Army Experimentation: Is There a Better Way?
The Chief of Army stripped 1st Armoured Regiment of its tanks, reduced it in size by two thirds, and made it responsible for managing new and emerging technologies; thereby depriving 3 Brigade (supposedly an armoured brigade) of much of its combat power.
It’s no secret that the CA wanted a unit which could quickly get up to speed in this new role.
In many respects, it was a matter of ‘catch up’; given that other armies have been working in this space for some time.
This partly explains the suddenness of the decision making affecting 1 Armd Regt and the reason that 3 Brigade is still not an armoured brigade, 19 months after the government’s decision to that effect.
The British go about such things very differently and our Army has much to learn.
Firstly, an infantry battalion is appointed as the Experimentation Battalion. Presently, this is the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment. It has a half squadron (two troops) of the Household Cavalry attached to it.
This all comes under the command of the Experimentation and Trials Group, part of the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster.
Added to this, each of the arms’ corps have their own trials and development units, plus there is a supplementary one to address the needs of combat service support units.
Our government has made it clear that 3 Brigade is to be an armoured brigade; meaning, in turn, that 1 Armd Regt must be relocated to Townsville in due course.
How long Defence will be prepared to put up with the present arrangement, is unclear.
The ‘hiatus’, of course, could have something to do with the dire lack housing in Townsville.
A dedicated Australian Army experimentation unit is obviously required.
Maybe the CA has been using a window of opportunity before 1 Armd Regt relocates north, to trial the practicalities involved in establishing it.
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)
FILE PHOTO: An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment talks to a British Army soldier from 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, about emerging technologies during Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PCC5) in Fort Irwin, California, 9 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.
.
.
.
.
Let’s just apply some points of fact as the good colonels black cap might be a fraction too tight…
1. 2 CAV is the 3rd Brigades unit for Tank with a second squadron raised just before Anzac Day. PLAN BEERSHEBA turned 2CAV into an “Armoured Calvary Regiment” between 2011-2014 and moved it from 1st Brigade.
2. 3 BDE isn’t being “deprived” of much of its combat power. 1 ARMD was not being relocated – Much like 7 RAR (the other combat unit reallocated from 1st to 9th Bde in 2022) those full time positions in 1 ARMD were reallocated. A Squadron of Tanks to 2 CAV, a Squadron of people to stay and be experimental, a squadron dispersed into other roles. Consider it courteous that unit nomenclature was kept, rather than being renamed “1st Trails Team”
3. 3 BDE is transforming to be a an armoured brigade designed for amphibious operations with the Royal Australian Navy in order to secure decisive terrain. Armoured Brigade does not equal Tank Brigade. 3 BDE is not there yet as an armoured brigade for numerous reasons – but specifically because they are introducing into service a large number of new armoured platforms. They are yet to receive Hunstman Self-Propelled Artillery (guns and loaders), Combat Engineer Vehicles (ABV/JAB), Redback Infantry fighting vehicles, or replace ASLAV for Boxer CRV. Tanks are just one aspect of the “Armoured” brigade.