By the end of World War II there were 24 regiments of the RTR and they had seen service in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Greece, Crete, Algeria, Abyssinia, Sudan, Palestine, Iraq, Persia, Jordan, India and Burma.
Reduced once more to eight regular regiments after the war, the tank has still continued to demonstrate its importance on the modern battlefield, with The Royal Tank Regiment seeing action in Aden, Borneo, Malaya, Egypt, Cyprus, Korea and the Gulf. The Regiment has also had units stationed in Germany, Libya, Hong Kong, England and Northern Ireland.
After World War II, the RTR was reduced through various amalgamations, first in 1959-60:
- 3RTR and 6RTR amalgamated as 3RTR
- 4RTR and 7RTR amalgamated as 4RTR
- 5RTR and 8RTR amalgamated as 5RTR
In 1969, 5RTR was disbanded, while under Options for Change, 4RTR amalgamated with 1RTR, and 3RTR with 2RTR.
However, as the Gulf War yet again illustrated most clearly, it is the quality, bravery and high degree of expertise of the tank crews which was, and still is, the real battle winner. Throughout the tank's history the most important element has been the crewmen, who together make up this close knit team of professionals.
The value of the tank was reinforced again as late as the Summer of 1999 as tanks from a variety of units, led by RTR officers, spearheaded the allied entry into Kosovo as part of the Fourth Armoured Brigade.
The Royal Tank Regiment has continued to see action, Elements of 1RTR were deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and both regiments were involved in the invasion of Iraq, with the 2RTR battlegroup playing an important role in the capture of the city of Basra. Squadrons of both Regiments are still deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq carrying out both Armoured and Infantry tasking.
Today, there are two regiments, the 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments (1RTR and 2RTR). The majority of 1RTR forms part of the Joint CBRN Regiment (together with No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment) at RAF Honington with A Squadron equipped with Challenger 2 as a training unit at Harman Lines,Warminster while 2RTR retains its role as an armoured regiment as part of 1 Mechanised Brigade at Aliwal Barracks,Tidworth.
The Royal Tank Regiment uses a variety of vehicles, including: