The Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) is a

corps Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies great ...

of the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...

which provides the Australian Defence Force's

armour Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...

capability. Armour combines firepower, mobility, protection and networked situational awareness to generate shock action and

overmatch Overmatch is a concept in modern military thinking which prizes having overwhelming advantages over an adversary to a more significant margin than in traditional warfare. It is related to military superiority. Overmatch uses a military force's "ca ...

in close combat. Armour is an essential element of the

combined arms Combined arms is an approach to warfare War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme vio ...

approach that is employed by the Australian Army. The RAAC has its origins in the Australian Tank Corps, which was formed in 1928. The Australian Armoured Corps was formed on 9 July 1941 to administer those personnel whose primary function is to operate, instruct or manage Army's

Armoured Fighting Vehicles An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured cars ...

(AFV). As a result of the increasing

mechanisation Mechanization is the process of changing from working largely or exclusively by hand or with animals to doing that work with machinery. In an early engineering text a machine is defined as follows: In some fields, mechanization includes the ...

of the Army, the Armoured Corps absorbed the

Australian Light Horse Australian Light Horse were mounted troops with characteristics of both cavalry and mounted infantry, who served in the Second Boer War and World War I. During the inter-war years, a number of regiments were raised as part of Australia's part-ti ...

, Australia's Cavalry of World War One fame, on 8 May 1942. The Armoured Corps was granted the 'Royal' prefix in 1948 in recognition of its service during the Second World War. Today the RAAC provides administrative support to its members who perform the function of

mounted combat The first evidence of horses in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons. By 1600 BC, improved harness and chariot designs ...

in the Army. It has four Regular Army units and five Army Reserve units. The RAAC is the senior arms corps within the Army and the custodian of the customs and traditions of Australia's mounted soldiers.

Role

The role of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps is to locate, identify, destroy or capture the enemy, by day or night, in combination with other arms, using fire and manoeuvre.

Organisation

To perform this role and associated functions RAAC units are organised as either: Armoured Cavalry – contains one tank, two cavalry and support squadrons which provide mounted close combat, reconnaissance, surveillance and security to a Combat Brigade. Light Cavalry – contains light cavalry and protected mobility squadrons which provide mounted and dismounted reconnaissance, surveillance, security and protected mobility to a Combat Brigade. Until 2014, each regular regiment maintained a specific role, with 1st Armoured Regiment serving as the Australian Army's sole unit equipped with main battle tanks (MBTs), while 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) were equipped with ASLAV vehicles in the armoured reconnaissance role. Upon the implementation of

Plan Beersheba Plan Beersheba was a significant restructure of the Australian Army, announced in 2011. The process of implementing the organisational changes began in 2014, and was completed in 2017. Changes to the regular Army Under Plan Beersheba, the Army's ...

, these single roles were altered; each of the three regular regiments received a squadron of M1A1 Abrams MBTs, a squadron of M113 armoured personnel carriers and a squadron of ASLAVs and transitioned into the integrated armoured cavalry role.

Equipment

Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank during exercise Hamel 15

As at January 2020, RAAC units are primarily equipped with the following vehicle types: *

M1A1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern armored ground warfare and now one of the heaviest t ...

Integrated Management Situational Awareness (AIM SA) Abrams – the Abrams is Australia's

Main battle tank A main battle tank (MBT), also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver in many modern armies. Cold War-era development of more powerful engines, better suspension sys ...

(MBT), which equips the Regular Army regiments. * Australian Service Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) – the ASLAV is Australia's Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), which equips the Regular Army regiments. *

M113AS4 A huge number of M113 Armored Personnel Carrier variants have been created, ranging from infantry carriers to nuclear missile carriers. The M113 armored personnel carrier has become one of the most prolific armored vehicles of the second half of ...

– the M113AS4 is an upgraded M113 Armoured personnel carrier (APC) which equips the Regular Army regiment's tank squadrons in support roles. * M88A2 Hercules – the Hercules is Australia's

Armoured recovery vehicle An armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) is typically a powerful tank or armoured personnel carrier (APC) chassis modified for use during combat for military vehicle recovery (towing) or repair of battle-damaged, stuck, and/or inoperable armoured f ...

(ARV) which equips the Regular Army regiments. *

Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle } The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle or Infantry Mobility Vehicle is an Australian-built four-wheel drive armoured vehicle. The Bushmaster was primarily designed by the then government-owned Australian Defence Industries (ADI), and is cur ...

– the Bushmaster is Australia's protected mobility vehicle (PMV) used to provide protected lift by the Army Reserve regiments. * Mercedes Benz G-Wagon 6 × 6 is currently replacing the

Land Rover Perentie The Land Rover Perentie is a nickname for the Land Rover 110 produced by JRA Limited for the Australian Army, and part manufactured and assembled in Moorebank, New South Wales, during the 1980s and 1990s. There were two build contracts; the fir ...

versions in the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Vehicle (SRV) role in the Army Reserve regiments.

Modernisation

The Australian Army will replace or upgrade all of its AFV over the coming decade. The next generation of AFV will be delivered via a number of projects, these are: * Land 400 Phase Two: Will replace the ASLAV with a modern Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle and associated family of vehicles. This will be the Boxer multirole armoured fighting vehicle. * Land 400 Phase Three: This project will replace the M113AS4

armoured personnel carrier An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones. Since World War I, APCs have become a very common piece of military equipment around the world. Acc ...

and associated family of vehicles with an

Infantry fighting vehicle An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forc ...

capability which will likely be tracked and turreted with the ability to deploy a full section of infantry. A Request for Tender was released on 24 August 2018, calling for 400 vehicles in infantry fighting vehicle, command and control, joint fires, engineer reconnaissance, engineer section, ambulance, repair and recovery variants. In addition 17 Manoeuvre Support Vehicles are sought. * Land 907 Phase Two: This project will upgrade the M1A1 AIM SA main battle tank system to an

M1A2 The M1 Abrams is a List of main battle tanks by generation, third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern Armoured warfa ...

standard and upgrade the M88A2 armoured recovery vehicle system to a more capable variant. * Land 8160 Phase One: This project will deliver an armoured engineering system capability to Army. This may include armoured breaching, bridging and engineering systems.

Training

The School of Armour provides mounted combat training to soldiers in the Australian Army and selected individuals from abroad. It designs and executes both tactical and technical training for armoured crew who specialise in either the Armoured (MBT) or Cavalry (CRV) career streams as well as Armoured Mobility (APC) qualifications. Training at the School of Armour is conducted in the following wings: * Communications Wing * Corps Training Wing * Driving and Servicing Wing * Gunnery Wing * Tactics Wing * Combat Command Wing – tactics training to all of the Australian Army's junior combat officers. Both male and female soldiers and officers can and do serve within the RAAC as armoured crew.

Current units

Regular Army

* 1st Armoured Regiment – Armoured Cavalry * 2nd Cavalry Regiment – Armoured Cavalry * 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) – Armoured Cavalry *School of Armour – Training Regiment ** B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment – training support squadron within the School of Armour at the Combined Arms Training Centre *Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicle Systems, Army

Army Reserve

1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers The 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers is an active Australian Army Reserve Cavalry regiment. The regiment has its headquarters at Lancer Barracks in Parramatta, a suburb in Western Sydney, New South Wales. Lancer Barracks is the oldest Mili ...

– Light Cavalry (cavalry and protected mobility) * 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse – Light Cavalry (cavalry and protected mobility) * 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers – Light Cavalry (cavalry and protected mobility) * A Squadron, 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australia Mounted Rifles) – Light cavalry squadron * 10th Light Horse Regiment – Light cavalry (cavalry and protected mobility)

Inactive units

* 3rd Cavalry Regiment: Amalgamated with 4th Cavalry Regiment in 1981 to form 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment. *

4th Cavalry Regiment The 4th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry regiment, whose lineage is traced back to the mid-19th century. It was one of the most effective units of the Army against American Indians on the Texas frontier. Today, the regiment exis ...

: Amalgamated with 3rd Cavalry Regiment in 1981 to form 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment. *

6th New South Wales Mounted Rifles The 6th Light Horse Regiment was a mounted infantry regiment of the Australian Army during the First World War. The regiment was raised in September 1914, and assigned to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. The regiment fought against the forces of the ...

: Transferred as 6th New South Wales Mounted Rifles to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 1956, amalgamated into

Royal New South Wales Regiment The Royal New South Wales Regiment (RNSWR) is a reserve infantry regiment of the Australian Army based in the state of New South Wales. Organisation The regiment currently consists of four battalions: * 1st/19th Battalion; * 2nd/17th Battalion; ...

1960. * 7th/21st Australian Horse: Absorbed by 4th Battalion (Australian Rifles) in 1957, now part of the

. *

8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles (8th/13th VMR) was an armoured regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. Formed in 1948, the regiment initially operated M3 Grant medium tanks, but was later re-equipped with Centurion tanks in the late 1950 ...

: Reduced to an independent squadron in 1976, disbanded in 1991 and now forms part of 4th/19th Prince of Wales' Light Horse. * 15th Northern Rivers Lancers: Disbanded 1957, linked with 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers to form

Operational service

Australian soldiers aboard APCs during Operation Smithfield (AWM CUN660695VN)

An Australian Light Armored Vehicle angles itself into a defensive position to provide security for ground troops in Afghanistan

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

: 1940–41 *

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...

: 1941 *

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

: 1941 *

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

: 1941–42 * Egypt: 1942–43 *

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

: 1941–1945 *

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

: 1941–45 * Bougainville: 1944–45 *

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and eas ...

: 1944–45 *

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

: 1946–49 *

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

: 1965–71 *

East Timor East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...

: 1999–2010 *

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

: 2003–08 *

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

: 2006–2012

Notes

References

*Breen, Bob (2000). ''Mission Accomplished, East Timor: The Australian Defence Force Participation in the International Forces East Timor (INTERFET).'' Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. . * *Handel, P. (2003). ''Dust, Sand & Jungle: A History of Australian Armour During Training and Operations, 1927–1948'', Royal Australian Armoured Corps Museum, Puckapunyal. . *Hopkins, R.N.L (1978). ''Australian Armour: A History of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps 1927–1972.'' Royal Australian Armoured Corps Museum, Puckapunyal. . *Mckay, G. and Nicholls, G. (2001). ''Jungle Tracks- Australian Armour in Vietnam.'' Allen and Unwin, St. Leonards. . * * {{Australian Defence Force Australian armoured units

Armoured Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...

Military units and formations established in 1941 Australian army units with royal patronage 1941 establishments in Australia Nationstate armoured warfare branches