The Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) is a corps of the Australian Army which provides the Australian Defence Force's armour capability. Armour combines firepower, mobility, protection and networked situational awareness to generate shock action and overmatch in close combat. Armour is an essential element of the combined arms approach that is employed by the Australian Army. The RAAC has its origins in the Australian Tank Corps, which was formed in 1928. The Australian Armoured Corps was formed on 9 July 1941 to administer those personnel whose primary function is to operate, instruct or manage Army's Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV). As a result of the increasing mechanisation of the Army, the Armoured Corps absorbed the Australian Light Horse, Australia's Cavalry of World War One fame, on 8 May 1942. The Armoured Corps was granted the 'Royal' prefix in 1948 in recognition of its service during the Second World War. Today the RAAC provides administrative support to its members who perform the function of mounted combat in the Army. It has four Regular Army units and five Army Reserve units. The RAAC is the senior arms corps within the Army and the custodian of the customs and traditions of Australia's mounted soldiers. Role The role of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps is to locate, identify, destroy or capture the enemy, by day or night, in combination with other arms, using fire and manoeuvre. Organisation To perform this role and associated functions RAAC units are organised as either: Armoured Cavalry – contains one tank, two cavalry and support squadrons which provide mounted close combat, reconnaissance, surveillance and security to a Combat Brigade. Light Cavalry – contains light cavalry and protected mobility squadrons which provide mounted and dismounted reconnaissance, surveillance, security and protected mobility to a Combat Brigade. Until 2014, each regular regiment maintained a specific role, with 1st Armoured Regiment serving as the Australian Army's sole unit equipped with main battle tanks (MBTs), while 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) were equipped with ASLAV vehicles in the armoured reconnaissance role. Upon the implementation of Plan Beersheba, these single roles were altered; each of the three regular regiments received a squadron of M1A1 Abrams MBTs, a squadron of M113 armoured personnel carriers and a squadron of ASLAVs and transitioned into the integrated armoured cavalry role. Equipment As at January 2020, RAAC units are primarily equipped with the following vehicle