TheNo.1 Armoured Car Company RAF was a military unit ofBritain'sRoyal Air Force (RAF) that was based inIraq and played a role in the defence ofRAF Habbaniya duringWorld War II.
On 19 December 1921, "No. 1 Armoured Car Company RAF" was formed atHeliopolis in theKingdom of Egypt and then moved toPalestine, being disbanded there on 1 December 1923 with elements being absorbed intoNo. 2 Armoured Car Company RAF.[1] During the 1920s, further RAF Armoured Car Companies (Nos 3, 4, 5 & 6) were formed in Iraq; however, by 1930, they had been consolidated into No. 1 Company with its base atRAF Hinaidi and sections atMosul andRAF Shaibah.[2]
During theAnglo-Iraqi War, the No. 1 Armoured Car Company RAF was composed of eighteenRolls-Royce armoured cars[3] and severalMorris tenders. These vehicles were among the last of a consignment of ex-Royal Naval Armoured Car Division armoured cars that had been serving in theMiddle East since 1915.[3] In addition to the Rolls-Royce armoured cars, the company had two ancient tanks, named "Walrus" and "Seal".[4]
The company was organised into a headquarters and three sections. Each section had six armoured cars and two wireless tenders. However, the make-up of the company did vary from time to time. Various sections would be detached to other RAF bases in Iraq and on various duties throughout Iraq (and even beyond).
The company was based atRAF Hinaidi Cantonment until it moved toRAF Habbaniya in 1936 (and Hinaidi became the Iraqi Rashid Airbase). RAF Habbaniya had purpose built, modern facilities for both men and machines in the Armoured Car Lines.
On 3 October 1946, the company was incorporated into theRAF Regiment as No. 2701 Armoured Squadron.[1] On 25 February 1947, this unit was renamedNo. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment.[1]
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