Lyla Lindsey
The size and structure of the Australian Army have changed over time to reflect advancements in technology and tactics. The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) is the senior-most infantry regiment of the Australian Army and currently consists of seven battalions. The RAR is part of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, which is the parent corps for all infantry regiments in the Australian Army. The Australian Army is organised into three main elements: the Headquarters of the 1st Division, Special Operations Command, and Forces Command.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of main elements | Three |
| Elements that report to the Chief of Army | Headquarters of the 1st Division, Special Operations Command, and Forces Command |
| Responsibilities of Headquarters of the 1st Division | High-level training activities, capable of being deployed to command large-scale ground operations |
| Number of combat units permanently assigned to Headquarters of the 1st Division | None |
| Battalions | Seven |
| Deployment locations | Japan, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, Rwanda, Cambodia, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq, and Afghanistan |
| Total personnel | Approximately 85,000 |
| Total casualties | 693 killed and over 3,000 wounded |
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What You'll Learn
The Royal Australian Regiment
The Royal Australian Infantry's role is to seek out and engage the enemy, capturing or neutralising them, and to seize and hold strategic positions. They are trained to operate in diverse conditions, regardless of season, weather, or terrain.
The regiment's structure has been periodically adjusted to reflect changes in technology and tactics, ensuring that it remains a versatile and adaptable force within the Australian Army. The Royal Australian Regiment has received theatre and battle honours for its contributions in Korea, Vietnam, East Timor, and Iraq.
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Royal Australian Infantry Corps
The Royal Australian Infantry Corps (RA Inf) is the parent corps for all infantry regiments of the Australian Army. It was established on 14 December 1948, with its Royal Corps status conferred by His Majesty King George VI. At her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II became Colonel-in-Chief of the corps.
The role of the infantry is to be the major combat element of the Army. This role demands high standards of mental and physical toughness, battle craft, and determination from both soldiers and officers, who are expected to lead from the front.
Major components of the RA Inf include the various battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment and the six state-based Australian infantry regiments, such as the Royal New South Wales Regiment. The various Regional Force Surveillance and Special Forces units of the Army are also part of the corps. The School of Infantry (SOI) is located at Singleton, New South Wales, and forms part of the Combined Arms Training Centre. The "Head of Corps – Infantry" is usually a Brigadier and is the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Australian Regiment.
The basic unit of the Australian Army is the Infantry Battalion, which is the smallest unit capable of independent operations. It is exceedingly rare for Australia to deploy a smaller group as a task force. Infantry Battalions are supported by armour, light armoured reconnaissance, artillery, aviation, and engineering. There are three types of infantry battalion: mechanized infantry, motorized infantry, and light infantry. Mechanized infantry are equipped with heavy vehicles, the primary vehicle being the M113AS3/4. Motorized infantry use the Bushmaster IMV, and light infantry use walk or trucks for ground mobility.
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Royal Australian Artillery
The Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), also known as the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, is a regiment of the Australian Army. The RAA's role is to maximise the combat power of the Australian Defence Force through offensive support coordination, indirect firepower, surveillance, target acquisition, and ground-based air defence. The regiment consists of Regular and Reserve units.
The RAA is descended from the original colonial artillery units prior to Australia's federation. Australia's first guns were landed from HMS Sirius, and a small earthen redoubt was built near the present-day Macquarie Place to command the approaches to Sydney Cove. These and subsequent defences, as well as field guns, were operated by marines and the soldiers of infantry regiments stationed in Australia.
During the First World War, the RAA raised 60 field, 20 howitzer, and two siege batteries, along with heavy and medium trench mortar batteries. Today, the RAA includes various regiments and batteries, such as the 1st Regiment, 4th Regiment, 8th/12th Regiment, 16th Regiment, and 20th Regiment, which are attached to different brigades and located in different parts of Australia. The School of Artillery, located in Puckapunyal, central Victoria, is the home and training establishment of the RAA corps, providing modern training facilities and supporting courses for RAA personnel.
The size of a regiment in the Australian Army can vary depending on the specific regiment and its organisational structure. The RAA regiments have different attachments and equipment, contributing to their operational capabilities. The 4th Regiment, for example, is equipped with AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers, while the 16th Regiment is the sole air defence regiment, equipped with surface-to-air missiles and radar systems. The 20th Regiment is specialised in surveillance and target acquisition, employing tactical and small unmanned aerial vehicles.
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Cavalry Regiment
The Australian Army is organised into three main elements that report to the Chief of Army: the Headquarters of the 1st Division, Special Operations Command, and Forces Command. The Forces Command is responsible for overseeing their readiness and preparing them for operations, and most of the Army's units report to this command.
One such unit is the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2 CAV), an armoured cavalry regiment of the Australian Army. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment is the second most senior regiment in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC). The RAAC's role is to locate, identify, capture, and destroy the enemy by day or night, in combination with other arms, using fire and manoeuvre.
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment was formed in 1965 as the "1st Cavalry Regiment" and was based in Holsworthy until 1992, when it was moved to Darwin in the Northern Territory. In 1970, the regiment was redesignated as the "2nd Cavalry Regiment" to differentiate it from the 1st Armoured Regiment. The regiment is currently based in Townsville, Queensland, as the armoured component of the 3rd Brigade.
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment has been involved in various international operations, including in East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The regiment has played a key role in Australian military operations due to its re-equipment with the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV).
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Australian Army's structure
The Australian Army is organised into three main elements: the Headquarters of the 1st Division, Special Operations Command, and Forces Command. Most Army units report to Forces Command, which is responsible for overseeing their readiness and preparing them for operations. The Headquarters of the 1st Division is responsible for high-level training activities and can be deployed to command large-scale ground operations.
The Army's structure has changed periodically to reflect changes in technology and tactics. The Army is made up of corps, which are administrative groupings of soldiers with a common function to promote pride and esprit de corps.
The Army's order of battle describes its organisational structure at the battalion and independent company/squadron level. The following are some examples of the Army's units and their headquarters locations:
- 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Combat Signal Regiment (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Robertson Barracks, NT)
- 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (Robertson Barracks, NT)
Members of the Australian Army also serve within joint units of the Australian Defence Force, which fall outside the direct command of the Australian Army.
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Frequently asked questions
The size of a regiment in the Australian Army varies. The Royal Australian Regiment, the senior-most infantry regiment, currently consists of seven battalions. However, its size has fluctuated over time, initially starting as a three-battalion regiment in 1948.
The largest regiment in terms of personnel is the Royal Australian Regiment, with approximately 85,000 people having served in it.
The Australian Army is organised into three main elements: the Headquarters of the 1st Division, Special Operations Command, and Forces Command. While the exact number of regiments is unclear, there are several regiments within these elements, including multiple infantry regiments and the Royal Australian Artillery.
