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| 2/6th Armoured Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 2/6th Armoured Regiment |
| Dates | 1941–1945 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Armoured |
| Size | Regiment |
| Garrison | Victoria |
| Battles | New Guinea campaign, Borneo campaign (1945), Battle of Buna–Gona |
| Notable commanders | William Slim, Leslie Morshead, Thomas Blamey |
2/6th Armoured Regiment was an Australian armoured regiment raised during the Second World War that served in the Pacific theatre, providing tank support and reconnaissance during campaigns in New Guinea, New Britain and Borneo (Kalimantan). The regiment formed part of the Australian Second Australian Imperial Force formations and operated in coordination with formations such as the 7th Division (Australia), 9th Division (Australia), and elements of the 1st Australian Armoured Division during combined-arms operations against the Empire of Japan.
The regiment was raised in 1941 in Melbourne under the umbrella of the Second Australian Imperial Force and was organised according to Australian armoured doctrine influenced by the British Army and the United States Army. Initial structure included headquarters, armoured squadrons, maintenance and signals troops drawn from Victorian militia units such as the Victorian Scottish Regiment and personnel from the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. Command arrangements linked the unit to divisional headquarters including the 6th Division (Australia) and corps-level staff like those at I Corps (Australia), integrating with corps assets from the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force for amphibious and close-support tasks.
Deployed to the Southwest Pacific, the regiment supported operations in the New Guinea campaign and fought in actions connected to the Battle of Buna–Gona, providing direct fire against Japanese defensive positions alongside infantry brigades such as the 18th Brigade (Australia) and 21st Brigade (Australia). Elements later took part in the Aitape–Wewak campaign and the Borneo campaign (1945), supporting landings conducted by the Australian 7th Division and coordinating with units like the 2/14th Battalion and the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion. The regiment operated in concert with Allied formations, liaising with the United States Sixth Army, Australian engineers from the Royal Australian Engineers, and artillery units including the 2/4th Field Regiment (Australia) during combined operations such as amphibious assaults near Balikpapan and advances toward strategic points like Lae and Saidor.
Initially equipped with British-designed tanks influenced by the Matilda II, the regiment later received American designs including the M3 Lee and the M3 Stuart for reconnaissance, supplemented by Churchill-pattern armoured vehicles through lend-lease arrangements from the United States and cooperation with the United Kingdom. Specialist vehicles included armoured personnel carriers used in coordination with units like the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion and armoured recovery vehicles maintained by workshops tied to the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Support vehicles included Studebaker US6 trucks and amphibious craft such as Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel used in landings with the Royal Australian Navy.
Leadership came from officers who had served in interwar formations and in campaigns alongside commanders associated with the New Guinea campaign and higher command figures like Thomas Blamey, Leslie Morshead and visiting British observers linked to Bernard Montgomery's staff. Non-commissioned officers were drawn from decorated units including veterans from the Western Desert campaign and the militia, and the regiment incorporated personnel who had served at training establishments such as Puckapunyal and Royal Military College, Duntroon. The unit worked with support elements from the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and communication teams trained at the Signal Training Centre (Australia).
Training followed combined-arms doctrine influenced by the British Armoured Corps manuals and tactical lessons from the Battle of El Alamein and was adapted for jungle warfare drawing on experiences from New Guinea and discussions within the Imperial War Cabinet and Australian high command. Exercises took place at Victorian facilities including Swan Island (Victoria) and Puckapunyal, and doctrine emphasized coordination with infantry battalions such as the 2/12th Battalion (Australia), engineers, and air support from the Royal Australian Air Force squadrons based at Townsville. Jungle tank tactics were developed in liaison with units experienced in river crossing and amphibious operations like the 2/5th Commando Squadron.
Members of the regiment received campaign recognition in decorations issued during the Order of Battle updates for the South West Pacific Area operations, with individual personnel mentioned in despatches and awarded honours aligned with Australian awards such as the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Cross. Unit contributions were recognised in campaign histories chronicled alongside those of formations like the 7th Division (Australia) and cited in postwar records held by institutions including the Australian War Memorial and the National Archives of Australia.
Following the end of hostilities with the Surrender of Japan and the implementation of postwar demobilisation policies under leaders such as Ben Chifley and administrators from the Department of National Service (Australia), the regiment was disbanded in 1945. Its legacy influenced the postwar Royal Australian Armoured Corps organisation and armoured doctrine taught at the Royal Military College, Duntroon and training centres like Puckapunyal, and its battle honours appear in collections at the Australian War Memorial and regimental histories recorded by veteran associations such as the Returned and Services League of Australia.
Category:Armoured regiments of Australia Category:Military units and formations established in 1941 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945