Royal Australian Armoured Corps


The Royal Australian Armoured Corps is a corps of the Australian Army which provides the Australian Defence Force's armour capability. Armour combines firepower, mobility, protection and networked situational awareness to generate shock action and overmatch in close combat. Armour is an essential element of the combined arms 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. As a result of the increasing mechanisation of the Army, the Armoured Corps absorbed the Australian Light Horse, 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 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.

Equipment

As at January 2020, RAAC units are primarily equipped with the following vehicle types:
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:
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 or Cavalry career streams as well as Armoured Mobility qualifications. Training at the School of Armour is conducted in the following wings:
Both male and female soldiers and officers can and do serve within the RAAC as armoured crew.

Current units

Regular Army