The Third Brigade Show of Force: Mobile, Powerful, Lethal

11 Oktober 2025

Live fire demo of the 3rd brigade (all photos: 3rd Brigade)

3rd Brigade just put on a serious show of force — completing the first-ever live fire demo of the new Heavy Armoured Capability System.

This was the final step in Operational Test and Evaluation, and it brought together some serious hardware: 

-M1110 Joint Assault Bridge (JAB),

-M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV), 

-M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge system (MICLIC), 

-M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tank,

From minefields to bunkers, these platforms are built to break through anything — fast.

The 3rd Brigade

The 3rd Brigade is a combined arms brigade of the Australian Army, principally made up of the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment (1 and 3 RAR).

Initially raised in 1903 as part of the post-Federation Australian Army, it was removed from the order of battle in 1906 following the restructure of the field force. It was re-formed in 1914 for service during World War I, taking part in the fighting at Gallipoli and on the Western Front in Europe. During World War II the brigade was used in a defensive role before it was disbanded in 1944. It was re-raised in 1967 for service during the Vietnam War and later went on to provide the nucleus of the deployment to East Timor during the Australian-led intervention in 1999. The brigade is currently based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville, Queensland.

Organization of the 3rd Brigade

As of 2023 the 3rd Brigade has an authorised strength of 3,800 personnel and consists of the following units:

Brigade Headquarters;

-1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (motorised infantry);

-3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (mechanised infantry);

-4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (M777 Howitzer);

-2nd Cavalry Regiment (armoured cavalry);

-3rd Combat Service Support Battalion;

-3rd Combat Engineer Regiment;

-3rd Combat Signals Regiment.

The following units are not part of the brigade's establishment, but are tasked with supporting it:

-5th Aviation Regiment;

-10th Force Support Battalion;

-Joint Logistics Unit (NQ);

-Land Warfare Centre Detachment (NQ).

All of the brigade's units are based in Townsville, with 3 RAR re-locating from Sydney's Holsworthy Barracks in 2012. 3 RAR had previously formed the main combat elements of Australia's parachute battalion group. Under reforms announced in 2006, 3 RAR converted to a pure light infantry battalion and relocated to Townsville.

(Australian Army | Wiki)