Royal Australian Survey Corps

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Badge of the Royal Australian Survey Corps (RASvy) as it existed at cessation in 1996. The crown on the badge would change depending on the living Commonwealth monarch.
Badge of the Royal Australian Survey Corps (RASvy) as it existed at cessation in 1996. The crown on the badge would change depending on the living Commonwealth monarch.

The Royal Australian Survey Corps (RASvy) was a Corps of the Australian Army that was formed on 1 July 1915 and disbanded on 1 July 1996. This Corps was responsible for the mapping of Australia and countries where the Australian Defence Force was deployed on operations.

The RASvy was also responsible for producing aeronautical charts for the Royal Australian Air Force and the printing of hydrographic charts for the Royal Australian Navy. When it was disbanded, the roles previously filled by the Survey Corps were returned to the Royal Australian Engineers[1] via the geomatic trade.[2] Although one of the smallest Army Corps, the Royal Australian Survey Corps was one of the most senior, being preceded only by Armoured, Artillery and Engineers.[3]

Unlike other Australian Corps that spent the majority of their time training in preparation for war, the RASvy had an operational peacetime role which involved mapping Australia and its territories. Some would argue that this role, may have ultimately caused its demise, with a civilianization of non-war-like soldier activities.

The Australian Survey Corps was established on the 1 July 1915 and was designated Royal in 1948.[4]

Units of the Royal Australian Survey Corps were:

  • Army Survey Regiment that was based out of Bendigo, Victoria
  • 1st Topographic Survey Squadron, now part of the Royal Australian Engineers, based out of Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane
  • 2nd Field Survey Squadron based out of Sydney
  • 4th Field Survey Squadron, Keswick Barracks, Adelaide, SA
  • 5th Field Survey Squadron that was based out of Perth
  • School of Military Survey that was initially based out of Balcombe, Victoria and subsequently out of Bonegilla, Victoria

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ The History of the Corps of Royal Australian Engineers. Australian Army Engineering Museum and Heritage Park. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
  2. ^ Stay Army: Royal Australian Army Engineers. Australian Department of Defence. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
  3. ^ The History of the Corps of Royal Australian Survey Corp. Australian Army Engineering Museum and Heritage Park. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
  4. ^ Royal Australian Survey Corps
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