Royal Tasmania Regiment

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=The Royal Tasmania Regiment


caption=Cap badge of the Royal Tasmania Regiment
dates=1 July 1960-
country=Australia
branch=Army
type=Line Role
command_structure=Royal Australian Infantry Corps
role=Light Infantry
size= One battalion
current_commander=
garrison= 12th/40th Battalion - Hobart
ceremonial_chief=HM The Queen
(Royal Australian Infantry Corps)
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel in Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment= The Hon. William Cox, Governor of Tasmania
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=Honorary Colonel
nickname=
motto= "Pro Aris Et Focis" (For Altars and Hearths)
colors=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Unit Colour Patch
identification_symbol_4=RTR
identification_symbol_4_label=Abbreviation
march="Captain Oldfield/Invercargill"
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The Royal Tasmania Regiment is an infantry regiment within the Australian Army consisting of a single battalion. The regiment was formed in 1960 as part of the reforms of the Army Reserve, when Tasmania's two infantry single battalion regiments were amalgamated:
*12th Infantry Battalion (The Launceston Regiment)
*40th Infantry Battalion (The Derwent Regiment)

The two battalions were reduced to companies within a single battalion named as the Tasmania Regiment. The regiment was given its royal title the same year.

In 1972, the RTR expanded to two battalions, when both the 12th and 40th were reformed. However, this lasted only until 1975, when it was again reduced, this time to a pair of independent rifle companies, 12th IRC and 40th IRC. Then, in 1987, the regiment was expanded to a full battalion again through the regimentation of the two independent rifle companies, 12 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers, 146 Signal Squadron and 6 Intelligence Unit, forming as 12th/40th Battalion.

Royal Tasmania Regiment today

The 12th/40th Battalion is part of 9 Brigade, and is based in Hobart, Tasmania with a detachment in Launceston; the battalion serves in the light infantry role as part of 2 Division, Australia's main home defence formation. The battalion encompasses the entire state, and currently consists of a total of five companies, HQ Company, two rifle companies, a training company and support and administrative company

The Battalion wears a blue and black lanyard, which comes from its links to the 12th and 40th Battalions. However, the unit's colour patch is that of the 12th Battalion, 1st Australian Imperial Force, which is white over sky blue. The regiment holds the colours of both the 12th and 40th Battalions, and carries the motto "Pro Aris Et Focis" (For Altars and Hearths). The Honorary Colonel of the Regiment is His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania.

Alliances

*GBR - The Royal Anglian Regiment
*GBR - The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border)
*NZL - The Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment

Links

* [http://www.army.gov.au/12_40RTR/index.htm Official Website]