The Singapore Armoured Regiment (or SAR)
is one among the many formations within the Singapore Army.
Responsible for armoured warfare, the SAR brings firepower support to the battlefield
for both offensive
and defensive operations.
The Singapore Armoured Regiment comprises 4 active battalions;
3 armoured infantry battalions and 1 heavy armour battalion.
The armoured infantry battalion is made up of 5 companies;
the HQ coy, followed by 3 combat coy and a support coy.
The support company comprises reconnaissance, mortar, engineer and anti-tank elements.
The mortar element operates the Bronco Mortar Tracked Carrier (MTC) equipped
with the 120 mm Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System (SRAMS).
The engineer element operates various engineering vehicles
such as the Bionix Trailblazer Counter-Mine Vehicle (CMV),
the Bionix Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
and the Bionix Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB).
The anti-tank element is equipped with Israeli-made
SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).
Supply, transport, maintenance, medical and signal elements falls under HQ company.
These elements operate different variants of the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC).
Each Bronco is equipped with one 7.62 mm machine gun and smoke grenade launchers.
Each combat coy also known as combat team,
comprises a company HQ platoon and 3 armoured infantry platoons.
Each platoon operates 3 Bionix Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV).
Each Bionix Armoured Fighting Vehicle is operated by a commander,
gunner, driver and can carry 7 troops.
The Bionix AFV is equipped with a 25mm cannon, 3 x 7.62 mm machine guns and smoke grenade launchers.
As of 2020, the 42nd SAR is the first battalion to operate the new Hunter AFV.
The Hunter AFV is equipped with a 30mm cannon,
7.62mm machine gun, SPIKE ATGM launchers and smoke grenade launchers.
Additionally, the Hunter AFV is fully digitalized,
enhancing the operational capabilities of Singapore's armoured forces.
The armoured infantry performs the role of an infantry unit when dismounted
and is equivalent to heavy infantry units in other countries.
Each platoon carries 2 FN MAG GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) instead
of one as compared to their infantry counterpart.
The 48th SAR is the active tank battalion of Singapore Armoured Regiment,
operating the Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank (MBT).
Singapore's Leopard 2SG tanks are mostly derivatives of the German Leopard 2A4s.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported
that Singapore has acquired about 45 Leopard 2A7s between 2016 to 2017.
The Leopard 2SG is equipped with 120mm gun, 7.62mm machine guns and smoke grenade launchers.
The Leopard 2 MBTs are supported by engineering vehicles such as
the Leopard Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
and the Leopard Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB).
The Singapore Armoured Regiment (SAR) wore black beret
following the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment.
The second reason is to prevent the showing of oil stains.
We are the frontline soldiers, anything that happens
We gonna chiong first
Once armour, always armour
Black beret forever~