List of ‘Firsts’ for Australian Armour

“The Australian Army has officially welcomed a second tank squadron to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, marking the first time in the [Royal Australian Armoured Corps] corps’ history that a regiment has two tanks and cavalry squadrons positioned in the same location.” Defence Connect, 2 May 25.

“Bravo, 2 Cav Regt for raising the first Tank Squadron for our Army in 78 years!” Commander, 3 Brigade’s ‘X Tweet’, 27 Apr 25. [Unfortunately, the Commander was misinformed as far as the history of armour was concerned. Many tank sqns, not just one, have been raised during the period designated.]

Other noteworthy ‘Firsts’ for armour, albethey not publicised, include the following:

First time that an RAAC unit has been removed from the order of battle and made a non-combatant.

First time that 1st Armoured Regiment has had all its tanks stripped from it.

First time that 1 Armd Regt‘s role (which, according to the Defence Minister, involves “directly shaping how the Army fights”) is incompatible with the RAAC’s role to locate, identify, capture and destroy the enemy.

First time that crews for 18 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks have been ‘laid off’ (in order for 1 Armd Regt to be employed as an ‘emerging technology’ test-bed).

First time that 1 Armd Regt has had to bus crews inter-state to maintain their gunnery proficiency.

First time (known) that Chief of Army and senior officers have not been prepared to explain to the RAAC and concerned veterans, the reasons necessitating 1 Armd Regt being stripped of its tanks and made a non-combatant, and whether or not the change is permanent and/or the duration involved.

First time that a battlegroup HQ, as well as both a tank sqn and a cav sqn, have been removed from Army’s order of battle.

First time that an armoured brigade has comprised just a single armoured unit.

First time that the RAAC leadership group has failed to retain the confidence of all veterans.

First time that an armoured brigade has been based in Townsville, without checks being made that sufficient housing was available.

Finally, an on-going record … 19 months after the Government stated that “The 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, will be an armoured combat brigade”, it’s still not complete.

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

 

FILE PHOTO: An Australian Army Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tank fires during a training serial as part of a soldier qualification course at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

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