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
C Squadron
11 February 1968 - 10 February 1969
1 January 1969
SHQ, 1 and 3 Troop remained at FSB Julia, 2 and 4 Troops remained at Nui Dat.
2 January 1969
3 Troop moved to FSB Barbara for base protection and reaction for 2 Airborne Brigade (ARVN). 1 Troop D Coy 1 RAR conducted an RIF about FSB Chestnut and 4 Troop with A Company 1 RAR, reacted along Route 2 following a report of 100 VC moving from west to east from Route 15, returning to Nui Dat without contact.
3 January 1969
3 Troop returned from FSB Barbara and completed escort tasks to FSB Diggers Rest.
4 January 1969
1 Troop returned to FSB Julia and 3 Troop moved again to FSB Barbara.
5 January 1969
1 Troop with 1 ATF D&E Platoon carried out RIF operations north of AO Kilcoy. A total of 15 recently occupied structures and bunkers were destroyed.
6 January 1969
3 Troop returned to FSB Julia and 1 Troop continued RIF Operations
7 January 1969
1 Troop continued RIF operations and 3 Troop was ‘op con’ to B Coy 9 RAR in AO Wondai.
8 January 1969
3 Troop in support of B Coy, moved into a freshly evacuated camp where an ammunition cache was uncovered.
9 January 1969
1 Troop escorted C Battery 2/35 Artillery(US) to and from FSB Barbara.
10 January 1969
1 Troop conducted RIF south of FSB Julia and returned there. At 2015hrs,3 Troop with B Coy 9 RAR fired at movement with no results
11 January 1969
1 Troop supported Psy Ops activity along Route 15
12 January 1969
1 Troop moved to ‘op con’ B Coy 9 RAR, 3 Troop returned to Nui Dat and 4 Troop moved to FSB Julia.
13 January 1969
4 Troop conducted road clearing operation to and from FSB Barbara.
14 January 1969
4 Troop with A Sqn 3 Cav(-) conducted RIF ops in AO Sherman. At 1310hrs fire received from an unknown number of enemy. A sweep was made with no results. At 1815hrs callsign 34B detonated a mine with no injuries to the crew.but a suspension station was damaged 4 troop and 1 Troop(-) A Sqn 3 Cav remained in the contact area for the night.
15 January 1969
4 Troop returned to FSB Julia.
16 January 1969
4 Troop ’op con’ to C Coy 1 RAR for the day only.
17 January 1969
4 Troop with D&E Platoon carried out RIF south of FSB Julia
18 January 1969
4 Troop replaced 1 Troop with 9 RAR.
19 January 1969
4 Troop remained ‘op con’ to 9RAR. 1 Troop remained at FSB Julia.
20 January 1969
2 Troop moved to ‘op con’ 1 RAR.
21 January 1969
At 0825hrs at YS265180,32B detonated a mine without suffering any casualties or damage. B Sqn advance party arrives
22 January 1969
1 Troop moved ‘op con’ 1 RAR for RIF in AO Knightsbridge, then returned to FSB Julia.
24 January 1969
1 Troop moved ‘op con’ 1RAR for RIF in AO Shermans Saddle. 2 Troop engaged int targets in the Nui Thi Vais, resulting in one structure and three bunkers being destroyed.
25 January 1969
2 Troop relieved 4 Troop under ‘op con’ 9 RAR who returned to FSB Julia.
26 January 1969
1 Troop returned to FSB Julia. At 1408hrs YS 265780,31A detonated a mine resulting in no crew injuries ,but a suspension station was damaged.
27 January 1969
4 Troop supported the deployment of 4RAR into AO Riverdale.
28-29 January 1969
1 Troop remained at FSB Julia.
30 January 1969
2 Troop returned to Nui Dat.
31 January 1969
4 Troop returned to Nui Dat and Major Smith, OC B Sqn, assumed control of forward SHQ elements, 1 Troop and 3 Troop which moved to FSB Julia.
1 February 1969
1 Troop remained in support of 4 RAR / NZ
2 February 1969
1 Troop discovered a mine laid in previously made tracks
3 February 1969
SHQ and 3 Troop remained at FSB Julia. 1 Troop remained in support of W Coy 4 RAR/ NZ providing mobile reaction to that company, 2 and 4 Troops remained at 1 ATF base as Task Force Ready Reaction.
4 February 1969
SHQ returned to FSB Julia, 3 Troop moved to FSB Barbara.
5 February 1969
1 Troop carried out RIF in the north of AO Kilcoy, 3 Troop moved to FSB Barbara to assist in night defence.
6 February 1969
1 Troop remained in support of 4 RAR / NZ. 3 Troop carried out RIF with 1 Troop A Sqn 3 Cav and elements of D & E Platoon.
7 February 1969
1 Troop remained in support of 4 RAR / NZ, 3 Troop helped conduct route clearing and escort tasks from FSB Dyke to FSB Janice.
8 February 1969
3 Troop relieved 1 troop in support of 4 RAR / NZ after supporting a road move from FSB Kathleen to FSB Elizabeth. 1 Troop remained at FSB Dyke until abandonment and the move to FSB Julia.
9 February 1969
1 Troop operated in support of 4 RAR / NZ and returned to FSB Julia, 3 Troop moved to support 9 RAR.
10 February 1969
3 Troop continued to support 9 RAR operations in AO Wondai.
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