Letters to the Editor Archives - Page 2 of 6

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.

Update for Commander, 3rd Armoured Brigade

06/05/202506/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1161 Views 0 Comments

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

Brigadier Dave McCammon and W02 Robert Munro conduct a lap of 3rd Brigade in an M1A2 at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Queensland. Photo by Private Jess Gray.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

What’s the Chief of Army up to?

04/05/202504/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1724 Views 0 Comments

Once upon a time … the Chief needed a ‘unit’ to come on-line quickly and manage ‘emerging technologies’. 1st Armoured

2nd Cavalry Regiment welcome its second tank squadron at the T4 (D Squadron) Raising Ceremony at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Queensland. Photo by Private Jessica Gray.

Letters to the Editor

The Housing Situation in Townsville: How Bad is it?

04/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1335 Views 1 Comment

Is it stopping 3 Brigade getting up to full strength as an armoured brigade or is that due to other

An Australian Centurion Mk V/1 tank of the 1st Armoured Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, guarding the approaches to the 1 Australian Task Force base located at Courtenay Hill. A hootchie has been set up over the turret as a sun screen and a sand bagged observation post is visible on the hill top. Photo by Brian Wood – AWM P07256.031

Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Plight of Australia’s Military: Its Armour at least

02/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1401 Views 0 Comments

The Plight of Australia’s Military was the title of an email to me from Professor Geoffrey Blainey, AC, arguably Australia’s

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.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor

Army Experimentation: Is There a Better Way?

30/04/202530/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1009 Views 3 Comments

The Chief of Army stripped 1st Armoured Regiment of its tanks, reduced it in size by two thirds, and made

Australian Army recruits in training at 1st Training Battalion, Kapooka, NSW. 1RTB photo.

Letters to the Editor Thought provoking

Rebuilding Australia through improving Defence preparedness

27/04/2025 WGCDR Wayne (Noddy) Parsons, RAAF Retd 1019 Views 1 Comment

Professor Geoffrey Blainey posits Australia was better prepared to help confront the challenge facing the Empire in 1914 at the

An M1A2 Abrams Tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville on 14 November 2024. Photo by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Letters to the Editor

Townsville’s Armoured Brigade: Why Isn’t it Ready?

27/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 991 Views 0 Comments

The 2024 National Defence Strategy (and the Defence Strategic Review before it) changed the ADF’s readiness from a joint force

An Australian Army soldier from the 1st Armoured Regiment with an uncrewed ground vehicle equipped with a prototype communications system and experimental drone launcher during Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Why Hasn’t the Australian Public Been Told?

26/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1431 Views 3 Comments

Extracts from the 2023 Defence Strategic Review: “Army’s combat brigades must be reroled and select capabilities postured in northern Australia.”

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Tank is loaded onto a Royal Australian Navy light landing craft, during Exercise Sea Explorer, Cowley Beach, Queensland. Story by Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

An Open Letter to Prospective new Defence Ministers

23/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 878 Views 2 Comments

Eighteen months ago, the Defence Strategic Review stipulated that an armoured brigade should be located in Townsville. This requirement has

Centurion tanks from 1st Armoured Regiment, and armoured personnel carriers from B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, move along the main road of Binh Ba village. Over three days, armour and infantry dislodged a strong North Vietnamese Army group that had entered the village, for the loss of one Australian killed in action. AWM BEL/69/0389/VN. Binh Ba.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Letter to 95-Year-Old Professor Who’s Seen it All Before

22/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 675 Views 0 Comments

Dear Professor Blainey, Thank you for your article (in the Weekend Australian) ‘We were better prepared for war in 1914

Members of Overwatch Battle Group–West get ready to participate in an ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Talil, Iraq, 2008. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Lest We Forget Letters to the Editor Veterans

Recognising Recent Sacrifices

21/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 891 Views 0 Comments

The NSW government has released the design and location for a new war memorial to honour the service and sacrifice

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Army’s Tank Numbers: A Revolving Dance Card

18/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1602 Views 0 Comments

In terms of the standard organisation, a tank regiment comprises three sabre (fighting) squadrons, each squadron comprises four troops of

An Australian light-armoured vehicle (ASLAV) negotiates a creek crossing during an exercise at Jungle Training Wing, Tully, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Army Scraps Second Armoured Squadron

17/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 785 Views 1 Comment

I mentioned on 5 April that a squadron of tanks has been removed from Army’s order of battle. It is

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. Photo by Private Jacob Hilton.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Ongoing Campaign to Return 1 Armd Regt to it’s Combat Role

14/04/202517/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 632 Views 0 Comments 1 Armd Regt

“The M1A2 SEPv3 will upgrade the current Australian fleet of M1A1 SA tanks with no changes to Royal Australian Armoured

A newly acquired M1A2 Abrams main battle tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. Photos by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor Veterans

Many problems hindering 3 Brigade’s new roles

11/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1248 Views 0 Comments 1 Armd Regt

Defence Press Release, 28 September 2023… “The 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, will be an armoured combat brigade.” The Defence

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in Puslatpur, Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor News

Army Cut Back – Why?

05/04/202505/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 2379 Views 3 Comments

Army has recently removed a squadron of tanks from its order of battle; no reason has been offered. FILE PHOTO

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the Cultana Training Area, SA during Exercise Rhino Run 24. Photo by Corporal Johnny Huang.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Unjust Treatment of 1st Armoured Regiment: Who Should Apologise?

30/03/202530/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 1144 Views 0 Comments

FILE PHOTO (May 2024): An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the

1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams tanks in Puslatpur, Indonesia, during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Sergeant Jarrod McAneney.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Bond Formed by Tank Crews

16/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 1882 Views 3 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment

Admiral Johnston, the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), graduated as a naval officer in 1982. His career has involved

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Can the CDF or a Service Chief Do Anything He or She Wishes?

17/02/202528/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 2174 Views 6 Comments

There have been no female Chiefs as yet, but according to all accounts, the first is not far off. Do

An American plane sprays chemicals near unit lines of 1st Armoured Squadron Workshop RAEME, at Nui Dat, Vietnam 1968. Photo by Des Kearton.

Letters to the Editor

RAEME units sprayed sprayed with chemicals, Vietnam 1968 – RANCH HAND defoliant flights

03/11/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1094 Views 0 Comments

Operation Ranch Hand was a name given by the USA to the tactical project for aerial spraying of herbicides in