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List of Australian Army units

In March 1901, the Australian Army came into existence as the Commonwealth Military Forces through the amalgamation of the former colonies military forces. The existing regiments and battalions of the colonies were reorganised and renumbered due to their absorption into the national army and subsequently formed the first military units of a united Australia. At the outbreak of World War I, in July 1914, the Australian Government committed the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF), a fully volunteer force, to the war; all existing units were exempt from serving overseas due the Defence Act of 1903, which stipulated that they could only serve in Australian territory.

In 1921, the Citizens Force's regimental numbering system, used since federation, was replaced by a divisional structure when the Australian Government decided to continue the unit designations of the AIF and to continue the traditions of the units of World War I. This renumbering brought about the end of localised regiments, with battalions taking up their role as community recruitment organisations.

In 1939, following the start of World War II the Australian Government created the Second Australian Imperial Force which would see combat in North Africa and the Pacific.

This list covers individual units, above or equivalent to a battalion, which were created or maintained after 1914, by either being militia units that were amalgamated and/or renumbered or being entirely new entities.

Armies

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The field army has been the largest ever created unit for the Australian Army and has only been utilised in the Second World War.

Corps

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In the history of the Australian Army, only during the world wars were tactical corps units raised.

World War I

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World War II

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Divisions

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Further information: List of Australian divisions in World War I and List of Australian divisions in World War II

Infantry

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Active

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Former

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Light Horse

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Former

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Armoured

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Former

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Brigades

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Infantry

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Active

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Former

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Armoured

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Former

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Regiments

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Infantry

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Administrative

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Functional

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Engineer

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Armoured

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Further information: List of Australian armoured units

Cavalry

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Light Horse

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Artillery

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Further information: List of Australian Army artillery units in World War I and Royal Australian Artillery

Battalions

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Infantry

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Royal Australian Regiment

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Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) were formed in the aftermath of the Second World War, when Australian defence policymakers government decided to exchange the focus on the Militia to a permanent force. The battalions are as follows:

Active
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Former
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First Australian Imperial Force

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Battalions of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were initially formed in the First World War as volunteer units for overseas service. The battalions are as follows:

Second Australian Imperial Force

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Battalions of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were initially formed in the Second World War as volunteer units for overseas service. The battalions are as follows:

Machine Gun

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First Australian Imperial Force

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Second Australian Imperial Force

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Pioneer

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First Australian Imperial Force

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Second Australian Imperial Force

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Royal Australian Armoured Corps". Australian Army. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Army Order of Battle". Australian Army. January 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.

Notes

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  1. ^ Amalgamated with 4th Cavalry Regiment to form 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (Australia)
  2. ^ Amalgamated with 3rd Cavalry Regiment to form 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (Australia)
  3. ^ Originally the 65th Battalion
  4. ^ Originally the 66th Battalion
  5. ^ Originally the 67th Battalion
  6. ^ Reorganised into the 2nd Commando Regiment
  7. ^ a b Amalgamated
  8. ^ Currently amalgamated with the 19th Battalion to form the 1st/19th Battalion
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