42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment

The 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment is one of the 4 armoured infantry battalions of the Singapore Army.

History

The Battalion was raised on 1 October 1971 at Selarang Barracks with a transfer of one Armoured Infantry company from 41 SAR to form the Battalion's first company. In June 1972, 42 SAR took in another company from 41 SAR. 42 SAR was originally known as 42nd Singapore Armoured Battalion (42 SAB).^[1]

In 1973, the unit became operational. The unit was temporarily decommissioned in 1982 as part of the restructuring of SAF Armour Corp, but was raised again in 1990 at the newly built Sungei Gedong Camp.

42 SAR received her Regimental Colours from then President Benjamin Sheares on 6 Nov 1977 at Selarang Barracks. Her colours can be identified with the number 42 on the top left corner with green frills around her regimental colours representing her being the 3rd armour battalion within the armour formation.^[2]

42 SAR has won the SAF Best Combat Unit Award in 1979 & 1982.

The unit has also won Best Armour Unit in 1979, 1982, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2009 & 2010^[3]

2006 saw the Battalion being the first armour unit to actively operate the Battlefield Management System in its armoured vehicles.^[4]

References