History
The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) was created in April 1939, by combining the Horse mounted Cavalry units that had mechanised, and the Royal Tank Corps (which was renamed the Royal Tank Regiment). The Reconnaissance Corps was absorbed into the RAC in 1944.
Today's regiments are steeped in the history of either the original cavalry regiments or the Royal Tank Corps. The lineage of these regiments, whether Household Cavalry, Dragoon Guards, Lancers, Hussars or Royal Tank Regiment, provides a rich and fascinating history. The ethos of the Household Cavalry and the Royal Armoured Corps (HCav / RAC) has been shaped by their history, their evolving role on the battlefield and their key role in today's Army.
Today the HCav / RAC comprises five armoured regiments equipped with the Challenger 2 (CR2) Main Battle Tank (MBT), five Formation Reconnaissance regiments equipped with the Scimitar Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)), core elements of the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment (Jt CBRN Regt) and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR). These are supported by the RAC's four Yeomanry regiments in the Territorial Army.