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
17 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 1 Tp supported D&E Platoon in AO Centaur; 2 Tp supported land clearing team in AO Betsy; 3 Tp supported 7RAR from Horseshoe in AO Betsy; 4 Tp supported 2 RAR/NZ in AO Jetson, reinforced with 92C.
18 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 1 Tp supported D&E Platoon in AO Centaur; 2 Tp supported land clearing team in AO Betsy; 3 Tp supported 7RAR from Horseshoe in AO Betsy; 4 Tp supported 2 RAR/NZ in AO Jetson.
1320hrs:
4 Tp located bunker base system.
19 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued ops in AO Centaur; 2 Tp supported land clearing team and provided protection to RF medevacs in afternoon (AO Betsy); 3 Tp supported 7RAR from Horseshoe in AO Betsy, moving to FSB Discovery; 4 Tp supported 2 RAR/NZ in AO Jetson.
20 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 1 Tp returned to Nui Dat from AO Centaur; 2 Tp returned to Nui Dat on conclusion land clearing team following land clearing team mine damage; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Betsy; 4 Tp supported 2 RAR/NZ in AO Jetson.
21 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 1 and 2 Tp rest and maintenance, 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Betsy, 4 Troop supported 2RAR/NZ in AO Jetson.
2130hrs:
(FSB Discovery) 3 Tp engaged lights with no result.
2005hr:
4 Tp located grave and investigated.
22 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO
Betsy; 4 Troop supported 2RAR/NZ in AO Jetson.
0932hrs:
4 Tp located grave and investigated.
1805hrs:
4 Tp sighted 15 persons---no engagement.
23 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Betsy, returning to the Horseshoe from FSB Discovery; 4 Troop supported
2RAR/NZ in AO Jetson. 1 Tp moved with 8RAR ambush platoon to Long Hais for mine protection and then returned to Nui Dat.
1745hrs:
1 Tp, Callsign 1, hit M16 mine, no damage or casualties.
24 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 3 Tp continued to support 7RAR in AO Betsy; 4 Tp supported 2RAR/NZ in AO Jetson.
25--26 June 1970:
As above.
28 June 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat; 3 Tp continued to support 7RAR in AO Betsy; 4 Tp supported 2RAR/NZ in AO Jetson.
29 June 1970:
Sqn (-) prepared to deploy to AO Camel in support of 8RAR. 1 Tp AO Camel; 2 Tp Nui Dat; 3 Tp supported 7RAR from Horseshoe; 4 Tp returned from AO Jetson to Nui Dat.
30 June 1970:
Sqn (-) deployed to AO Camel in support of 8RAR. 1 Tp, 2 Tp, Composite Tp AO Camel; 3 Tp Horseshoe supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd; 4 Tp Nui Dat for maintenance and R&C.
General:
During June the Squadron continued normal close support of 1ATF units, primarily infantry battalions, 17 Const Sqn land clearing team and 1 Field Sqn road construction. Whilst many tasks were static defensive positions in preparation for reactions, the Squadron also conducted RIFs and night ambushes in co-ordination with the supported units.
1 July 1970:
Sqn (-) deployed in AO Camel. SHQ, 1 Tp, 2 Tp, Composite Tp, supported 8RAR in AO Camel. 3 Tp Supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd. [4 Tp Nui Dat].
Captain Bowd, Sqn 2IC, Admin Comd from 1 Jul to 8 Jul whilst OC absent on R&R.
2 July 1970:
Sqn (-) remained in support 8RAR in AO Camel. 1 Tp, 2 Tp supported companies and Composite Tp protected guns at FSB Kylie. 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd. 4 Tp [at] Nui Dat for rest and maintenance.
3 July 1970:
As above.
1013hrs:
2 Tp located fresh tracks.
4 July 1970:
Sqn (-) remained in support 8RAR in AO Camel. 1 Tp, 2 Tp supported companies and Composite Tp returned to Nui Dat. 1 Tp assumed [responsibility for] defence of guns at FSB Kylie. 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd. 4 Tp rest and maintenance.
5 July 1970:
Sqn (-) remained in support 8RAR in AO Camel. 1 Tp protected guns at FSB Kylie; 2 Tp on reaction from FSB Kylie; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd; 4 Tp rest and maintenance.
6 July 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat. 1 Tp supported 8RAR in AO Camel, SHQ and 2 Tp returned to Nui Dat; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd; 4 Tp rest and maintenance.
7 July 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat. 1 Tp supported 8RAR in AO Camel (extended), reacting to a position from which Battalion could be supported in suspected bunkers reported by NVA PW; 2 Tp rest and maintenance; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd; 4 Tp rest and maintenance.
8 July 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat. 1 Tp supported 8RAR in AO Camel extended; 2 Tp rest and maintenance; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd; 4 Tp rest and maintenance.
1100hrs:
Major Chipman RTU from R&R.
1815hrs:
1 Tp in support of C Company 8RAR contacted enemy who employed delaying tactics and assaulted bunker system. Fire reported in 1A, minor mechanical fault, not due to enemy action.
9 July 1970:
Sqn (-) remained at Nui Dat. 1 Tp supported 8RAR in AO Camel extended during investigation of bunker system; 2 Tp rest and maintenance; 3 Tp supported 7RAR in AO Shepherd; 4 Tp rest and maintenance.
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