History of SAF Armour

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The 1970s - The expansion years

Image Copyright of MINDEF

(ABOVE) The first visit by late President Benjamin H. Sheares at Keat Hong Camp in 1971. The building in the background now houses the Enlistee's Mess, the camp canteen and the barber shop.

In the early years of nationhood, Singapore was written off by observers as being too small to survive, let alone prosper. The critics were however, proved wrong by the efforts pitched in by everyone who were involved in the active nation building process. By 1972, foreign investment made up to 80.4% of all investment commitments, and 58% of the manufacturing workforce were employed by these investors. Fearing that the small size, relative wealth and the diversed ethnic composition would invite military adventures from unknown hostile neighbours, there was hence an urgency to build-up the SAF.

1970
July	Two companies of recruits were trained as tank crewmen and the first shipment of V-200 was delievered.
20 July	LTC D.R. Jumbu was appointed as the commander of the 4th Armour Brigade.
28 October	Formation of an Armoured Brigade Headquarters, HQ 4 SAB.

1971
1 January	Brigade Recconaissance Company (BRC) was formed at Keat Hong Camp.
1 October	The third battalion, 42 SAB, was raised at Selarang Barracks under the command of MAJ Thomas Teo, when two companies were transferred from 41 SAB.
1 October	The 4th Armoured Brigade conducted the first full scale brigade level exercise, thus becoming the first operational armoured brigade of the SAF.
15 December	School of Armour (SOA) was established at Jalan Bahar Camp.

1972
18 April	The first intake of full time National Servicemen for 42 SAR took place.

1973
Date Unknown	42 SAR became operational.

1974
1 January	SOA was moved to Sungei Gedong Camp I.
1 May	40, 41, 42 SAB (Singapore Armoured Battalion) were renamed 40, 41, 42 SAR (Singapore Armoured Regiment). The re-designation avoided confusion with the 4th brigade designation of 4SAB (Singapore Armoured Brigade).
1 June	The V200s were replaced in service by the versatile M113 APC.

1976
1 June	Formation of 46 SAR at Jalan Bahar Camp due to a need to centralise the reconnaissance elements of the Armour Formation. Her sub-units were located in different locations. The BRC was thus decommissioned.

1977
1 January	Formation of the 8 SAB - a reserve brigade with three reserve units under her command.
April	46 SAR formed her first motorised recce company and has her first BMT intake.
May	The Reserve Armour Training Centre (RATC), now known as the Armour Training Centre (ATC), was established in May 1977 with then LTC Patrick Choy as the Commander at Kranji Camp. The staff at RATC conducted peacetime training for all Armour Reservists. They concurrently assumed operational appointments in HQ 8 SAB. When 8 SAB became an active unit in 1990, ATC concentrated on the administration and training of NS units.
September	46 SAR formed her first armoured recce company.
6 November	40th, 41st and 42nd SAR were presented with Regimental Colours by the late President Sheares at Selarang Camp.

1979
March	The 46 SAR moved to Holland Camp.
1 April	Inauguration of HQ Armour on 1 April at Keat Hong Camp, due to the need for an overall headquarters. HQ Armour brings all active and NS Armour units under a single professional command. It provides planning guidance, doctrinal development and directions for manpower staffing, leaving the Brigade HQs to focus on operation and training development of their sub-units. 46 SAR was placed under the control of HQ Armour instead of HQ 3 Division.
1 July	42 SAR won the Best Combat Unit for work-year 1978/79
December	Armour participated in EX Thundercloud in New Zealand.