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The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army. It provides the armour capability of the British Army, with vehicles such as the Challenger 2 Tank and the Scimitar Reconnaissance Vehicle.

History

The RAC was created on 4 April 1939, just before World War II started, by combining the cavalry wing (cavalry units that had mechanised), and the Royal Tank Corps (which was thereupon renamed the Royal Tank Regiment within the new corps). As the war went on, many other units became mechanised and joined this corps. In 1944, the RAC absorbed the Reconnaissance Corps.

Units

The Royal Armoured Corps is divided into those regiments that operate main battle tanks (armoured regiments) and those that operate reconnaissance tanks (formation reconnaissance regiments). Of these, three regiments are designated as Dragoon Guards, two as Hussars, two as Lancers and one as Dragoons. The remaining two are the two regiments of the Royal Tank Regiment. In the regular army there are five armoured regiments and five formation reconnaissance regiments:

The 1st Royal Tank Regiment forms approximately two thirds of the regular establishment of the Joint CBRN Regiment.

The Household Cavalry Regiment (consisting of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals) is not part of the RAC; instead it is part of the Household Cavalry, which is classed as a corps in its own right. However, for operational purposes, the Household Cavalry Regiment is considered to be part of the RAC and constitutes the fifth formation reconnaissance regiment.

Deployments

Regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps are deployed primarily in the UK and Germany:
UK Regiments
  • Tidworth - Armoured Regiment (12 Mechanised Brigade)
  • Catterick - Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (19 Light Brigade)
  • Windsor - Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (1 Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade)
  • Swanton Morley - Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (1 Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade)
  • Honington - NBC Reconnaissance Regiment (1 Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade)
Overseas Regiments
  • Munster - 2 x Armoured Regiment (4 Armoured Brigade, 7 Armoured Brigade)
  • Osnabruck - Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (4 Armoured Brigade)
  • Fallingbostel - Armoured Regiment (7 Armoured Brigade)
  • Sennelager - Armoured Regiment (20 Armoured Brigade)
  • Hohne - Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (1st Armoured Division)

Bands

The Corps of Army Music is responsible for the administration and training of the two RAC bands:
  • The Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band - this band represents the Royal Tank Regiment and the regiments of dragoon guards, and was formed in 2006 by the amalgamation of the Band of the Dragoon Guards and the Royal Tank Regiment Cambrai Band.
  • The Light Cavalry Band - this band represents the regiments of dragoons, hussars and lancers, and was formed in 2006 by the amalgamation of the Band of the Hussars and Light Dragoons and the Band of the Royal Lancers.
  • In addition, there is a TA band within the RAC, the Regimental Band (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) of the Royal Yeomanry.

Reorganisation

The reorganisation of the army announced in 2004 led to significant changes to the Royal Armoured Corps. Reorganisation that began in 2003 would see three armoured regiments removed from Germany to the UK, with one re-roled as an FR regiment. In addition, three Challenger 2 squadrons will be converted to Interim Medium Armour Squadrons, while each FR regiment will gain a Command and Support Squadron.

Future Deployments

As part of the reorganisation, postings will be realigned:
UK Regiments
  • Catterick: Armoured Regiment (RDG) (4th Mechanised Brigade), Formation Reconaissance Regiment (QRL) (19th Light Brigade)
  • Tidworth: 2 x Armoured Regiment (2RTR, KRH), Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (QDG) (1st Mechanised Brigade, 12th Mechanised Brigade, 3rd Mechanised Division)
  • Windsor: Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (HCR)
  • Swanton Moreley: Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (LD)
  • Honington: NBC Reconnaissance Regiment (1RTR)
Overseas Regiments

Order of Precedence

Related Units

This unit is allied with the following:

See also

External link

British administrative corps

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Royal Armoured Corps".

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