Australian Army 3rd Brigade Expands Armored Fleet and Logistics Needs

The Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, is expanding its armored vehicle inventory and personnel strength, which has increased fuel and ammunition requirements. Brigadier Ben McLennan, the brigade’s commander, said the formation’s heavy armored vehicle fleet will grow 630 percent over three years and personnel will rise from 3,200 to about 4,000.

He added that daily diesel consumption during high-intensity operations is projected to reach 300,000 liters, compared with the previous average of 40,000 liters.

The brigade has received new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks for the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Two armored engineering squadrons are scheduled to receive Abrams-based combat engineering vehicles by the end of 2026. The first Hanwha AS9 Huntsman 155 mm self-propelled howitzer arrived in late May for the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.

The regiment will field six AS9s and three AS10 ammunition resupply vehicles per battery by the end of 2027. McLennan said ammunition pallet requirements will rise from about 30 per day to 105 during brigade-level high-intensity combat.

A new common-user maintenance facility at Lavarack Barracks is scheduled to open by the end of the year. The 4th Regiment opened a maintenance hangar in May equipped with a 10-tonne gantry crane. Additional range facilities are under construction at the Townsville Field Training Area to support the expanded armored formation.

McLennan stated the combined-arms system remains relevant and that the brigade is drawing lessons from other forces conducting similar upgrades.