Royal Armoured Corps

British regiment formed 1939, when it consisted of 18 cavalry regiments and all the units of the Royal Tank Corps (later renamed the Royal Tank Regiment). Most of these cavalry regiments had already been mechanized, and their incorporation in the RAC confirmed the permanent substitution of the internal-combustion engine for the horse.

History Strictly, the history of the RAC begins in 1939, but its existence is due to the tank and armoured car, which had records dating from before World War I, and indeed several of the regiments now forming part of it first saw service more than 250 years ago. In 1927 an ‘Armoured Force’ was formed on Salisbury Plain, made up of a reconnaissance group of tankettes and armoured cars, a main group of about 50 medium tanks, supporting artillery, a machine-gun battalion, and Royal Engineers and signal services, but not all armoured. This force was the first armoured formation, and on its work were founded the principles in use throughout the RAC in later years.

Conversion of cavalry regiments The conversion of the 11th Hussars and the 12th Lancers 1928–29 into a ‘cavalry armoured car regiment’ was the forerunner of wholesale conversion ten years later, when only the Household Cavalry, 1st Royal Dragoons (converted into an armoured car regiment during World War II), and Scots Greys remained horsed cavalry. The formation of the RAC was announced immediately after the conversion of 1928–29, thus concentrating all the armoured units of the Army into one corps. The ten-year delay was due to constantly changing tank design and tactics, parliamentary refusal to incur heavy military expenditure, and prejudice in favour of the horse.

When the bulk of the cavalry regiments were eventually converted, some were mechanized as light tank regiments and some as ‘mechanized divisional cavalry regiments’. The latter performed the role of the old horsed divisional cavalry: primarily that of reconnaissance and holding ground for short periods and, for these duties, they were equipped with light tanks and scout carriers. After the Dunkirk evacuation 1940 these divisional cavalry regiments were not reformed as such. The fact that no invasion of Britain took place in 1940 enabled the War Office to proceed with mechanization and motorization. The new armoured divisions fought with great success in Libya, Greece, Burma, and Europe. When the RAC was formed the Royal Tank Regiment retained its corps badge. The badge of the RAC is a mailed fist in a plain circular frame, with a crown at the top.