15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars - Cold War

Cold War

Throughout the Cold War, the regiment saw service across the world. As with most armoured regiments, it spent much of its time in West Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). In 1976 the regiment returned to the United Kingdom, re-roling as an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, equipped with the FV101 Scorpion. The regiment was then deployed, in 1977, back to Germany assigned to the 3rd Armoured Division. The regiment was stationed in the German city of Paderborn and became the fourth, of four divisional Armoured Reconnaissance regiments in BAOR. During this time the Regiment would deploy squadrons to Northern Ireland as part of Operation Banner, which would be formed around the Close Reconnaissance Troops of 'A' Squadron who would be attached to their associated battlegroup. 'A' Squadron also deployed twice as a prison guard force based at HMP Maze and HMP Crumlin. The Close Reconnaissance Troops also deployed to CFB Suffield in Canada on Exercise Medicine Man in the early 1980s.

In late 1984 the main body of the Regiment returned to England as the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment. in Bovington Camp in Dorset. However 'A' Squadron was deployed to Cyprus to serve as the resident Armoured Car Squadron, one of the last units in the British Army to use the Ferret Scout Car, and the Saladin and Saracen armoured cars. In the late 1980s, the Regiment re-roled back to a Main Battle Tank (MBT) unit, equipped with FV4201 Chieftain tanks. Initially the regiment was equipped with the Chieftain Mk5 before being equipped with the more advanced and up-armoured MK10 and Mk11. The regiment was one of the last to actively operate the Chieftain MBT at battle readiness, until the regiment was disbanded during 1992.

As part of the post-Cold War defence reforms, the 15th/19th amalgamated with the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) on 1 December 1992 to form the Light Dragoons. The new regiment designated an Armoured Reconnaissance regiment, and was equipped with FV107 Scimitar Combat Vehicles, Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)s) to be operated in the Formation Reconnaissance role.