Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/October 7

The Australian 1st Armoured Division was an Australian Army division of World War II. The 1st Armoured Division was established on 1 July 1941 and was projected to be deployed to North Africa in late 1941. These plans were dropped in early December 1941 when it was decided to retain the division in Australia to defend against the feared Japanese landings on the Australian mainland. The Division received its full complement of M3 Grant and M3 Stuart tanks in April and May 1942 and completed its training later in 1942. From January 1943 the Division formed part of III Corps and was based near Geraldton, Western Australia. Due to the end of the threat to Australia and the unsuitability of large armoured formations in jungle warfare the 1st Armoured Division was disbanded in September 1943.