Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
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| Sri Lanka Armoured Corps | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps |
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| Active | 1955 - present |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Branch | Sri Lanka Army |
| Type | Armoured |
| Role | Armoured, Formation Reconnaissance |
| Size | 6 regular regiments, 1 volunteer regiment |
| Part of | Armoured Brigade |
| Regimental Headquarters | Rock House Army Camp, Colombo. |
| Nickname | SLAC |
| Motto | Whither the fates call |
| March | Quick - The Radetski March' Slow - 1st Dragoon Guards and 2nd Dragoon Guards Slow March |
| Engagements | 1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Centre Commandant | Lt Col A. S. Wijewickrama SLAC (Offtg) |
| Colonel-Commandant | Maj Gen G. A. Chandrasiri RWP, USP, ndc, psc |
| Notable commanders |
General D. S. Attygalle MVO |
The Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC) is currently a collection of six regular regiments and a volunteer (reserve) regiment. It provides the armour capability of the Sri Lankan Army, with vehicles such as the T-55 and T-55AM2, Type 69 Main battle tanks, BMP Infantry fighting vehicle and BTR-80,WZ551 Armoured personnel carrier. Headquartered at Rock House Army Camp, Colombo.
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[edit] History
The first armoured unit of the Ceylon Army, the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Ceylon Armoured Corps was established on 10th October 1955 under the command of Maj. D. S. Attygalle MVO (who would later become the commander of the Sri Lankan Army). The regimental headquarters was moved from square barracks to Rock House Army Camp in Colombo in 1957, which it still occupies. In 1958 the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron became a complete regiment as the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment inheriting the traditions of the Queen's Dragoons Guards of the British Army.
The SLAC 1st saw action during the 1971 Insurrection against the JVP. Since the 1980s with escalation of the Sri Lankan civil war the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps has taken part in almost all the major combat operations in the northern and eastern provinces of the country. To meet the threat of the terrorists the SLAC has increased its strength of both personnel and armoured vehicles and now is an independent Armoured Brigade. In recent years the corps has developed its own assault troopers to provide close combat support in the form of mechanized infantry.
The first volunteer (reserve) unit of the SLAC was formed in 1980 under the command of Lt. Col Eustace Jayasekara and this was disbanded in 1986, but a new volunteer unit, the 7th(v) Sri Lanka Armoured Corps has since been reformed. In 1998 the SLAC was presented with the President's Standard in recognition of the service it has rendered. At present the SLAC has six regular regiments, one volunteer regiment and a regimental band.
[edit] Units
[edit] Regular Regiments
- 1st Reconnaissance Regiment SLAC
- 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment SLAC
- 4th Armoured Regiment SLAC
- 5th Reconnaissance Regiment SLAC
- 6th Reconnaissance Regiment SLAC
- 8th Reconnaissance Regiment SLAC (RFT)
- Armoured Cops Training Centre
[edit] Volunteer Regiments
- 7th(v) Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
[edit] Equipment
1st Recce Regiment of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps started off with British armoured vehicles in its early days. Ferret Scout Cars[1], Shorland S55[1] armoured cars and Bren Gun Carrier[1] , Alvis Saracen[1] Armoured personnel carriers where added. Later Alvis Saladin increased the corps fire power.
With escalation of the Sri Lankan civil war in the 1980's Sri Lankan Army turned towards new sources of weaponry such as the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, China and the Czech Republic.
T-55 and T-55AM2, Type 69 Main battle tanks, BMP Infantry fighting vehicle and BTR-80,WZ551 Armoured personnel carriers were added to the 'A' vehicle fleet of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. These APCs enabled the Armoured Corps to have their own assault troopers to provide close combat support.
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 Sri Lanka Armoured Corps Regimental Parade with the President's and Regimental Guidons |
 SLAC Alvis Saladin |
 A T-55AM2 of the SLAC in a combat operation. |
 BTR-80 Armoured personnel carriers in combat operations. |
[edit] Notable members
- Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, SLAC † - Overall commander Jaffna & one of the greatest generals in modern Sri Lanka.
- Lieutenant General L.D.C.E. Waidyaratne VSV, SLAC - Former Commander of the Army.
- General R. De S. Daluwatte RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, SLAC - Former Commander of the Army.
[edit] Alliances
[edit] Order of Precedence
| Preceded by: First in Order of Precedence |
Order of Precedence | Succeeded by: Sri Lanka Artillery |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Michael K. Cecil - Sri Lanka’s Military: The Search For A Mission, [1].
- ^ [//www.nation.lk/2006/10/15/newsfe1.htm Type 63] (HTML). nation.lk.
[edit] External links and sources
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 Sri Lanka Army |  Sri Lanka Navy |  Sri Lanka Air Force |
