1st ARMOURED REGIMENT ASSOCIATION INC
Army Newspaper DEC 5
Brief History of the Regiment
On the 7th of July 1949 the 1st Australian Armoured Car Squadron was renamed the 1st Armoured Regiment. The main Battle Tanks that have seen service in the Regiment have been the Churchill, the Centurion Mk.5, the Leopard AS1 and now the M1A1 Abrams. Various other vehicles including the Ferret Scout Car, the Saracen APC, M113A1 and the M548 Tracked Load Carrier have been utilised in the unit in surveillance, support and command roles. The 1st Armoured Regiment’s first home was Kapyong Barracks at Puckapunyal; which in November 1981 was changed to Robertson Barracks; named after LTGEN Sir Horace Robertson; a former Light Horse and armoured commander.
The Centurion tank was introduced into service early in 1952 and served up until the Leopard arrived in 1977, It saw active service in South Vietnam from 1968-71. The last squadron to change over to Leopard was B Squadron in late 1977. The last of the Centurions left the Regiment in the same year. Over the period 1977 to the present day, regimental personnel have been involved in most major Peace Keeping Operations including Namibia, Somalia, Cambodia, Rwanda, MFO Sinai and East Timor and more recently active service in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2016-17, the unit deployed its Regimental Headquarters for the first time to command Task Force Taji IV in Iraq.
On the 13 of November 1979, a black Leopard MA0163 TPR Paratus was enlisted into the unit as Regimental Mascot. TPR Paratus was housed at the Melbourne Zoo and shipped up to Puckapunyal for occasional ceremonial activities. He did not make the trip to Darwin; however, in October 2011 a new mascot, a Lion was enlisted as M8246874 TPR Leo Paratus into the unit; he is housed at Crocodylus Park in Darwin and attended most parades held by the regiment.
The Regiment moved to Darwin in July 1995 as part of the 1st Brigade redeployment. The Regiment settled into Chauvel Lines in the new Robertson Barracks and Mt Bundy became its new training area. The Regiment has now re-equipped with the Abrams M1A1 AIM SA Tank ASLAV, M113AS4 and M88 ARV. In 2014 the Regiment's role changed to, an Armoured Cavalry Regiment with Tank, Cavalry, APC, and Support SQNS.
In anticipation of a unit move to RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA; D Squadron (APC) was formed in 2014 to establish an on the ground presence in that location. In 2017 the rest of the unit moved to Adelaide and on Cambrai Day, the new lines were officially named after LTGEN Sir Harry Chauvel. The mascot, CPL Leo Paratus has not made the trip to Adelaide and the unit is currently searching for a suitable replacement.
The APC’s have been returned to the Infantry and the unit now consists of a tank squadron (B Sqn) and two ASLAV squadrons (A and C Sqns).
Commander's Diaries
A Squadron
23 December 1969 - 16 December 1970
24 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover with night ambush; 2 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango; 3 Tp remained in support 7RAR in AO Carmen---troop static during day in position where bogging occurred on 23 August; 4 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance.
25 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover with night ambush; 2 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango; 3 Tp remained nominally in support 7RAR in AO Carmen, remaining bogged for entire period; 4 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance.
1700hrs:
1 Tp visually detected and recovered RPG 2 booster lying on ground.
26 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover, reacting during day to support platoon in suspected bunker contact; 2 Tp returned to Nui Dat from supporting and protecting LCT in AO Mango; 3 Tp remained nominally in support 7RAR in AO Carmen, remaining bogged for entire period; 4 Tp replaced 2 Tp in AO Mango, assuming responsibility for support and protection of LCT.
27 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover, moved into bunker position following activity of 26 August; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp remained nominally in support 7RAR in AO Carmen, remaining bogged for entire period; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango.
0915hrs:
3Tp [sic] with 1 Pl V Coy 2RAR/NZ moved into bunker system. Remained in position through day and night due to mechanical breakdowns.
28 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp remained vicinity of bunkers located 27 August to replace unserviceable gearbox, moving to vicinity Route15 by late in night, continued support role for 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp recovered from bogging and released from 7RAR, returned to to Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT, moving NDP during day.
29 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp remained in support of 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp deployed in support of Massey Force on Operation MASSEY HARRIS; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango.
1315hrs:
APC with Massey Force detonated pressure mine. Troopers Peck and Rossiter and Lance Corporal Page, who were dismounted, received ear blast and sand blast as a result. Members remained on duty. All from callsign 3.
30 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp remained in support of 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover with ni ambush; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp continued in support of Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango.
31 August 1970:
SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp deployed from supporting 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover, to support 7RAR in AO Carmen--to remain standby for reaction in support of Operation against D445 along axis of Route 328 north of Route 23; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp continued in support of Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango.
1240hrs:
Massey Force located and destroyed garden and bunker.
1 September 1970
SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained at the Horseshoe on reaction for task against D 445 on Route 326 north of Route 23; 2 Troop returned to Nui Dat for rest and maintainance; 3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing team in AO Mango
1200hrs
Massey force detected and destroyed gardens and paddy
2 September 1970
SHQ(-)remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained at the Horseshoe on reaction task against D445 on route 326 north of Route 23; 2 Troop rest and maintainance;3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; ad 4 Troop continued support and protection for the land clearing in AO Mango.
1000hrs
Massey force destroyed illegal paddy field.
3 September 1970
SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat ; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained at the horseshoe on reaction task against D445 on route 326 north of Route 23; 2 Troop rest and maintenance, 3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO
Susan; and 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.
1500hrs
Massey force destroyed three illegal paddies.
4 September 1970
SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen remained at the Horseshoe on reaction task against D445 on Route 326 NORTH OF Route 23; 2 Troop rest and maintenance; 3 Troop continued support for MASSEY HARRIS on AO Susan; and 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.
5 September 1970
SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop continuing to support 7 RAR in AO Carmen, prepared to return to Horseshoe. En route vehicles collapsed bridge at YS 586637, isolating Troop with two vehicles either side of crossing; 2 Troop continued rest and maintenance, providing reaction force ; 3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSY HARRIS in AO Susan; and 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.
General 92A (dozer) with 3 Troop remained bogged during 4 September resulting in a delay to MASSEY force as dozing [ was] required to cross rivers to east. Vehicle carried out task [on] 5 Sep.
6 September 1970
SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop continuing support of 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained astride collapsed bridge. Bridge repaired during day, collapsed at 1700hrs as [ callsign] 1 Charlie attempted to cross. No vehicles succeeded in crossing. 2 Troop continued rest and maintenance, providing reaction force;3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.
0830hrs
Reaction Troop ( 2 Troop) stood by to support 7 RAR contact. Troop remained Nui Dat
1040hrs
3 Troop moved from NDP to support 1 Troop B Sqn 3 Cav bunker contact.
1150hrs
While moving to 1 Tp B Sqn 3 Cav bunker contact, 3 troop located one bunker. Whilst investigating, Troop sighted movement and engaged one enemy with unknown results. Troop continued to 1 Troop B sqn 3 Cav bunker system with intention of returning to this bunker system during the afternoon.
1520hrs
3 Troop located and investigated extensive bunker system. Troop moved through the area to be joined later by infantry who further investigated. Infantry arrived at 1700hrs. Following demolition, force returned to NDP Beverley at 1730hrs.
2057hrs
Ready reaction troop stood by to support 2 Platoon C Company 8 RAR contact. Stood down at 2130hrs.
1755hrs
Infantry with 4 Troop located resting place for VC in vicinity [of] NDP Jill.
1846hrs
4 Troop sighted suspect enemy movement. Infantry engaged with small arms and mortars.
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