Does 1st Armoured Regiment’s reputation matter?
“Why should it be of any importance whether it’s a tank regiment or an experimentation unit?”.
Apart from the now ARA unit 2/14 LHR (QMI), the RAAC Army Reserve units are custodians of by far the majority of the RAAC’s Theatre Honours and Battle-Honours — from the Boer War through to the Second World War.
But is ‘living memory’ important?
There is only one current RAAC unit that has been honoured as above, but also includes participants who can recount their experiences.
1 Armd Regt was awarded the Theatre Honour, Vietnam 1968-71; the Battle Honours Coral-Balmoral, Hat Dich; and Binh Ba; as well as a Unit Citation for Gallantry. That was 55 years ago. The Regiment’s veterans are growing old and will soon be gone. Should this be of concern to anyone?
The Chief of Army has given 1 Armd Regt a new role. It is no longer a tank regiment, not even a combatant. It is an experimentation unit, tasked with trialling new technologies
So what?
Should we expect 1 Armd Regt’s 75 years’ service to the Nation to amount to something? It’s just another Army unit, after all. Should 1 Armd Regt’s heritage have a lasting significance? Why?
Sometimes, there is something about a unit that embodies its spirit and seems to make it an ever-lasting entity. The following was published in CONTACT recently:
“An Army unit is much more than just the numbers of those serving in it at a particular time. A unit is what esprit-de-corps, heritage and tradition, make it. This is accrued during the service of former members; and maintained and built upon, by those currently serving.”
There is more to it, than this alone, however. The unit’s role and the manner in which it is executed, are pivotal to its lasting memory. 1 Armd Regt’s RAAC role has always been to ‘destroy the enemy, using fire and manoeuvre’. This is what it did in Vietnam and it’s this common purpose which creates the close bonds that exist between tank crews. This is what makes a tank regiment unique.
Despite 1 Armd Regt having executed its role and duty with distinction and honour; it would seem that living memory has no importance at all. If it had, 1 Armd Regt would still be a tank regiment. One thing and one thing only, influenced the decision to make it an experimentation unit – cost. Living memory, honour, heritage, tradition … all amount to nothing at the end of the day!
It was the god of finance which determined 1 Armd Regt would have to change its role. If seniority was the decider, 2/14 LHR (QMI) would be in the hot seat, being the junior RAAC ARA unit. Minimum relocation, however, equates to minimum cost.
2 Cav Regt was already in Townsville (where the Defence Strategic Review designated that an armoured brigade was to be established). 1 Armd Regt was ideally positioned in Adelaide (where a defence industry hub was being established). Boost 2 Cav Regt with two squadrons of tanks … and (some may think) job done!
The only down side is that 3 Brigade is lacking a tank squadron, a reconnaissance squadron and a battlegroup headquarters. On the other hand, this could be seen as a ‘plus’, in terms of savings on operating costs. Who cares what affect the reduction in combat power and impact on training will have on our Nation’s defence!
The CA has stated that: “Putting Australian soldiers on the ground and in harm’s way, remains the ultimate expression of our nation’s will and resolve”. Now that it’s a non-combatant, 1 Armd Regt is no longer able to even strive to this end (despite having important work to do).
Sadly, it seems that, despite 1 Armd Regt’s living memory and its esprit-de-corps, heritage and tradition, the unit is destined to reside, as a tank regiment, only in history books.
What a pity it is, that 75 years’ service to the nation has to finish in this way.
But wait!
Could it be that the next CA will understand the value embodied in 1 Armd Regt’s esprit-de-corps, heritage and tradition? Is it possible that he/she could return 1 Armd Regt to its role as a tank regiment … raising its RHQ in Townsville (as proposed by the 2024 and 2025 RAAC Corps Conference)!
[This would mean that another experimentation unit would have to be raised, but the difficult part has been done! Of course, any unit, new or established, could undertake the role of trialling new technologies. The CDF’s staff were simply justifying the selection of 1 Armd Regt when they stated that the experimentation unit had to be experienced “in combined arms manoeuvre and combat vehicle operations”.]
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)
.
.
FILE IMAGE: An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams main battle tank in Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.
.
.
.
.
