1st Royal Tank Regiment

The 1st Royal Tank Regiment (1 RTR) is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps and operationally under 12th Mechanized Brigade.



Organisation
The regiment has four squadrons (A, D, G, and H) and a HQ squadron.

History
It was originally formed as 1st (Light) Battalion, Royal Tank Corps in 1934. In 1993, it amalgamated with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment without change of title. It incorporated both the original regiment's traditional recruiting areas of Merseyside and Scotland. The new regiment also adopted the strong Scottish connections of the 4th RTR, taking on the former regiment's pipes and drums, which wear the Hunting Rose tartan.

The Regiment Colours symbolise the phrase "From the Mud(brown), Through the blood(red) to the green fields beyond." In 1999, two squadrons were split off as part of the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Regiment (CBRN) amalgamating with No. 27 Squadron, RAF Regiment, and two squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry.

In December 2011 the Regiment handed over its responsibility for CBRN to the RAF Regiment. 1 RTR is now back under the command of Army HQ. In 2012 elements of the unit deployed to Afghanistan in various roles. In 2014 the regiment will merge with 2 RTR and form "The Royal Tank Regiment" (RTR). The new regiment will be based at Aliwal Barracks, Tidworth and be one of 3 armoured regiments equipped with the Challenger II tank.

Associated Cadet Forces

 * Mildenhall Detachment of the Suffolk Army Cadet Force. Mildenhall ACF Website
 * Cadbury Heath Detachment of the Bristol Army Cadet Force.