Royal Corps of Transport

Active1965–1993

Country

Branch

Royal Corps of Transport
Royal Corps of Transport regimental badge
Active	1965–1993
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Garrison/HQ	Buller Barracks, Aldershot
Mottos	Nil sine labore ("Nothing without labour")^[1]
March	Wait for the Wagon

The Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) was a British Army Corps established to manage all matters in relation to the transport of men and material for the Army and the wider defence forces. It was formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1993; its units and trades were amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps. The Depot and Training Regiment RCT was at the former Buller Barracks in Aldershot garrison.

The corps was formed in 1965 from the transport (land, water and air) elements of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) and the movement control and transportation elements of the Royal Engineers (RE). The Royal Army Service Corps’ functions of supply and transport were separated. The RCT became responsible for transport including ships and launches. whilst supplies became the responsibility of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.^[2] In 1993, following the Options for Change review, the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed by the amalgamation of The Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Pioneer Corps, the Army Catering Corps, and the Postal and Courier elements of the Royal Engineers.^[3]

Regiments and Units

Regiments of the Royal Corps of Transport, including where known last name up to disbandment:^[4]^[5]

1 Division Regiment RCT
- 1971 Renamed 1 Division Transport Regiment RCT
- 1978 Renamed 1 Armoured Division Transport Regiment RCT
2 Division Regiment RCT
- 1973 Renamed 2 Division Transport Regiment RCT,
- 1983 Renamed 2 Infantry Division Transport Regiment RCT
3 Division Regiment RCT
- Early 70s Renamed 3 Division Transport Regiment RCT,
- 1977 Renamed 3 Armoured Division Transport Regiment RCT
4 Division Regiment RCT
- 1973 Renamed 4 Division Transport Regiment,
- 1977 Renamed 4 Armoured Division Transport Regiment
7 Tank Transporter Regiment RCT
8 Transport Regiment RCT
10 Heavy GT Transport Regiment RCT
- early 70s Renamed 10 Transport Regiment RCT,
- 1978 Renamed 10 Corps Transport Regiment RCT
14 Air Dispatch Regiment RCT Disbanded 1875
15 Air Dispatch regiment RCT Disbanded 1968
16 Railway Regiment RCT Disbanded 1967
17 Port Regiment RCT
- 1977 Renamed 17 Port & Maritime Regiment RCT
20 Landing Craft Tank Regiment RCT
- 1968: Renamed 20 LCT Support Regiment RCT
- 1971: Reformed into 20 Maritime Regiment RCT
- 1977: Renamed Maritime Detachment RCT
- Mar 79: Renamed 20 Maritime Regiment RCT
21 (Northern Ireland) Transport and Movement Regiment RCT
23 Transport and Movement Regiment RCT
24 Regiment RCT
25 Regiment RCT
26 Transport and Movement Regiment RCT
27 Regiment RCT
28 Transport and Movement Regiment RCT
29 Movement Control Regiment RCT
- 1976 Renamed 29 Transport and Movement Regiment RCT
30 Regiment
31 Regiment
32 Regiment RCT
33 Maritime Regiment RCT

Independent Squadrons

H Squadron Horse Transport
1 Squadron RCT - Independent from 1970s
6 Artillery Support Squadron
14 Squadron Bielefeld HQ 1(BR)Corps
20 Squadron London District Formed from 20 Company RASC
24 Squadron took over 404 Troop Belize 1983
38 Squadron RCT Libya Disbanded 1968
- Reformed early 1970s 38 Sqn RCT
44 Squadron Movement Control RCT
- 1975 Renamed 44 Squadron RCT - Blackdown Barracks Deepcut
- 1982 Renamed 44 Squadron RCT RMAS - Sandhurst
54 Engineer Support & Ambulance Sqn RCT Disbanded 1992
62 (Berlin) Sqn RCT
- 1969: Renamed 62 Transport & Movement Squadron RCT
- 1979: Renamed 62 Squadron RCT Disbanded 1992
70 Movement Control Squadron RCT Disbanded 1972
79 Railway Squadron RCT

Other Units of the RCT

Maritime Group, Royal Corps of Transport
Headquarters Air Dispatch Group
1st Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery Wrexham Bks Mulheim disbanded 1970 - 38 Sqn RCT would assume role.
2 Transport Group
Logistic Support Group Unit RCT
- 1977 Renamed Logistic Support Group Regiment RCT -
Gurkha Transport Regiment
Parachute Logistic Regiment
Cyprus Logistic Unit

Small RCT units

395 Air Dispatch Troop Part of 29 Tpt & Mov Regt
MT Troop 22nd Regt Special Air Service
401 Troop 1965 - 1967 Benghazi Libya, Moved to Cyprus Aug 67 - no further info
402 Troop 1965 Malaya
403 Troop Ex 404 Tp RASC 1965 Malaya
404 Troop 1966 Libya - 1977 Airport Camp Belize
405 Troop 1965 Borneo
407 Troop 1982 (Campaign only) Falkland Islands
410 Troop Scotland
414 Pack Transport Troop 1968 Hong Kong 1976 Disbanded
414 Tank Transporter Troop 1976
415 Maritime Troop 1970 Hong Kong
416 Troop Londonderry 1970
460 Port Troop (Falkland Islands) Campaign only
486 Movement Control Troop 1965 Berlin Ex RE
487 Movement Control Troop 1965 Belgium Ex RE

TAVR Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve Regiments

150 Transport Regiment RCT
151 Transport Regiment RCT
152 Transport Regiment RCT
153 Transport Regiment RCT
154 Transport Regiment RCT
155 Transport Regiment RCT
156 Transport Regiment RCT
157 Transport Regiment RCT
161 Ambulance Regiment RCT
162 Movement Control Regiment RCT
163 Movement Control Regiment RCT

Trades

The Royal Corps of Transport consisted of a number of different specialist trades. These included:^[6]

Driver was the primary trade of the RCT and as such private soldiers held the rank 'Driver'.
- Driver (Responsible for General Duties and Driver tasks).
- Driver Radio operator
- Driver Tank Transporter
- Driver Air Dispatcher

In conversation, the 'Driver' element was often omitted from these other Driver roles, even though the rank abbreviation of Dvr remained.

Clerical trades also completed basic driver training before going on to specialise

Clerk - Working within RCT Squadrons.
Movement controller previously referred to as Traffic Operator

Port and Specialised Support Trades, Port and Maritime specialists

Again basic driver training was required.

Driver Port Operator
Driver Railwayman (79 Railway Squadron RCT)
Mariner (Seaman)
Marine Engineer
Pilot - Hovercraft - for a very short period. Pilot was not really a trade but an appointment.

RCT personnel served in additional roles

Staff car Driver could be carried out by any driver trade and additionally by those that carried out the Staff car Driver's course at the Army School of Mechanical Transport - (Later Defence School of Transport).
Airborne Forces as a Parachutist but stayed in trade, so not for sea, port and railway trades. N.B. Parachutist was never a trade in the RCT. However, 63 Parachute Squadron RCT was part of the Airborne Bde.^[7]
Royal Marines (Commando Logistic Regiment) Having completed the 'Army Commando Course'
Special Duties Teams in Northern Ireland
Master Driver, an appointment available to Warrant Officers who had passed Master Driver selection and the Master Driver Course. Passing the course did not automatically guarantee selection for the role. Master Driver appointment remained solely RCT until after amalgamation to RLC when tri-service roles were introduced, as well as international roles.

Additional Officer Information

The RCT provided the first Service Support Officer to be the Commanding Officer 22 SAS (Brigadier Andrew Massey RCT, CO 22 SAS 1984–87)^[8]