Many problems hindering 3 Brigade’s new roles

Defence Press Release, 28 September 2023…
“The 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, will be an armoured combat brigade.”

The Defence Strategic Review meant a totally new force structure for Army. 1 Brigade in Darwin became a light combat brigade and 7 Brigade in Brisbane, a motorised brigade. 3 Brigade’s new role was a commitment to manoeuvre warfare and shock action, plus an emphasis on amphibious operations. (Its immediate predecessor was 4 Armoured Brigade, formed in February 1943 to provide close fire support for Australian infantry in New Guinea and Borneo, using Matildas and General Stuarts.)
This seemed like a good news story for the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC). The three principal components of an armoured brigade are tanks, reconnaissance, and mechanised infantry. Incredibly, the units involved (1 Armd Regt, 2 Cav Regt, 3 RAR) are all in the process of introducing new AFVs into service. These will provide a capability beyond anything Army has been able to provide previously. Furthermore, 3 Combat Engineer Regiment is set to receive new assault breacher AFVs, together with armoured bridge-layers.
Sadly, there are few good news stories. In this case, the problem was that Townsville infrastructure wasn’t ready to absorb the new arrivals. Apart from anything else, there were way too few houses. Approval was recently granted for 400 to be built, however, their completion is not expected before FY 25/26.
This has meant that 2 Cav Regt has had to command both tanks and recon vehicles in Townsville (two squadrons of each), while 1 Armd Regt has become an emerging-technologies test bed in Adelaide. Hopefully the housing won’t take too long and the units can quickly return to their rightful roles.

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

 

 

FILE PHOTO (November 2024): A newly acquired M1A2 Abrams main battle tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. Photos by Corporal Guy Sadler.

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