Three armoured divisions capable of independent operations were formed during the Second World War, but none were deployed outside Australia. In addition, a small number of Australian-designed Sentinel tanks were delivered to the Army during 19, but the type was never issued to combat units. From 1942 large numbers of American light and medium tanks were delivered to Australia, along with British Matilda IIs. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 led to a significant expansion of Australia's armoured force. The first Australian tanks were a small number of British medium and light tanks which were operated mainly for training purposes during the 1920s and 1930s. The Australian Army's tanks have seen combat during the Second World War and the Vietnam War, where they proved successful despite some of the designs employed being considered obsolete. Throughout this period the Army has primarily been a light infantry force, with its tanks mainly being used in the direct support role.
The Australian Army has used tanks from after the First World War, through the interwar period, the Second World War, the Cold War and to the present day.
