The 12th Armoured Regiment was an armoured regiment of the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia. It is 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 ...

, which served during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The regiment was formed in May 1942 as part of the 6th Australian Armoured Brigade. It was originally a Citizens Military Force unit which was converted from the 18th Motor Regiment, formerly the 18th Machine Gun Regiment and previously the 18th Light Horse Regiment (Adelaide Lancers).

History

The 12th Armoured Regiment was formed from the 18th Motor Regiment and was transferred from the Australian Light Horse to the Australian Armoured Corps on 8 May 1942. The regiment, along with the 13th and 14th Armoured Regiments, 9th Motor Regiment and 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, was allocated to the newly-raised 6th Armoured Brigade, itself part of the newly-converted 2nd Armoured Division. The 12th Armoured Regiment was initially based in

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

. In July 1942, the regiment moved to Puckapunyal with the rest of the 6th Armoured Brigade. At the Armoured Fighting Vehicles School the regiment conducted Officer and Senior NCO leadership and tactics course, prior to conducting specialised training in driving and maintenance, gunnery and wireless for each squadron. The regiment trained on

M3 Grant The M3 Lee, officially Medium Tank, M3, was an American medium tank used during World War II. The turret was produced in two different forms, one for US needs and one modified to British requirements to place the radio next to the commander. I ...

medium tanks and M3 Stuart light tanks, with support elements equipped with a range of carriers, trucks and weapons. Upon completion of elementary training, the regiment conducted squadron and regimental exercises in the Seymour district. At the completion of these manoeuvres the 12th Armoured Regiment, and the 6th Armoured Brigade in general, was at a high standard of training and was well equipped at close to war establishment. The unit achieved AIF status, with at least 65% of its members volunteering for overseas service. However, by December 1942 the strategic threat to Australia had lessened as the Japanese advance had been halted following the battles of the

Coral Sea The Coral Sea () is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia, and classified as an Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia, interim Australian bioregion. The Coral Sea extends down t ...

and

Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomons by area and the second- ...

, and the Kokoda Track campaign. Consequently, it was assessed that the large numbers of armoured units created for the defence of Australia were no longer required, and the 2nd Armoured Division was ordered to disband. While elements of the 6th Armoured Brigade were reallocated to other divisions, the 12th Armoured Regiment was disbanded on 13 February 1943.

Commanding officers

* Lieutenant Colonel H.E. Nolte (November 1942 – February 1943)

Notes

{{reflist Armoured and cavalry regiments of the Australian Army Military units and formations established in 1942 1942 establishments in Australia Military units and formations disestablished in 1943