Royal Australian Corps of Transport
| Royal Australian Corps of Transport | |
|---|---|
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Cap badge of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport | |
| Active | 1973–present |
| Country |
 Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Corps |
| Role | Military supply chain management |
| Motto | Equal to the Task |
| Colours | Blue, white and scarlet |
| March | Wait for the Wagon |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HRH the Princess Royal |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | RACT |
The Royal Australian Corps of Transport is a corps within the Australian Army. It was formed in 1973 and is responsible for the operation of army surface transport assets.
| Corps of the Australian Army |
|---|
| Combat |
| Combat Support |
| Combat Service Support |
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| Training Corps |
| Former Corps |
Role
The role of the RACT is to control and operate Army owned surface transport, other than unit transport, and to provide movement control, terminal, postal and Army aspects of air logistic support. As such members of the corps are employed in a variety of roles, including: road transport, movements,air dispatch, postal, water transport, and terminal operations.
History
The RACT was formed on 1 June 1973 from and amalgamation of a number of functions of two existing corps: Royal Australian Army Service Corps (RAASC) and Royal Australian Engineers Transportation Service (RAE-TN). From RAASC the new corps gained the responsibilities of road and amphibian transport, air dispatch and postal functions, whilst from RAE-TN it gained water transport, terminal and movements roles. The remaining RAASC functions—such as the provision of foodstuffs and petrol, oils and lubricants—were subsequently allocated to the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC), with RAASC ceasing to exist on 31 May 1973.[1] The corps also draws some of its origins from the Australian Army Transportation Corps, which existed between 1945 and 1947.[2][3]
At Puckapunyal on 4 June 1983 the RACT was presented with its Banner. It was received from the Governor General of Australia, Sir Ninian Stephen, who presented it on behalf of Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice.[4]
Corps embellishments
The badge of the RACT consists of the seven-pointed Federation Star incorporating the Royal Cipher, being common to both the badges of the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) and Royal Australian Army Service Corps (RAASC). Surrounding the Royal Cipher is a circlet containing the name 'Royal Australian Corps of Transport', which is enclosed by a laurel wreath and the Corps motto Par Oneri or 'Equal to the Task'.[5]
The RACT Lanyard is a braided blue and red lanyard to represent its RAASC and RAE heritage. Notably, RACT was the first corps in the Australian Army to receive approval to wear a braided lanyard.[6]
The corps colours of the RACT are blue, white and scarlet. Each of the colours represents various aspects of the history of the corps:
- Blue: representing the early uniforms worn by the corps predecessors
- White: represents the white facings of the Military Train and also denotes the corps mounted background
- Scarlet: represents the amalgamation of the RAE Transportation Service.[7]
Equipment
Vehicles:
- Yamaha XT 600 motorcycle
- Landrover 110 4 x 4
- Landrover 110 6 x 6
- Mack R Series (including Cargo, Dump, Truck Tanker Fuel, Truck Tanker Water and others)
- Mercedes-Benz Unimog (including Cargo, Dump, and others)
- Mack Fleetliner
- International S Liner Prime Mover
Watercraft:
- Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8, Series II (LCM8)
- Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo – 5 Tonne (LARC-V)
- Landing Platform Amphibious Watercraft 2000 (LPAW 2000)
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Notes
- ↑ Palazzo 2001, p. 2.
- ↑ "Australian Army Transportation Corps". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ↑ Harris, Ted. "Royal Australian Corps of Transport". Digger History. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ↑ Palazzo 2001, p. 23.
- ↑ Palazzo 2001, p. 148.
- ↑ Palazzo 2001, p. 149.
- ↑ Palazzo 2001, p. 161.
References
- Palazzo, Albert (2001). The Royal Australian Corps of Transport: A History of Australian Army Transport 1973–2000. Loftus: Australian Military Historical Publications. ISBN 1-876439-80-7.
| Preceded by Australian Army Intelligence Corps |
Australian Army Order of Precedence | Succeeded by Australian Army Catering Corps |
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