1st Armoured Division (Australia)

1st Armoured Division
1st Armoured Division M3 Grant tanks in June 1942.
Active	1941–43
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Armoured
Size	Division
Battle honours	None
Commanders
Notable commanders	John Northcott Horace Robertson

The 1st Armoured Division was an armoured formation of the Australian Army, raised in 1941 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War II. While the Division was originally to be deployed to North Africa in late 1941, it was retained in Australia following the outbreak of the Pacific War. The 1st Armoured Division formed a key element of Australia's defences against a feared Japanese invasion and was disbanded in Western Australia in September 1943.

The decision to form the 1st Armoured Division was inspired by the success of mass tank tactics in Europe during the early stages of World War II. The Australian War Cabinet approved the formation of an Armoured Division in July 1940, and 1st Armoured Division was established on 1 July 1941 under the command of Major General John Northcott. The Australian Armoured Corps was established at the same time, with the corps being formally gazetted on 9 July 1941.

Upon its formation the 1st Armoured Division was established with two armoured brigades – the 1st and 2nd – each of three armoured regiments. These were supported by various corps troops including an armoured car regiment, a motor regiment which had been established from a light horse regiment, engineers, a field artillery regiment, an anti-tank battery and a logistics support group. On paper, each armoured regiment was to be equipped with 10 scout cars, 46 cruiser tanks, and six support tanks; while the motor regiment was to be established with 14 scout cars and 44 Universal Carriers, and the armoured car regiment 12 scout cars and 58 armoured cars.