1st Armoured Regiment: a combat unit again?

Who knows if 1 Armd Reg will ever become a combat unit again.

But if it does … how long will it take for 1 Armd Regt to become combat ready again?

Relocation to Townsville for those who are single shouldn’t take too long. Settling into married quarters will depend on availability; maybe some of those in key positions could go on ahead, unaccompanied (?).

Nevertheless, married quarter availability will be a limiting factor; one which could easily delay the transfer of personnel.

The crucial question is: how long will the unit take to become proficient in crew skills and battle-craft?

The fact that there are two squadrons of tanks with 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Townsville will obviously reduce the training time for the remainder of the unit. Training even a single squadron from what amounts to very nearly ‘scratch’, however, is no small matter.

It must be borne in mind, that, as a dual role unit, 2 Cav Regt will not have been able to concentrate on battle-craft, to the same extent that a homogeneous unit could.

So, two squadron’s worth of skills may be current, but to what extent is field training up to date?

What then are the priorities? In order, they would seem to be:

• Field (battle-craft) training for the two formed squadrons would seem particularly important. This will make them combat-ready.
• Crew skills training for the third squadron. This can be conducted concurrently with the field training above.
• Field (battle-craft) training for the third squadron.

How long will all this take, i.e. before 1 Armd Regt is fully combat ready again?

• Complete relocation of RHQ and C Squadron to Townsville: three months;
• Field training of two formed squadrons: three months (concurrent with above relocation);
• Field training for third squadron: additional three months.

On the timings set out above, it would take six months for 1 Armd Regt to become fully combat ready again.

Two squadrons could be ready in three months, but the third would not be ready for an additional three months.

Why on earth was 1 Armd Regt stripped of its tanks in the first place?

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

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