ARMOURED CORPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1941, Page 6

ARMOURED CORPS

SCHEME IN AUSTRALIA. COST OF MILLIONS. The formation of an Australian Armoured Corps, embodying all the armoured lighting units at present raised in the A.I F, and the A.M.F. and the early formation of an Armoured Division of tile A.l F. have been announced by the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Menzies). The project which will mark a most important step in the mechanisation of ;U)e .Australian Army, will involve the | expenditure of several millions of; ; pounds, a substantia! portion of which! will be spent in .Australia on the pro-1 duction of armoured vehicles. .Arrangements have already been I made for the supply of armoured fighting vehicles and armament for trie armoured division of t’ne A I F, which will eventually comprise two armoured brigades, a support group, armoured; divisional troops and ancillary troops. Already arrangements are proceed-1 ing fi r the establishment of armoured' corps training units and schools, so j that personnel will be raised and train-1 ed and be ready to receive fighting vehides in progressive stages ax. the ve-; hides become available About half I the personnel will be raised and train-! d in this manner. i The first step will be the setting up of an armoured trained training centre for the preliminary instruction of of-; Heers and instructors who later will| take command of the armoured units ‘ and undertake their training. Some of the mechanised equipment for the Armoured Corps is already in production and progress is being made with the design of cruiser tanks which wilt ho the main striking arm of the corps. The design will incorporate 'ho latest t.mk developments in various countries and some important local developments, and will be based on Australia's needs and the resources of .Australian, industry within the munition- proyamme The rate of output! h assured by the reservation of I tim: <f heavy indtistiy Le production I of this type >d armoured vehicle. Already Australia is making tank], i amp iieiils which haw been sent to I ( Britain for assembly and their succewo. under service cmuhtm;: ■ demonstrates', Austr;ih;i': r .paCity for III;- ‘y <■ <■- i work ■ j The protective plating ‘of the cruiser ij tanks will be made entirely by thej. Australian (eel industry .util o’Wr.-jvc i , iinmmuivls-! Itus lit’Oi; proviffcci lor un* ■ :ivr the* OrurGiHt’c .section of ttit- inunip { la.!'- programme. Thu will oe ;<v;nl-f ( U>’e when u r required. I > Machine-gm; earrivr:. which, have;, ’>-m. i ■ thear efilc.iem-y the , Middle Fust, har e b<-vii c-.mple'.My re- > j lesigned so that they erm mmml anti-; .mk'gm.- -m ;i!Wnatw<- m Lght mwa', •• a aeh-m -guns