Royal Tank Regiment

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Tank Corps
Royal Tank Corps
Royal Tank Regiment
150px
Cap badge of the Royal Tank Regiment
Active 28 July 1917–present
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Armoured
Role Armoured Regiment (plus CBRN AS&R Squadron)
Size One regiment
Part of Royal Armoured Corps
Garrison/HQ Home Headquarters—Bovington
Armoured Regiment—Tidworth
CBRN Area Survey and Reconnaissance Squadron—Warminster
Motto Fear Naught
March Quick: My Boy Willie
Slow: The Royal Tank Regiment Slow March
Anniversaries First World War
*Cambrai, 20 November
Second World War
Korean War
Iraqi War
Battle honours see Battle Honours
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief HM The Queen
Colonel-Commandant Major General JR Patterson
Notable
commanders		 Hugh Elles
Percy Hobart
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash 75px
Tartan Hunting Rose (Pipes and Drums kilts and plaids)
Arm Badge Tank
Abbreviation RTR

The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) is the oldest tank unit in the world, being formed by the British Army in 1916 during the Great War.[1] Today it is an armoured regiment of the British Army. Formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps, it is part of the Royal Armoured Corps.

First World War

The formation of the Royal Tank Regiment followed the invention of the tank. Tanks were first used at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.[2] At that time the six tank companies were grouped as the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC). In November 1916 the eight companies then in existence were each expanded to form battalions (still identified by the letters A to H) and designated the Heavy Branch MGC; another seven battalions, I to O, were formed by January 1918, when all the battalion were changed to numbered units. On 28 July 1917 the Heavy Branch was separated from the rest of the Corps by Royal Warrant and given official status as the Tank Corps.[3] The formation of new battalions continued and by December 1918, 26 had been created though there were only 25 battalions equipped with tanks, as the 17th had converted to armoured cars in April 1918. The first commander of the Tank Corps was Hugh Elles. The Corps saw much action at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.[3]

Interwar period

After the war, the Tank Corps was trimmed down to a central depot and four battalions: the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th battalions.[4] On 18 October 1923,[5] it was officially given the title Royal making it the Royal Tank Corps (RTC) by Colonel-in-Chief King George V. It was at this time that the motto, "Fear Naught", the black beret, and the unit badge were adopted.[4] In 1933, the 6th Battalion, RTC was formed in Egypt by combining the personnel of the 3rd and 5th Regular Army Armoured Car Companies. In 1934, the 1st (Light) Battalion, RTC was formed in England with personnel drawn from the 2nd, 3rd & 5th Battalions.[4] With the preparations for war in the late 1930s, two more Regular Army Battalions were formed: the 7th in 1937 and the 8th in 1938. In the latter half of 1938, six TA Infantry Battalions were converted to Tank Battalions; with a further six created in 1939 following the "duplication" of the TA.[4]

During the early 1920s, the Tank Corps was augmented by 20 Armoured Car Companies: twelve Regular Army, created using MGC elements; and eight Territorial Army (TA) created by the reduction and conversion of Yeomanry Regiments. Eight of the Regular Army Companies were later converted into independent Light Tank Companies; all twelve Companies had been disbanded by the outbreak of the Second World War.

Territorial Army Battalions of the Royal Tank Corps Origin
40th (The King's) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps conversion of 7th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment
41st (Oldham) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps conversion of 10th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
42nd (7th (23rd London Regiment, East Surrey Regiment) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps conversion of 7th (23rd London) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
43rd (6th (City) Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps conversion of 6th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
44th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps conversion of 6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
45th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps conversion of 7th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
46th (Liverpool Welsh) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps duplicate of 40th RTC
47th (Oldham) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps duplicate of 41st RTC
48th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps duplicate of 42nd RTC
49th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps duplicate of 43rd RTC
50th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps duplicate of 44th RTC
51st (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps duplicate of 45th RTC

On 4 April 1939, the Royal Tank Corps was renamed the Royal Tank Regiment and became a wing of the newly created Royal Armoured Corps. The eight Yeomanry Armoured Car Companies of the RTR were activated and transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps. Before the Second World War, Royal Tank Corps recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall. They initially enlisted for six years with the colours and a further six years with the reserve. They trained at the Royal Tank Corps Depot at Bovington Camp, Dorset for about eight months.[4]

Second World War

Men of the Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa, 1941
Centurion tank in Korea, May 1953.
The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment with the MBT Challenger 2 during live fire training exercises in 2004

At the outbreak of war, the regiment consisted of 20 battalions, 8 regular and 12 territorial.

During the course of the war, four "hostilities-only" battalions were formed: the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th. 11 RTR formed part of 79th Armoured Division (a specialist group operating vehicles known as "Hobart's Funnies"), initially equipped with "Canal Defence Light" tanks, it converted to "Buffalo" (the British service name for the US Landing Vehicle Tracked) not long after D-Day and participated in the assault crossing of the Rhine. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was ferried across the Rhine in a Buffalo from 'C' Squadron, 11RTR.[13]

The Regiment's numerous units took part in countless battles in the Second World War, including the Battle of Dunkirk, El Alamein, Italian Campaign, Burma Campaign and D-Day landings of 6 June 1944. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery would frequently wear the regiment's beret, with his Field Marshal's badge sewn on next to the regimental cap badge, as it was more practical whilst travelling on a tank than either a formal peaked hat or the Australian slouch hat he previously wore.[14]

Post-war period

After service in the Korean War, the RTR was reduced through various amalgamations, firstly, in 1959-60:[15]

  • 3 RTR and 6 RTR amalgamated as 3 RTR
  • 4 RTR and 7 RTR amalgamated as 4 RTR
  • 5 RTR and 8 RTR amalgamated as 5 RTR

In 1969, 5RTR was disbanded, while, in 1992 under Options for Change, 4RTR amalgamated with 1RTR, and 3RTR amalgamated with 2RTR.[15]

On 2 August 2014, 1RTR and 2RTR amalgamated at Carter Barracks Bulford and for the first time in its history the Royal Tank Regiment is a "Single Battalion" Regiment. The new Regiment is titled the Royal Tank Regiment.

The Royal Tank Regiment has continued to see action including missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Elements of 1RTR were deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and both regiments were involved in the invasion of Iraq, with the 2RTR battlegroup involved in taking Basra. Both Regiments have continued deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.[15]

Current status

The regiment is equipped with Challenger 2 tanks and based at Tidworth and slated to be part of the Reaction Force, coming under 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade.[16][17] Unlike the other Type 56 Challenger 2 Regiments, the RTR has an integrated CBRN reconnaissance squadron operating the Fuchs reconnaissance vehicle. Following amalgamation, the regiment comprises six squadrons:[18]

  • AJAX - Challenger 2 armoured squadron
  • BADGER - Challenger 2 armoured squadron
  • CYCLOPS - Challenger 2 armoured squadron
  • DREADNAUGHT - Command and reconnaissance squadron
  • EGYPT - Headquarters squadron
  • FALCON - CBRN reconnaissance squadron
  • Challenger 2 Tank MOD 45149095.jpg

    Challenger 2

  • Scimitar Light Tank MOD 45149231.jpg

    Scimitar

  • Fuchs

Battle honours

Royal Tank Regiment memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The battle honours are:[19]

The Great War

The Second World War

  • North-West Europe 1940

Arras Counter Attack, Calais 1940, St. Omer-La Bassée, Somme

Sidi Barrani, Beda Fomm, Sidi Suleiman, Tobruk 1941, Sidi Rezegh 1941, Belhamed, Gazala, Cauldron, Knightsbridge, Defence of Alamein Line, Alam el Halfa, El Alamein, Mareth, Akarit, Fondouk, El Kourzia, Medjez Plain, Tunis

Primosole Bridge, Gerbini, Adrano

Sangro, Salerno, Volturno Crossing, Garigliano Crossing, Anzio, Advance to Florence, Gothic Line, Coriano, Lamone Crossing, Rimini Line, Argenta Gap

Odon, Caen, Bourguébus Ridge, Mont Pincon, Falaise, Nederrijn, Scheldt, Venlo Pocket, Rhineland, Rhine, Bremen

Abyssinia 1940, Greece 1941, Burma 1942

Post-war years

Korea 1951–53

Al Basrah, Iraq 2003[20]

Colonels-Commandant

Colonels-Commandant have been:[21]

Name Colonel Commandant Representative
Major General Sir John Capper KCB KCVO 1917–1923 (Director General)
Major General Sir John Capper KCB KCVO 1923–1934
Major General Sir Ernest Swinton KBE CB DSO 1934–1938 1934–1938
Field Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd GCB KCMG LLD ADC 1934–1939
General Sir Hugh Elles KCB KCMG KCVO DSO 1934–1945 1939
Major General G M Lindsay CB CMG DSO 1938–1947 1940–1943
Lieutenant General Sir Charles Broad KCB DSO 1939–1948 1944–1947
Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein KG GCB DSO DL 1939–1948 1944–1947
Major General Sir Percy Hobart KBE CB DSO MC 1947–1951 1948–1951
General Sir John Crocker GCB KBE DSO MC 1949–1961
Major General N W Duncan CB CBE DSO 1952–1959 1952–1957
Major General H R B Foote VC CB DSO 1957–1964 1958–1961
Lieutenant General Sir Harold Pyman KCB CBE DSO 1959–1965
Major General H M Liardet CB CBE DSO DL 1961–1967 1962–1967
Major General Sir Alan Jolly CB CBE DSO 1965–1968
General Sir Michael Carver GCB CBE DSO MC ADC 1968–1973 1970–1971
Major General P R C Hobart CB DSO OBE MC 1968–1978 1971–1974
General Sir Richard Ward CB DSO MC 1970–1976 1974–1976
Lieutenant General Sir Allan Taylor KBE MC 1973–1980
Major General J G R Allen CB 1976–1981 1977–1980
Major General R L C Dixon CB MC 1978–1983 1982–1983
Lieutenant General Sir Richard Lawson KCB DSO MC 1980–1982 1980–1982
Major General I H Baker CBE 1981–1986
Major General R M Jerram MBE 1982–1988 1983–1985
General Sir Antony Walker KCB 1983–1987 1985–1991
Major General Sir Laurence New CB CBE 1986–1992
General Sir Jeremy Blacker KCB 1988–1994
Name Deputy Colonel Commandant Colonel Commandant
Major General R W M McAfee CB 1993–1994 1995–1999
Brigadier A C I Gadsby 1994–2000
Lieutenant General A P Ridgway CB CBE 1995–1999 1999–2006
Lieutenant General A D Leakey CMG CBE 1999–2006 2006–2010
Major General P Gilchrist CB 2000–2008
Major General C M Deverell MBE 2006–2010 2010–2015
Brigadier S Caraffi MBE ADC 2008–2010
Brigadier P J Allison 2010–2015

Traditions

The official regimental motto is Fear Naught. The regimental colours are Brown, Red and Green. When it was first formed, the Tank Corps had no distinctive colours. Nothing was done about it until just before the Battle of Cambrai in 1917 when General Elles, wanting some distinguishing mark for his tank, went into a shop to buy material for a flag. Although stocks were small, the General bought some lengths of silk-brown, red and green. The silk was sewn together and was flown from his tank 'Hilda' in which he led the Tank Corps into battle. The colours typified the struggle of the Corps - 'From mud, through blood to the green fields beyond'. This most apt interpretation of the colours was suggested by Colonel Fuller. The flag is flown with the green uppermost.

Uniform

The Uniform of the Royal Tank Regiment is unique in many ways to the rest of the Royal Armoured Corps and British Army:

The black beret

Much of the uniform and equipment of soldiers during the First World War was quite impractical for use inside a tank. In particular, the vision apertures in a tank were so small that it was necessary to keep the eyes very close to them in order to get even a limited vision. Thus, any headdress with a peak was entirely unsuitable. In May 1918, General Elles and Colonel Fuller were discussing the future of the Tank Corps and its uniform and General Elles tried on a beret of the 70th Chasseurs Alpins who were billeted nearby. A black beret was selected as it would not show oil stains. No change in uniform was possible during the war, but after a prolonged argument with the War Office, the black beret was approved by King George V on 5 March 1924. The black beret remained the exclusive headdress of the Royal Tank Corps until its practical value was recognised by others and its use extended to the majority of the Royal Armoured Corps in 1940. On the introduction of the blue beret in 1949, the Royal Tank Regiment reclaimed its right to the exclusive use of the black beret, which may not be worn by any other Regiment or Corps with the exception of the Berkshire and Westminster Dragoons Squadrons of The Royal Yeomanry.[22]

Sleeve badge

The sleeve badge of a First World War Mk 1 tank preceded the formation of the Royal Tank Corps when it was worn by the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps.[23] Authorised on 7 May 1917, it is still worn today.[24]

The ash plant

During the First World War, walking sticks were often carried by officers. Such sticks came to have a new and more important use with the introduction of tanks which often became 'bogged' on battlefields, particularly in Flanders. Officers of the Tank Corps used these sticks to probe the ground in front of their tanks testing for firmness as they went forward. Often the commanders led their tanks into action on foot. To commemorate this, officers of the Regiment carry ash plant sticks instead of the short cane customary to other arms.[22]

Black coveralls

The wearing of black overalls is a custom reserved to the Regiment by Material Regulations for the Army, volume 3, Pamphlet No 4 (Code 13251). It stems from the Royal Review held at Aldershot in the presence of King George V on 13 July 1935 on which occasion black overalls were worn on parade by all ranks of the Royal Tanks Corps. The practice lapsed during the Second World War, but was re-introduced in the 1950s.[22]

Order of precedence

Preceded by Cavalry Order of Precedence Succeeded by
Last in the Cavalry
Order of Precedence

Alliances

  •  France: 501 Régiment de Chars de Combat (Bond of Friendship)

Affiliated Yeomanry

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Forty & Livesey 2012, p. 20
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Crow, Duncan. British and Commonwealth Armoured Formations 1919-46 (Profile Publications Ltd, Great Bookham, no date), p.2.
  6. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 153
  7. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 151
  8. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 195
  9. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 200
  10. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 201
  11. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 202
  12. ↑ Joslen 1990, p. 203
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Alderton, G L D Cap Badges of the British Army 1939-45 The History Press, 15 January 2014
  24. ↑ p.37 Marrion, Robert The British Army 1914-18 Osprey Publishing, 1978

Bibliography

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External links

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