As the tide of war in the Pacific turned in favour of the Allies in 1943, the threat of invasion passed. The Australian government decided to reallocate some of the manpower that had been tied up in the armoured divisions to other formations that would be utilised for jungle warfare, or civilian industry. As a result, throughout 1943, although the brigade remained assigned to the 3rd Armoured Division in Queensland, its composition changed frequently as a number of armoured and motorised units were assigned to it when they were rotated through Queensland or were disbanded. Over time, the AIF armoured regiments were replaced largely by Militia units. The 2/9th Armoured was transferred to the 4th Armoured Brigade in February 1943, and the 13th Armoured Regiment was sent to replace it. The 20th Motor Regiment was re-assigned to the brigade around this time following the decision to disband the 2nd Armoured Division. In April, the 2/8th Armoured Regiment was deployed to New Guinea to relieve the 2/6th, which had taken heavy casualties during the Battle of Buna–Gona. The 2/8th, however, was ultimately confined to a static defensive and training role and did not see any combat. In its stead, the 21st Cavalry Regiment was assigned, being transferred from II Corps, although this regiment was broken up in May 1943 to provide divisional carrier companies for several infantry divisions. Further changes occurred when the 8th Cavalry Regiment arrived from First Army; however, the 8th Cavalry Regiment remained only until July 1943 when it was deployed to the Northern Territory. It was replaced in the brigade by the &lt;a href="2/6th%20Cavalry%20Commando%20Regiment%20%28Australia%29"&gt;2/6th Cavalry Regiment&lt;/a&gt; which arrived in August. In October, the 3rd Armoured Division's headquarters was reduced and the 2nd Armoured Brigade became a direct command unit of the First Army.