The subsequent years put things in their place. Suffice it to say that the first joint exercises between tanks and infantry were held in 1959, and the first exercises in the jungle (in Queensland) in 1960. Even though the Australian military actively fought against Communist partisan movements in Malaysia in the 50s, these operations had no room for tanks, which put the value of such tanks being used by Australia into question. The 1st Armoured Regiment did not take part in the Korean War, and its role in the armed forces remained vague for some time. These vehicles were spread out between the 1st Armoured Regiment, mechanized cavalry units (both regular and reserve), and the armoured forces training center. Before the 1960s the Australian army received 117 (or 143 according to some sources) Centurion Mk.3 tanks, as well as engineering vehicles on its chassis: 4 bulldozers, 4 bridgelayers, and 6 ARVs. After training and trials, 39 vehicles finally entered the 1st Armoured Regiment in the summer of 1952, which allowed the formation of the 2nd and 3rd (B and C) squadrons and put the unit into a battle ready state. Supplies of Centurion Mk.3 tanks began in 1951. Australian infantry received experience in fighting alongside Centurions, albeit British ones. The regiment was not considered fit for battle during the first few years of its life, which allowed it to avoid fighting in the Korean War, although several officers did make it to the front as a part of other units. These tanks were seen as a temporary measure, and talks to equip Australia with new Centurion MBTs began in 1949. The 1st Armoured Regiment consisted of only the A squadron armed with Churchill Mk.VII infantry tanks. Infantry of the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment on a British Centurion tank. In addition, armoured vehicles were included in a number of mechanized cavalry regiments and reserve formations. The core of the RAAC was the 1st Armoured Regiment, formed in 1949 chiefly out of the experienced 4th Tank Brigade.
#VIETNAM TANK BATTLES PROFESSIONAL#
This was connected with the optimization of the armed forces and the reforms meant to create a small professional army that was always ready for battle. The Corps was radically reduced in size after 1945. Australian regiments and brigades fought against Germans and Italians in North Africa, with the Vichy French in the Middle East, and with the Japanese in the Pacific. Large units were trained and fought on the front lines. Australia only acquired a significant number of vehicles during WWII.
Before WWII it was a «virtual» branch of the service, nearly devoid of vehicles and individual formations. The Royal Australian Armoured Corps existed under various names since 1927. The fate of Australian Centurion Mk.5/1 tanks in the Vietnamese jungle was not a bright one, but the tanks and their crews did their job honestly. Even rarely is it mentioned that Australia sent its tank forces to the front, armed with British Centurion tanks.
The participation of Australian forces in the fighting in South Vietnam in 1965-1971 is a relatively rarely explored part of history.
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