| The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
Cap badge of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment |
|
| Active | 9 January 1947– |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Mechanised Infantry (one battalion) Light Role Infantry (one battalion); |
| Size | Two battalions |
| Garrison/HQ | 1st Battalion – Linton 2/1st Battalion – Burnham |
| Motto | Onward |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel in Chief | HM The Queen |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
Major General K.M. Gordon, CBE (Rtd) |
| Insignia | |
| Tac Sign | |
| Abbreviation | RNZIR |
The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is the main combat unit in the regular New Zealand Army. It was formed 9 January 1947 as the New Zealand Regiment with a single infantry battalion as part of the newly created infantry corps.
By 1 August 1947 the regiment was augmented by the reorganisation of the Jayforce (the occupation force of Japan):
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were disbanded in 1948 following their return to New Zealand. The honours and traditions of the 22nd Battalion, NZEF were then perpetuated through the Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) Regiment, the Hawke's Bay Regiment and the Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment. The 2nd Battalion was raised again in 1959 and saw service in Malaya before converting to a depot for the 1st Battalion in 1963. The regiment received its present name on 1 April 1964, when all of the Territorial Force battalions were absorbed into its structure, receiving battalion numbers:
In 1973, the regiment gained an additional regular battalion, when the Regimental Depot was redesignated as 2/1st Battalion, RNZIR. This structure was in place until 1999, when the TF regiments resumed their separate identities following the re-organisation of the army structure. Today, the RNZIR has two battalions:
The 3/1st Battalion, RNZIR was a planned TF mobilisation unit, a concept which arose during 1990s reorganisation planning which did not go beyond 'paper' status. Previously, under the three-battalion plan, upon mobilisation of TF infantry units from the six battalion groups, each of the regular battalions would be augmented by a company, while the remaining four would be used to form 3/1st Battalion.
In addition, the RNZIR contributed two companies to the ANZAC Battalion in Vietnam between 1968 and 1971. It is this that has provided the RNZIR with its only battle honour thus far, which is the only battle honour awarded to a New Zealand unit since World War II.
Contents |
In the New Zealand Army, an Infantry Platoon is commanded by a 2nd Lieutenant or a Lieutenant with a Platoon Sergeant (holding the rank of Sergeant), a Platoon Signaller and a medic (where relevant) comprising the Platoon Headquarters. The Platoon is sub-divided into three section of between 7–10 soldiers, each commanded by a Corporal with a Lance-Corporal as the Section second-in-command (Section 2iC). Each section can be sub-divided into two fire-teams, commanded by the Section Commander and 2iC respectively, as well as normal two man Scout, Rifle and Gun Teams. In recent years the section organisation consists of the two fire team concept, where the section is divided into two fire teams with a Gun team in each and one commanded by the section corporal and the other section lance corporal with a section marksmen in each team and the leftover riflemen divided equally among the two fire teams. The section corporal is still in overall command and is in contact with the other fire team via radio if the situation changes
There are three platoons in a Rifle Company, which is commanded by a Major, and three rifle companies within an infantry battalion, which is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. An infantry battalion will also contain an organic Support Company (signals Platoon, mortar Platoon, DFSW "Direct Fire Support Weapons" Platoon which includes Mag 58's in the sustained fire role, 84mm Carl Gustav anti-armour, Browning 50 cal's, and Recon Platoon. It used to include an Assault Pioneer platoon but this has been taken away due to government cost cutting) and a Logistics Company (transport and stores). For a battalion total of around 400 to 500 soldiers depending on retention levels.
The above organisation is a greatly reduced battalion strength as a full strength battalion should field a strength of 800 to 1000 soldiers this is due to consecutive governments downsizing the New Zealand military with a view to saving a few dollars.
Because it is recruited on a nationwide basis, and has no specific regional links, the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment claims descent from, as well as the old New Zealand Regiment and all previous Territorial Infantry Regiments of the New Zealand Army. As a consequence, it is permitted to display a selection of 105 battle honours awarded to ten separate regiments: