B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment - History
3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment is an armoured regiment of the Australian Army, and is third in seniority in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. The regiment was formed in 1981 through the amalgamation of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and the 4th Cavalry Regiment.
The 3rd Cavalry Regiment was formed in 1966 as 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron by the redesignation of a troop from the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse, before being designated the 3rd Cavalry the same year. This unit saw extensive service throughout Australia's presence in Vietnam as part of the Australian Task Force. At the time, the regiment consisted of a single squadron. However, part of A Squadron was redesignated first as 1 APC Squadron, then as B Squadron in 1967-68. The two squadrons swapped titles at various times until 1971, when A Squadron was transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
The 4th Cavalry Regiment was formed in 1971 by the redesignation of B Squadron, 2nd Cavalry as A Squadron. This was joined in 1975 by a newly raised Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron. The service of the regiment was short lived, as in 1981 it was decided to amalgamate it with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment to form the 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment.
The 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment currently consists of a single squadron, B Squadron. It serves as an armoured personnel carrier squadron, equipped with the M113A1 APC, in the light armoured role and is based at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville.