5th Royal Tank Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 5th Royal Tank Regiment (5 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army
until 1969. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment
, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps
. It originally saw action as E Battalion, Tank Corps in 1917.
In December 1946 the regiment was the first use Centurion tank
s in regular service.
In 1960, under the command of Hugo Ironside
, it amalgamated with 8th Royal Tank Regiment
without change of title. It was disbanded in 1969.
The 5th Royal Tank Regiment Reunion Association holds annual reunions.
In 2007 an image of a 1944 tank commander in the 5th Royal Tank Regiment uniform was used on one of a series of Royal mail
stamps featuring British army uniforms.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
until 1969. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
. It originally saw action as E Battalion, Tank Corps in 1917.
In December 1946 the regiment was the first use Centurion tank
Centurion tank
The Centurion, introduced in 1945, was the primary British main battle tank of the post-World War II period. It was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades...
s in regular service.
In 1960, under the command of Hugo Ironside
Hugo Ironside
Hugo Craster Wakeford Ironside OBE was an Army Officer who during World War II tunnelled out of a Prisoner of War camp and later helped construct a glider, known as the 'Colditz Cock'.-Background:...
, it amalgamated with 8th Royal Tank Regiment
8th Royal Tank Regiment
The 8th Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1960. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It originally saw action as H Battalion, Tank Corps in 1917....
without change of title. It was disbanded in 1969.
The 5th Royal Tank Regiment Reunion Association holds annual reunions.
In 2007 an image of a 1944 tank commander in the 5th Royal Tank Regiment uniform was used on one of a series of Royal mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
stamps featuring British army uniforms.