2nd Royal Tank Regiment

History

Founded as B Battalion, Tank Corps in 1917, the 2 RTR first saw action in the First World War with the advent of tank technology. It later fought in the Second World War. In 1992, it merged with the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, keeping their own original title. It became the second regiment to be equipped with the Challenger 2 in 1998.

Sabre squadrons were deployed by the regiment to Iraq on Operation Telic in 2003 and 2007. After a long period in Fallingbostel, Germany, the regiment moved back to Aliwal Barracks in Tidworth in July 2007. On 25 June 2008 at Buckingham Palace, both 1RTR and 2RTR were presented with their new Standard by The Queen, which included the new Battle Honour of Al Basrah 2003.

Units were deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick in 2010.

In August 2014 the regiment merged with 1RTR to form the Royal Tank Regiment. The new regiment is based at Aliwal Barracks in Tidworth and is one of three armoured regiments equipped with the Challenger II tank.

2003 friendly fire incident

In March 2003 Sergeant Steven Roberts of 2 RTR was shot and killed near Basra in an incident of friendly fire. Another soldier in 2 RTR had been attempting to protect Sergeant Roberts from a stone-wielding Iraqi protester that he was struggling with, who also died. An inquest heard that the soldier responsible was not aware that the machine gun used was inaccurate at short ranges. The inquest found that the shooting was an accident and that Roberts died because the Army failed to provide him with Enhanced Combat Body Armour.

Organisation

The Armoured Regiment consisted of 5 Squadrons:

• Nero Squadron - Headquarters and Support
• Cyclops Squadron - Armoured Squadron
• Badger Squadron - Armoured Squadron
• Egypt Squadron - Armoured Squadron
• Falcon Squadron - Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron

Commanding Officers

The Commanding Officers have been:

• 1958–1960: Lt.-Col. Patrick R.C. Hobart:

• 1960–1963: Lt.-Col. A.R.E. Davis

• 1963–1965: Lt.-Col. John G.R. Allen

• 1965–1967: Lt.-Col. Douglas W.A. Ambidge

• 1967–1970: Lt.-Col. Thomas S.M. Welch

• 1970–1973: Lt.-Col. Geoffrey L.D. Duckworth

• 1973–1975: Lt.-Col. Michael J. Evans

• 1975–1977: Lt.-Col. Keith R. Ecclestone

• 1977–1979: Lt.-Col. Peter D. Bentley

• 1979–1980: Lt.-Col. William S. Bale

• 1980–1982: Lt.-Col. David A. Williams

• 1982–1984: Lt.-Col. Robert W.M. McAfee

• 1984–1987: Lt.-Col. Christopher J.A. Hammerbeck

• 1987–1988: Lt.-Col. David W. Lloyd-Edwards

• 1988–1991: Lt.-Col. Andrew C.I. Gadsby

• 1991–1993: Lt.-Col. A. David Leakey

• 1993–1995: Lt.-Col. Stephen J.B. White

• 1995–1997: Lt.-Col. Nigel R.F. Aylwin-Foster

• 1997–2000: Lt.-Col. Simon Caraffi

• 2000–2002: Lt.-Col. Patrick J. Allison

• 2002–2004: Lt.-Col. Piers D.P. Hankinson

• 2004–2006: Lt.-Col. John R. Patterson

• 2006–2008: Lt.-Col. David A. Catmur

• 2008–2010: Lt.-Col. T. Marcus L. Simson

• 2010–2012: Lt.-Col. Marcus H. Evans

• 2012–2014: Lt.-Col. Jason M. Williams

References

References

1. "2nd Royal Tank Regiment". British Army units 1945 on.
2. "Badger". Ministry of Defence.
3. "Cyclops". Ministry of Defence.
4. "Agreement reached with Aspire Defence Limited". Ministry of Defence.
5. (10 November 2005). "House of Commons – Hansard Written Ministerial Statements for 10 Nov 2005 (pt 1)".
6. "Egypt". Ministry of Defence.
7. [http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf Regular Army basing announcement] {{webarchive. link. (2016-08-14)
8. (2006-12-18). "Bureaucratic delay resulted in soldier's death". The Guardian.
9. (2008-10-13). "2nd Royal Tank Regiment Today".
10. "Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960 - Colin Mackie".