Letters to the Editor – CONTACT magazine

THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1917 (Q 6284) A British Mark IV tank at Wailly. This shows how it would appear to occupants of the German trenches during the Battle of Cambrai. This was the first occasion on which tanks were launched en masse in a surprise attack and it clearly demonstrated the potential of the armoured vehicle. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124999

Letters to the Editor

The Values of Cambrai: Recognised Today?

18/10/202518/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 347 Views 0 Comments

“It remains for unit Commanders and for Tank crews to complete the work by judgement and pluck in the battle

Veterans of the 1st Armoured Regiment during the Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Photo by Corporal Adam Quinn.

Letters to the Editor

A primer for Cambrai Day: The enduring legacy of the tank – or is it?

13/10/202513/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 325 Views 0 Comments

“Special Order No. 6 H J Elles, Commander Tank Corps19th November 1917” 0630hrs, 20 Nov 1917. “A predicted bombardment

An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment briefs Chief of Army on some of his units new experimental fighting equipment in Shoalwater Bay training area in Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Captain Joanne Leca.

Letters to the Editor

Experimentation and the Australian Army: What’s Going on?

10/10/202510/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2833 Views 2 Comments

“From commanding armoured vehicles in land combat to operating emerging technology, robotics and autonomous systems, soldiers from the 1st Armoured

An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment demonstrates hyper-teaming with uncrewed aerial systems on Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California, on 11 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor

A Battle Laboratory AND a Combat Experimentation Group – why?

10/10/202510/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 467 Views 0 Comments

Most of us thought, based on information from the Chief of Defence Force, that 1st Armoured Regiment had been specially

Captain Manning Field (right) from Battle Lab talks with Captain Thomas James from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Sergeant Dustin Anderson.

Letters to the Editor

Armour gets the short end of the straw – again

03/10/202507/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 577 Views 0 Comments

It really didn’t matter that 3RAR is still to receive its ‘Redback’ mechanised infantry fighting vehicles (MICVs), 3 (Armoured) Brigade

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment hits the shore during a combined amphibious assault activity on Exercise Alon in the Philippines. Story by Squadron Leader Courtney Jay. Photos by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Letters to the Editor

Is it possible to meet Defence priorities AND fund the AUKUS subs?

02/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 422 Views 0 Comments

‘The Cove’ is the Army’s Professional Military Education platform, offering online units, podcasts, and articles to facilitate continuous learning and connect

Two 2nd Cavalry Regiment M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks conduct a live-fire serial at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

Letters to the Editor

Top Priority: Tank Regiment or a Combat Experimentation Group (CXG)?

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 436 Views 0 Comments

Let’s look at 1st Armoured Regiment from the viewpoint of someone presently serving in the unit… “If you have been

Letters to the Editor Uncategorized

The RAAC: No one home (sadly)

27/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1466 Views 0 Comments

It’s unbelievable, but true … at first it was thought that 1st Armoured Regiment had been temporarily prevented from joining

Members of the 1st Armoured Regiment during their Guidon and Standard relocation parade in Adelaide. Photo by Private Sophie Hartley.

Letters to the Editor

The RAAC: To whom do we owe allegiance?

26/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1994 Views 0 Comments

While serving, our commitment and allegiance is to our Commanding Officer (or immediate superior). After we retire, however, everything changes.

2 Royal Tank Regiment Challenger 2 tanks on Hohne Ranges, Germany. UK MoD photo by Sergeant Teresa Pickin.

Letters to the Editor

Being a tank regiment (or not)

23/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1055 Views 0 Comments

1st Armoured Regiment was formed on 7 July 1949. Two years later it affiliated with the British Royal Tank Regiment

Australian Army soldier Lance Corporal Declan Bowditch from the 1st Armoured Regiment, performs maintenance on an M134D minigun remote weapon station attached to a modular robotic vehicle during Exercise Talisman Sabre at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

Letters to the Editor

Loyalty or Apathy: Which is Relevant?

20/09/202520/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1819 Views 1 Comment

There was so much public outrage over the cost cutting proposal to merge the Royal Marines with the Parachute Regiment,

Letters to the Editor

Cambrai Day: Why is a tradition, a tradition?

16/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2009 Views 0 Comments

“SHAME: To make someone feel ashamed; to lose honour and respect; the uncomfortable sensation caused when it seems that we

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart addresses the audience at the Chief of Army Symposium 2024 in Melbourne, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Cameron Pegg.

Letters to the Editor

White Lies, Pork Pies, and Whoppers

15/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2302 Views 0 Comments

How does one get to the truth of a matter when it is constantly hidden behind half-truths? This happens whenever

M1A1 Abrams tanks during the 1st Armoured Regiment's Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Photo by Corporal Adam Quinn.

Letters to the Editor

How do you cover up the cover up?

13/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2195 Views 0 Comments

The responses to all the letters written to everyone about 1st Armoured Regiment’s tanks being stripped from it and the

Letters to the Editor

Avoiding the Issue and Taking the Easy Option: The RAAC Way?

11/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1389 Views 0 Comments

Will the next Chief of Army (likely to be appointed at the end of 2025) revoke the decision to employ

An Australian M1A2 SEP v3 main battle tank fires a sabot round during a live fire to confirm the aiming system of the tank at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Letters to the Editor

When Leadership Goes Missing: What do we do?

07/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2364 Views 0 Comments

The following quotes from Major General R N L Hopkins, CBE (author of ‘Australian Armour’), are relevant to the Royal

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, patrol through Cowley Beach Training Area during the combined arms training activity. Photo by Corporal Brodie Cross.

Letters to the Editor

Damage to the RAAC: How Much More Can we Possibly Suffer?

05/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1352 Views 0 Comments

The damage so far: 1 Armd Regt stripped of its tanks and made a non-combatant, losing all crew skills and

A M1A1 Abrams main battle tank puts out a smokescreen at Cowley Beach, Queensland. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

Letters to the Editor

The Guy With the Microphone is Always the Winner

02/09/202502/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1566 Views 0 Comments

The recent Chief of Army’s symposium introduced a new catchphrase: ‘command accountability’. A bit of research brings up ADF Philosophical

An Australian Army M1A2 Abrams main battle tank from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment during a live-fire practice in the Townsville Field Training Area during Exercise Eagle March. Photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Letters to the Editor

Demise of 1st Armoured Regiment – Winners and Losers.

30/08/202530/08/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1832 Views 0 Comments

The recent (2025) Chief of Army Symposium highlighted some of the failings in the Defence space that we’ve been saddled

An Australian M1A2 Abrams SEP v3 fires sabot rounds during a live-fire to confirm the aiming system of the tank and to qualify crews on the new systems at the Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria, November 2024. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Letters to the Editor

When Something Isn’t Right: What do You do?

27/08/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1291 Views 1 Comment

The Chief of Army can’t explain why 1st Armoured Regiment had to be stripped of its tanks and made a

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