Update for Commander, 3rd Armoured Brigade

Brigadier Ben McLennan, Commander 3 Brigade, congratulated two of his Brigade’s units in his ‘X tweet’ for 27 April 2025 …

“Bravo, 2 Cav Regt for raising the first Tank Squadron for our Army in 78 years!” ;
“Bravo, 3RAR for your commemoration of Kapyong, as an Armoured Infantry Battlegroup, with our veterans!”

Unfortunately, the former infantry officer was misinformed as far as the history of armour in the Australian army was concerned. 2 Cav Regt’s D Squadron is far from being the first tank squadron to be raised in 78 years.

1st Armoured Regiment was the Royal Australian Armoured Corps’ first tank regiment. It’s first squadron (with Churchill tanks) was raised in 1949, 76 years ago. The Regiment’s other squadrons were subsequently raised, following the arrival of Centurion tanks in 1952.

Interestingly, the significance of armour in the nation’s defence was so important at this time, that plans were made for a 2nd Armoured Regiment. A Nucleus Squadron was raised for this purpose in Holsworthy. It was not until 1955 that the concept was set aside and Nucleus Sqn returned to Puckapunyal (as C Sqn, 1 Armd Regt).

The deployment of tanks to Vietnam meant that four squadrons were each successively raised, trained, and deployed (on a 12-month rotation). Tanks remained in-country, only the squadron titles changing (C, A, B, C).

The fact that 1 Armd Regt has been stripped of its tanks in order to become a non-combatant ‘technology test-bed’ is a matter I wrote to the Brigade Commander about in March:

“The recommendation we have consistently made in our advocacy is for RHQ 1 Armd Regt to be raised in Townsville to command 3rd Brigade’s two tank squadrons, thereby allowing 2 Cav Regt to concentrate on its recon role, and both units to focus on completing the introduction into service of their new AFVs. The greatest advantage, however, is that of enabling 1 Armd Regt and 2 Cav Regt to each raise its own battlegroup if required during Talisman Sabre 2025 (which the CA referred to last year “as the Army’s next aim point”). The additional battlegroup will, of course, significantly increase the potential combat power and flexibility of 3 Brigade.”

I didn’t receive a reply, but I’ve become used to this being what happens when I’m communicating with those who don’t fully understand the issues involved.

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

 

FILE PHOTO: Commander 3 Brigade Brigadier Ben McLennan addresses executives from the Australian Industry Group (AIG) during a visit to Lavarack Barracks, Townsville on 13 March 2025. Photo by Major Gabrielle Taylor.

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