3rd Brigade (Australia)

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The 3rd Brigade of the Australian Army is an infantry brigade. Formed in 1914 the brigade has seen active service in the First World War and during the Australian-lead intervention in East Timor. The 3rd Brigade is presently Australia's rapid deployment force and is based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville, Queensland.

[edit] History

The 3rd Brigade was initially formed in August 1914. As part of the Australian 1st Division the Brigade saw action during the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front. During World War Two the Brigade participated in the defence of Darwin until it was disbanded in April 1944.

The 3rd Brigade was re-raised in 1967 as the 3rd Task Force. In 1981 the 3rd Task Force was redesignated the 3rd Brigade and re-joined the 1st Division. The Brigade provided the majority of the Australian Army combat units to INTERFET in 1999, with the Brigade Headquarters overseeing the force's operations along the tense East Timorese-Indonesian border. In May 2006 headquarters elements of the Brigade deployed to East Timor to command all Australian forces operating in East Timor as part of Operation Astute.

[edit] Current composition

The 3rd Brigade currently consists of:

• Brigade Headquarters
• B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (M113 APC)
• 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (light infantry)
• 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (light infantry)
• 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (parachute infantry)
• 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
• 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment
• 3rd Combat Signals Regiment
• 3rd Combat Services Support Battalion

All the Brigade's units, except for 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) and 'A' Field Battery of the 4th Field Regiment are based in Townsville. 3 RAR and 'A' Field Battery are based in Sydney where they form the main combat elements of Australia's parachute battalion group.

Under recently announced reforms, 3 RAR will convert to a pure light infantry battalion and relocate to Townsville. In addition, B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment will replace its M113s with the new Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle.