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).
Regiment History
March 1986 - present
July 13-14 2002;
REGT presented with new Standard the old Standard and Guidon laid up in Lone Pine Chapel Robertson Barracks.
Nov 2002;
MAJGEN Powell opens 1AR Association Memorial in Puckapunyal Ave Robertson Barracks.
Nov –Dec 2002;
C SQN to revert to ARA Manning.
Jan 2003;
HQ SQN to be re raised.
May 2003;
Elements of C SQN arrive in Puckapunyal for RMC Exercise Beersheba.
July – Oct 2003;
Regiment participates in EX Predators Gallop and Croc 03.
Jan – Feb 2004;
EX Southern Leopard held in Cultana vehicles moved via rail on the new Darwin rail link
Aug 2004;
Exercise Predators Gallop held in MT Bundy training area.
Nov 2004;
Mounted Parade held to celebrate Cambrai Day.
April 2005;
C SQN deploys to USA for EX Gold Eagle SQN works with 1st Tank Battalion USMC
April 2005;
REGT support association reunion in Melbourne with the Standard.
Mid 2005;
REGT deploys for EX Talisman Sabre. To train BDE in amphibious operations.
Regt supplies members for training team in IRAQ
July 2005
Regimental Ball
February 2006
22 Tanks move by rail to Cultana Training Area, to escape the monsoon rains.
Regt Supplies M113A1 Trained Crewmen to 5/7 RAR to serve in Timor
RAAC & RAEME Personnel new equipment training in Ft Hood Texas
Work on M1A1 Advance Gunnery Simulators for regiment begins.
September 2006
CO &RSM journey to Webb Dock Melbourne to witness the arrival of the first Abrams Tanks.
November 25 2006
The final Cambrai Mounted Parade for the Leopard Tank.
C Sqn Premier Squadron 2006
Jan 2007
Regiment rotates through M1A1 conversion courses SOA.
40 Members of the Regt return from O’Seas deployments.
March / April
Ex Southern Reach Cultana
May 13-17
Regiment conducts Sea Trials with Abrams Tank with HMAS Manoora.
7 July
Farewell Parade for Leopards welcome Abrams M1A1.
July
Stage 4 Mt Bundy.
Aug/Oct
Southern Reach 2,Cultana saw Paratus Cup conducted.
November
Cambrai Sports week conducted
Premier Sqn 2007 B SQN
Cambrai Trophy A SQN
2008
March B Sqn participates in EX Croix Du Sud multi national exercise New Caledonia
March, First group of Abrams trained soldiers march in from SOA
B Sqn supports 3 Bde exercise Coral
A Sqn provides on line tank ready troop
Visit By Canadian School of Armour.
Regiment conducts 31 internal courses during 2008.
Regiment Celebrates 59th Birthday
LT Bamford, SGT Shinner and CPL Harris attend EX Longlook hosted by 2 RTR
CO & RSM attend Black Hat Reunion in Canberra
Paratus Cup held during June /July
September Charlie Company 1st Tank battalion USMC arrive for EX Golden Eagle
October A Sqn deploys to 29 Palms California to be hosted By Charlie Company 1st Tank battalion USMC
Regt Supplies Soldiers for SOTG 8A & 8B
Paratus Cup C/S 22
Lancer Trophy 2008 C/S 2C
Premier Squadron – Operational Support Squadron
2009
A troop deploys to Afghanistan in support of SOTG VII and SOTG IX manning Bushmaster IMV
Regiment support operations in Timor with an APC Tp.
Regiment involved in EX Diamond Dollar and Talisman Sabre.
Regiment travels to Marine Combat Centre in California for EX GOLD EAGLE.
40th Anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba celebrated in Canberra. The Standard is paraded at the ceremony.
2010
SOTG XIII
EX Southern Reach Cultana.
EX Paratus Crawl Stage 4
EX Paratus Walk – Paratus Cup
Ex Paratus Run – 1 Bde CATA
EX Hamel October / Nov 2010 Townsville
HQ vs B SQN Rugby League Match
Soldier of the year TPR Sanders
JNCO of the year COL Fox
Cambrai Trophy B SQN
Lancer Trophy C/S 22A
Paratus Cup C/S 21
Premier Squadron HQ SQN.