royal making it the Royal Tank Corps (RTC) by Colonel-in-Chief King George V. It was at this time that the motto, "Fear Naught", the black beret, and the unit badge were adopted.[4] In 1933, the 6th Battalion, RTC was formed in Egypt by combining the personnel of the 3rd and 5th Regular Army Armoured Car Companies. In 1934, the 1st (Light) Battalion, RTC was formed in England with personnel drawn from the 2nd, 3rd & 5th Battalions.[4] With the preparations for war in the late 1930s, two more Regular Army Battalions were formed: the 7th in 1937 and the 8th in 1938. In the latter half of 1938, six TA Infantry Battalions were converted to Tank Battalions; with a further six created in 1939 following the "duplication" of the TA.[4]

During the early 1920s, the Tank Corps was augmented by 20 Armoured Car Companies: twelve Regular Army, created using MGC elements; and eight Territorial Army (TA) created by the reduction and conversion of Yeomanry Regiments. Eight of the Regular Army Companies were later converted into independent Light Tank Companies; all twelve Companies had been disbanded by the outbreak of the Second World War.

Territorial Army Battalions of the Royal Tank Corps Origin
40th (The King's) conversion of 7th Btn, The King's (Liverpool) Regiment
41st (Oldham) conversion of 10th Btn, The Manchester Regiment
42nd (7th (23rd London) Btn, The East Surrey Regiment) conversion of 7th (23rd London) Btn, The East Surrey Regiment
43rd (6th (City) Btn, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) conversion of 6th Btn, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
44th conversion of 6th Btn, The Gloucestershire Regiment
45th (Leeds Rifles) conversion of 7th (Leeds Rifles) Btn, The West Yorkshire Regiment
46th (Liverpool Welsh) duplicate of 40th RTC
47th (Oldham) duplicate of 41st Btn
48th duplicate of 42nd Btn
49th duplicate of 43rd Btn
50th duplicate of 44th Btn
51st (Leeds Rifles) duplicate of 45th Btn

On 4 April 1939, the Royal Tank Corps was renamed the Royal Tank Regiment and became a wing of the newly created Royal Armoured Corps. The eight Yeomanry Armoured Car Companies of the RTR were activated and transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps. Before the Second World War, Royal Tank Corps recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall. They initially enlisted for six years with the colours and a further six years with the reserve. They trained at the Royal Tank Corps Depot at Bovington Camp, Dorset for about eight months.[4]

World War II

Men of the Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa, 1941
Centurion tank in Korea, May 1953.
The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment with the MBT Challenger 2 during live fire training exercises in 2004

At the outbreak of war, the regiment consisted of 20 battalions, 8 regular and 12 territorial.

During the course of the war, four "hostilities-only" battalions were formed: the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th. 11 RTR formed part of 79th Armoured Division (a specialist group operating vehicles known as "Hobart's Funnies"), initially equipped with "Canal Defence Light" tanks, it converted to "Buffalo" (the British service name for the US Landing Vehicle Tracked) not long after D-Day and participated in the assault crossing of the Rhine. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was ferried across the Rhine in a Buffalo from 'C' Squadron, 11RTR.[13]

The Regiment's numerous units took part in countless battles in World War II, including the Battle of Dunkirk, El Alamein and D-Day. Field Marshal Montgomery would frequently wear the regiment's beret, with his Field Marshal's badge sewn on next to the regimental cap badge, as it was more practical whilst travelling on a tank than either a formal peaked hat or the Australian slouch hat he previously wore.[14]

Post-war period

After service in the Korean War, the RTR was reduced through various amalgamations, firstly, in 1959-60:[15]

  • 3RTR and 6RTR amalgamated as 3RTR
  • 4RTR and 7RTR amalgamated as 4RTR
  • 5RTR and 8RTR amalgamated as 5RTR

In 1969, 5RTR was disbanded, while, in 1992 under Options for Change, 4RTR amalgamated with 1RTR, and 3RTR amalgamated with 2RTR.[15]

On 2 August 2014, 1RTR and 2RTR amalgamated at Carter Barracks Bulford and for the first time in it's history the Royal Tank Regiment is a "Single Battalion" Regiment. The new Regiment is titled Royal Tank Regiment.

The Royal Tank Regiment has continued to see action including missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Elements of 1RTR were deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and both regiments were involved in the invasion of Iraq, with the 2RTR battlegroup involved in taking Basra. Both Regiments have continued deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.[15]

Current status

The regiment is equipped with Challenger 2 tanks and based at Tidworth and slated to be part of the Reaction Force, coming under 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade.[16][17] It has six squadrons: AJAX, BADGER, CYCLOPS, DREADNAUGHT, EGYPT and FALCON.[18] Unlike other Type 56 Challenger 2 Regiments, it has a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Area Survey and Reconnaissance Squadron, namely FALCON Squadron.[19]

Battle honours

Royal Tank Regiment memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The battle honours are:[20]

The Great War

The Second World War

  • North-West Europe 1940

Arras Counter Attack, Calais 1940, St. Omer-La Bassée, Somme

Sidi Barrani, Beda Fomm, Sidi Suleiman, Tobruk 1941, Sidi Rezegh 1941, Belhamed, Gazala, Cauldron, Knightsbridge, Defence of Alamein Line, Alam el Halfa, El Alamein, Mareth, Akarit, Fondouk, El Kourzia, Medjez Plain, Tunis

Primosole Bridge, Gerbini, Adrano

Sangro, Salerno, Volturno Crossing, Garigliano Crossing, Anzio, Advance to Florence, Gothic Line, Coriano, Lamone Crossing, Rimini Line, Argenta Gap

Odon, Caen, Bourguébus Ridge, Mont Pincon, Falaise, Nederrijn, Scheldt, Venlo Pocket, Rhineland, Rhine, Bremen

Abyssinia 1940, Greece 1941, Burma 1942

Post War Years

Korea 1951–53

Al Basrah, Iraq 2003[21]

Colonels-Commandant

Colonels-Commandant have been:[22]

Name Colonel Commandant Representative
Major General Sir John Capper KCB KCVO 1917-1923 (Director General)
Major General Sir John Capper KCB KCVO 1923–1934
Major General Sir Ernest Swinton KBE CB DSO 1934–1938 1934–1938
Field Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd GCB KCMG LLD ADC 1934–1939
General Sir Hugh Elles KCB KCMG KCVO DSO 1934–1945 1939
Major General G M Lindsay CB CMG DSO 1938–1947 1940–1943
Lieutenant General Sir Charles Broad KCB DSO 1939–1948 1944–1947
Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein KG GCB DSO DL 1939–1948 1944–1947
Major General Sir Percy Hobart KBE CB DSO MC 1947–1951 1948–1951
General Sir John Crocker GCB KBE DSO MC 1949–1961
Major General N W Duncan CB CBE DSO 1952–1959 1952–1957
Major General H R B Foote VC CB DSO 1957–1964 1958–1961
Lieutenant General Sir Harold Pyman KCB CBE DSO 1959–1965
Major General H M Liardet CB CBE DSO DL 1961–1967 1962–1967
Major General Sir Alan Jolly CB CBE DSO 1965–1968
General Sir Michael Carver GCB CBE DSO MC ADC 1968–1973 1970–1971
Major General P R C Hobart CB DSO OBE MC 1968–1978 1971–1974
General Sir Richard Ward CB DSO MC 1970–1976 1974–1976
Lieutenant General Sir Allan Taylor KBE MC 1973–1980
Major General J G R Allen CB 1976–1981 1977–1980
Major General R L C Dixon CB MC 1978–1983 1982–1983
Lieutenant General Sir Richard Lawson KCB DSO MC 1980–1982 1980–1982
Major General I H Baker CBE 1981–1986
Major General R M Jerram MBE 1982–1988 1983–1985
General Sir Anthony Walker KCB 1983–1987 1985–1991
Major General Sir Laurence New CB CBE 1986–1992
General Sir Jeremy Blacker KCB 1988–1994
Name Deputy Colonel Commandant Colonel Commandant
Major General R W M McAfee CB 1993–1994 1995–1999
Brigadier A C I Gadsby 1994–2000
Lieutenant General A P Ridgway CB CBE 1995–1999 1999–2006
Lieutenant General A D Leakey CMG CBE 1999–2006 2006–2010
Major General P Gilchrist CB 2000–2008
Major General C M Deverell MBE 2006–2010 2010-
Brigadier S Caraffi MBE ADC 2008-
Brigadier P J Allison 2010-

Traditions

The official regimental motto is Fear Naught. The regimental colours are Brown, Red and Green. When it was first formed, the Tank Corps had no distinctive colours. Nothing was done about it until just before the Battle of Cambrai in 1917 when General Elles, wanting some distinguishing mark for his tank, went into a shop to buy material for a flag. Although stocks were small, the General bought some lengths of silk-brown, red and green. The silk was sewn together and was flown from his tank 'Hilda' in which he led the Tank Corps into battle. The colours typified the struggle of the Corps - 'From mud, through blood to the green fields beyond'. This most apt interpretation of the colours was suggested by Colonel Fuller. The flag is flown with the green uppermost.

Uniform

The Uniform of the Royal Tank Regiment is unique in many ways to the rest of the Royal Armoured Corps and British Army:

The Black Beret

Much of the uniform and equipment of soldiers during World War One was quite impractical for use inside a tank. In particular, the vision apertures in a tank were so small that it was necessary to keep the eyes very close to them in order to get even a limited vision. Thus, any headdress with a peak was entirely unsuitable. In May 1918, General Elles and Colonel Fuller were discussing the future of the Tank Corps and its uniform and General Elles tried on a beret of the 70th Chasseurs Alpins who were billeted nearby. A black beret was selected as it would not show oil stains. No change in uniform was possible during the war, but after a prolonged argument with the War Office, the black beret was approved by King George V on 5 March 1924. The black beret remained the exclusive headdress of the Royal Tank Corps until its practical value was recognised by others and its use extended to the majority of the Royal Armoured Corps in 1940. On the introduction of the blue beret in 1949, the Royal Tank Regiment reclaimed its right to the exclusive use of the black beret, which may not be worn by any other Regiment or Corps with the exception of the Berkshire and Westminster Dragoons Squadrons of The Royal Yeomanry.[23]

Sleeve Badge

The sleeve badge of a First World War Mk 1 tank preceded the formation of the Royal Tank Corps when it was worn by the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps.[24] Authorised on 7 May 1917, it is still worn today.[25]

The Ash Plant

During World War I walking sticks were often carried by officers. Such sticks came to have a new and greater use with the introduction of tanks which often became 'bogged' on battlefields, particularly in Flanders. Officers of the Tank Corps used these sticks to probe the ground in front of their tanks testing for firmness as they went forward. Often the commanders led their tanks into action on foot. To commemorate this, officers of the Regiment carry Ash Plant Sticks instead of the short cane customary to other Arms.[23]

Black Coveralls

The wearing of black overalls is a custom reserved to the Regiment by Material Regulations for the Army, volume 3, Pamphlet No 4 (Code 13251). It stems from the Royal Review held at Aldershot in the presence of King George V on 13 July 1935 on which occasion black overalls were worn on parade by all ranks of the Royal Tanks Corps. The practice lapsed during World War II but was re-introduced in the 1950s.[23]

Order of precedence

Preceded by Cavalry Order of Precedence Succeeded by
Last in the Cavalry
Order of Precedence

Alliances

  •  France: 501 Régiment de Chars de Combat (Bond of Friendship)

Affiliated Yeomanry

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Tank Regiment.
  • History of the tank
  • 'The British Garrison Berlin 1945-1994' W. Durie, ISBN 978-3-86408-068-5, Vergangenheits Verlag, Berlin 2012.

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.royaltankregiment.com/en-GB/the-regiment.aspx
  2. ^ Forty & Livesey 2012, p. 20
  3. ^ a b "1 Royal Tank Regiment History". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Between the Wars". Royal Tank Regiment. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  5. ^ Crow, Duncan. British and Commonwealth Armoured Formations 1919-46 (Profile Publications Ltd, Great Bookham, no date), p.2.
  6. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 153
  7. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 151
  8. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 195
  9. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 200
  10. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 201
  11. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 202
  12. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 203
  13. ^ "WW2 - The Royal Tank Regiment". Royal Tank Regiment. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Jim Fraser obituary". The Guardian. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  15. ^ a b c "Pst-war". Royal Tank Regiment. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Regular Army Basing Plan - 5 Mar 2013" (PDF). Ministry of Defence.
  17. ^ "Modernising to face an unpredictable future: Transforming the British Army, July 2012" (PDF). army.mod.uk. p. 14.
  18. ^ http://www.army.mod.uk/armoured/regiments/34270.aspx
  19. ^ http://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-news/1357742/tank-parade-at-carter-barracks-bulford/
  20. ^ "Battle Honours". Royal Tank Regiment. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  21. ^ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo051110/wmstext/51110m01.htm. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 10 November 2005. col. 21WS–22WS. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help)
  22. ^ "Colonels-Commandant". Royal Tank Regiment. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  23. ^ a b c "Home Page - The Royal Tank Regiment Association". Royaltankregiment.com. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  24. ^ Alderton, G L D Cap Badges of the British Army 1939-45 The History Press, 15 Jan 2014
  25. ^ p.37 Marrion, Robert The British Army 1914-18 Osprey Publishing, 1978

Bibliography

  • Forty, George; Livesey, Jack (2012). The Complete Guide to Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles. Southwater. ISBN 978-1780191645. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (1990) [1st. Pub. HMSO:1960]. Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945. London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

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