As a regiment that provides armoured, combat and specialist engineer capabilities to the British Army, you would expect to find personnel of 33 Armoured Engineer Squadron on Salisbury Plain, not standing to attention outside Buckingham Palace.
However, in a historic first, the unit – known as the Shamrocks – are swapping Trojans for tunics as they take on public ceremonial duties as part of the King's Guard.
Having recently passed their fit for role inspection, they have now taken part in a Changing the Guard ceremony and will spend the coming months helping to protect the official royal residences and the monarch.
But what is known about the regiment at the ready?
The regiment behind the role
Based at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down, on Salisbury Plain, the Shamrocks form part of 26 Engineer Regiment, a close-support armoured engineering unit within the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers.
More specifically, they provide close-support engineering to the 12th Armoured Brigade, enabling its formations to remain agile on the field of operations.
Comprising more than 600 personnel, the regiment includes plant operators, digital communications technicians, divers and artisan trades.
At their disposal are a wide variety of assets, providing support in some of the most challenging environments.
The Trojan Armoured Vehicle is designed to clear minefields, demolish obstacles and open routes for other military vehicles.
Working alongside it, the Titan is an armoured vehicle launcher bridge (AVLB) which allows troops and vehicles to cross gaps of up to 60 meters by laying a selection of close-support bridges.
Together, the Trojan and Titan form a common heavy-armour engineering fleet based on the Challenger 2 main battle tank chassis.
Another key asset, the Terrier armoured digger, is the British Army's most advanced engineering vehicle.
Weighing in at 32 tonnes, and with the ability to reach speeds of up to 50mph, it has a range of interchangeable equipment such as a forklift and rock hammer that makes it highly adaptable.
Able to transport up to 5,000kg of material, the Terrier can also be equipped with a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun and smoke grenade launchers for use in combat.
Long history of operations
The regiment has routinely undertaken global deployments and major combat operations alongside construction exercises.
Following their reform in 2000, 26 Engineer Regiment served in Kosovo as part of the Nato-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission.
Years later, they were deployed on Operation Telic – the UK military codename for its involvement in the Iraq War – and subsequently to Afghanistan, where personnel constructed forward operating bases, carried out infrastructure tasks, and provided support to combat brigades.
More recently, their peacetime operations have included providing military support to Montenegro, Oman, and Uganda, while construction exercises have been conducted in Gibraltar, Belize, Papua New Guinea, and numerous other locations.
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