Royal Australian Armoured Corps

Australian Armoured Corps
Royal Australian Armoured Corps
Emblem of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps
Active9 July 1941 – present
CountryAustralia
BranchArmour
TypeCorps
RoleMounted Combat
Size3 regular regiments
5 reserve regiments and a training unit
Part ofAustralian Army
Garrison/HQPuckapunyal
Nickname(s)'The Black Hats'
MarchRadetzky March, Opus Number 228 by Johann Strauss Senior
Anniversaries9th of July 1941
EquipmentArmoured Fighting Vehicles
Commanders
Colonel in ChiefThe King
Representative Honorary ColonelMajor General Craig Orme DSC, AM and CSC
Head of CorpsBrigadier Chris Gardiner
Corps Sergeant MajorWarrant Officer Class 1 Jamie Adams
Insignia
RAAC Colour patch

The Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) is an administrative corps of the Australian Army. It provides the Australian Defence Force's Armour capability, which performs the function of mounted combat. 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.[1]

The RAAC is the senior arms corps within the Army and the custodian of the customs and traditions of Australia's mounted soldiers.[2] The members of the corps are Army's experts in the theory and practice of armoured warfare and operation of armoured fighting vehicles (AFV). While all RAAC members are trained in the technical and tactical employment of armour, they specialise in either the Armoured or Cavalry career streams. Both male and female soldiers and officers serve within the RAAC as armoured vehicle crew. The corps includes both full-time Regular and part-time Reserve units and members. The RAAC provides policy guidance, trade management representation and administrative support for its members.

  1. ^ Purdy, Leo (28 June 2021). "Tanks: In Defence". Australian Defence Magazine. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  2. ^ Dennis (et al) 2008, p. 461.