New M1A2 main battle tanks to arrive in Townsville this year
3rd Brigade’s 2nd Cavalry regiment will get a facelift after the new M1A2 main battle tanks arrive by the end of 2024. Read how Australia’s former tanks will help Ukraine in their war effort.
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Townsville’s cavalry capability is about to receive a boost as the first cohort of Australian Army soldiers learn the ropes on the new American-made tanks before they roll out across the country.
The first operational training on the M1A2 main battle tanks was completed at Puckapunyal in Victoria, with 46 of the 75 combat vehicles having arrived on Australian soil.
This comes two years after the Morrison Government finalised the $3.5 billion order with the United States for the new fleet of tanks.
Head of Land Capability, Major General Richard Vagg, said the new fleet of tanks would give Australian Army soldiers the best probability of mission success during combat due to their lethality, protection, mobility and communications improvements.
“These new main battle tanks are an essential part of our combined arms fighting system.
They will enable land forces to control key strategic land positions, enabling long-range strike as part of the integrated force.” Major General Vagg said.
“There is no other capability on the battlefield that can provide this level of protection, accurate and lethal fire, and cross-terrain mobility.”
Under the Defence Strategic Review, Townsville’s 2nd Cavalry regiment will receive 14 of the new battle tanks by the end of the year, replacing the current M1A1’s that were purchased in 2007.
Instead of retiring the M1A1’s, the Albanese Government announced in October of this year it would donate 49 of the tanks to Ukraine as they continue their war effort against Russia.
The new Abram M1A2’s will take to the field next year as soldiers continue their operations and maintenance training on the new fleet of main battle tanks.
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Originally published as New M1A2 main battle tanks to arrive in Townsville this year
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