2 / 6th Armoured Regiment ( Australia ) The 2 / 6th Armoured Regiment was an armoured regiment of the Australian Army that served during World War II . Raised in 1941 the Regiment took part in the Battle of Buna – Gona in 1942 – 43 , however , it did not see further action during the war and was disbanded in September 1945 . History . The 2 / 6th Armoured Regiment was formed in August 1941 as part of the 1st Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division . Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C . R Hodgson , the regiment recruited mainly from the state of New South Wales . It was initially located at Greta , New South Wales and was equipped with Universal Carrier s for training purposes , due to the shortage of other armoured vehicles . Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941 , the regiment was deployed to defend Coffs Harbour against a feared Japanese attack . In May 1942 the 2 / 6th Armoured Regiment was moved to Singleton , New South Wales and was equipped with M3 Stuart light tanks . Later they moved to Narrabri , New South Wales where they took part in large - scale divisional exercises with the rest of the 1st Armoured Division . In September 1942 , the regiment ' s ' A ' Squadron was deployed to Port Moresby and Milne Bay in New Guinea , making the 2 / 6th the first Australian armoured regiment to be deployed to a combat zone in the Pacific theatre . In December 1942 , ' B ' and ' C ' Squadrons were shipped to Buna on the north coast of Papua to help break the deadlock in the Battle of Buna – Gona . Although the lightly armoured Stuart tanks proved to be unsuited to jungle warfare and suffered heavy casualties , the regiment played an important role in the eventual Australian victory at Buna . In December , seven tanks were dispatched to take part in the fighting around Cape Endaiadere . Three Stuarts were lost on 18 December , while the other four were knocked out on 24 December when they were engaged by Japanese anti - aircraft artillery from point blank range . Reinforcements were brought up , though , and an attack was put in at Giropa Point on 29 December , although difficult terrain prevented a link up with the infantry . Further attacks occurred in January 1943 around the Sananada Track . In April 1943 the regiment was relieved and returned to Australia . Upon its return to Australia the 2 / 6th Armoured Regiment was incorporated into the 4th Armoured Brigade , which was the Australian Army ' s specialist jungle armoured formation . The regiment was transferred to the 1st Armoured Brigade Group in Western Australia in early 1943 , however , and did not see further combat . After the 1st Armoured Brigade Group was disbanded in September 1944 due to manpower shortages and the decreasing strategic need for armour , the regiment operated as an independent formation until it rejoined the 4th Armoured Brigade in July 1945 . Following the end of hostilities , the 2 / 6th Armoured Regiment was disbanded in February 1946 . During the course of its service it lost 15 men killed in action or died on active service , while members of the regiment received the following awards : one Military Cross , one Military Medal and seven Mention in Despatches . Battle honours . For its service during World War II the 2 / 6th Armoured Regiment received three battle honours , these were :