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
19 January 1970:
A Sqn (-) continued Op MATILDA. Grouping remains unchanged. Force conducted recce and ambush ops to north of Ham Tan in conjunction with RF/PF forces from Ham Tan. One troop remains LCT long Green. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill. One Troop deployed to Long Hai mountain area to support RF operation.
20 January 1970:
A Sqn (-) continued Op MATILDA. Force conducted recce ops vicinity YS9392. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill. One troop remain Horseshoe Hill following cancellation of Long Hai op (RF/PF).
21 January 1970:
A Sqn (-) continues Op MATILDA. Force conducted recce ops vic YS8801. One troop remains LCT Long Green. One troop shelled Long Hai mountains. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.
1400hrs
6 Pl B Coy 6RAR/NZ and 3 Tp B Sqn 3 Cav Regt on Op MATILDA were contacted by three VC. Result: one VC KIA (BC); one SKS rifle, pack, webbing, CIA.
22 January 1970:
A Sqn (-) continues Op MATILDA. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.
23-25 January 1970:
As above.
26 January 1970:
A Sqn (-) continued Op MATILDA returning to Nui Dat. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.
27 January 1970:
A Sqn remains Nui Dat. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.
28 January 1970:
As above.
29 January 1970:
A Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. One troop returned to Horseshoe Hill from vic YS 5253. One troop deployed to vic YS 4868 with RRF.
30 January 1970:
Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill. One troop deployed to vic YS 4273 with RRF. One troop deployed to 6RAR/NZ at FSB Peggy.
31 January 1970:
Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. One troop Horseshoe Hill. One troop 6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.
1 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).
2-4 February 1970:
As above.
5 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).
0948hrs
4 Troop tank struck anti-tank mine (10-15lbs Chicom TNT) with offset switch. Minor track guard damage and no personnel injuries.
6 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).
7- 9 February 1970:
As above.
10 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC). One troop (2 Troop) deploys to vicinity YS4553 op con C Company 8RAR for quarry security. (Engineers developing quarry for CA road construction Route 44.)
1035hrs.
4 Troop detonated M16 mine. No damage or casualties.
1042hrs.
Other sub-units in area, inf and Cav, also struck mines.
1500hrs
4 Troop detonated M16 mine. No damage or casualties.
11 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop op con 6RAR/NZ. (ANZAC). One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security. 1510hrs. 4 troop moved from Horseshoe in reaction role to support infantry platoon in bunker complex. Troop reacted within one hour, being delayed slightly to collect mini-team. Tanks assaulted position with inf; evacuated inf casualties and found LZ for casevac aircraft. During assault one tank bellied on trees. No casualties or damage to tanks. Tanks remained with inf for security during night (8 pl C Coy 8RAR).
12 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security. 3 Troop operates along Route 2 with A Company 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) ARNV Group. 1300hrs. 2 Troop located two fire pits which had been dug and used possibly as late as the 11/12 Feb.
13 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security. One troop operates along Route 2 with A Company 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) and ARNV Group (3 Troop).
14 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security (2 Troop). 3 Troop op con 2 with A Company 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) and ARNV [for] operation along Route 2. 2015hrs. 2 troop engaged two sampans ---one destroyed.
15 February 1970:
Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop remains op con C Coy 8RAR for quarry security. One troop ceases ops along Route 2 with A Coy 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).
1900hrs:
2 Troop deployed from NDP to assist infantry platoon engaged in ambush with VC. Contact was so heavy that it was decided to leave 2 Troop with the platoon and deploy a composite troop--92Alpha, ZeroDelta, Zero Echo to assist with quarry security. Redeployment completed by 2400hrs. Deployment decided as Coy HQ also received small arms fire after 2 Troop had left area.
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