On 20 December 1945, the Regiment moved to Palmanova where it was re-equipped with Churchill 'Crocodile' tanks. Nine months later, the Second moved yet again to Luneburg, North Germany to rejoin the 4th Armoured Brigade. Occupation duties for the Regiment lasted until the spring of 1948 when the Second returned to England after an absence of eight years during which it had seen active service in three continents. The Regiment remained in England for the next four years and was stationed in Aldershot and Tidworth.
On 15 February 1952, the Second moved to Munster, West Germany, and was re-equipped with Centurion tanks. The Regiment remained in Munster until August 1959 when it sailed to Homs in Libya to become an Armoured Car Regiment equipped with Saladin, Saracen and Ferret armoured cars. In October 1961, the Second moved to Benghazi and converted to the airportable role and moved to Tidworth as part of the Strategic Reserve to become the forerunner of the Parachute Squadron, Royal Armoured Corps.
2 RTR left Libya in 1962 and moved to Omagh in Northern Ireland still with Armoured Cars.
In 1964, the Regiment moved to Perham Down and here spent its first Christmas in England for 14 years. Ajax was detached in Cyprus on a six months tour with the United Nations Force and was the first detachment of the Regiment as a whole to wear the light blue beret. In November 1965, the Regiment moved to Hohne, West Germany, to join the 7th Armoured Brigade and where, in 1967, it re-equipped with Chieftains. Three years later, in August 1970, the Second left BAOR for a 2 year tour of duty as the RAC Centre Regiment before returning to Germany and being stationed again in Munster in 1972. During this tour the Regiment provided Armoured Car Squadrons on 4 month emergency tours in Northern Ireland - Badger in 1973 and Ajax in 1974. In 1975 the Regiment, less Badger, spent 4 months in Armagh operating in the infantry role.
In 1977 the Regiment converted to the Armoured Reconnaissance role as a type B Regiment. Ajax and Badger becoming Medium Reconnaissance Squadrons equipped with Scorpions and Scimitars; Cyclops becoming a Close Reconnaissance Squadron equipped for Fox. Hunstman was disbanded on change of role. In late 1977 the Regiment, less Cyclops, returned to Northern Ireland on a 4 month emergency tour. Ajax was deployed to the city of Londonderry in the infantry role; Badger and a Tac HQ were deployed to Magherafelt in South Londonderry in a rural role. In 1978 the Regiment returned to Munster and resumed its role as an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment.
In May 1979, the Regiment returned to Northern Ireland in an Infantry role. It was based in Omagh for 18 months. As one of the resident Regiments in the Province they were primarily involved in patrolling the border area South West of Dungannon. However, at various stages of their tour, elements of the Regiment could be found throughout the six counties.
The Second returned to Germany in late 1980 and was based in Wolfenbuttel, close to the Inner German Border. They were equipped with CVR(T) in the role of Corps Reconnaissance and were constantly involved throughout the training season on exercises.
In early 1984 the Regiment moved to Fallingbostel and converted to Challenger I, the first Challengers arriving in early 1985. They were based in Wessex Barracks. The move to Fallingbostel saw the Second exercising in Canada and major FTXs in Germany.
Having spent six years in Germany the Regiment moved to Catterick in 1990 in the role of the RAC Training Regiment. The task of training RAC recruits was both demanding and formidable and one which tested the Regiment to the full, particularly the JNCOs.
In 1992 the Regiment returned to Germany and moved into Lumsden Barracks in Fallingbostel. They were amalgamated with 3 RTR in 1992. The new Regiment has been on emergency/operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and conducted exercises in Canada, Poland, Southern Germany, in addition to maintaining a permanent presence in Northern Germany. The Regiment took part in the Iraq war and has been deployed to Iraq again since the end of the war. The Regiment returned to Aliwal Barracks Tidworth in 2007 and have deployed Squadrons to Iraq and also took part in training in the UK and Canada.