An Australian light-armoured vehicle (ASLAV) negotiates a creek crossing during an exercise at Jungle Training Wing, Tully, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Army Scraps Second Armoured Squadron

17/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 262 Views 0 Comments

I mentioned on 5 April that a squadron of tanks has been removed from Army’s order of battle.

It is now evident that a cavalry (reconnaissance) squadron has been removed as well.

This seems doubly surprising in the current strategic circumstances.

These are major manoeuvre units and their absence has a significant impact on Army’s available combat power.

Army decided to give priority to the creation of a unit to manage emerging technologies, and, as a consequence, 1st Armoured Regiment was stripped of its tanks.

The Defence Strategic Review called for an armoured brigade to be located in Townsville.

The maximum span of command for the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, located there, is two tank and two cavalry squadrons – overall, a loss of two armoured squadrons.

It seems that maximising combat power is not high on Army’s agenda at present.

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

FILE PHOTO (2022): An Australian light-armoured vehicle (ASLAV) negotiates a creek crossing during an exercise at Jungle Training Wing, Tully, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

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