Its origins are in The Three Rivers Regiment, a militia (Reserve Force) regiment based in Trois-Rivières, a town halfway between Montreal and Quebec. Originally formed in 1862, The Three Rivers Regiment, after many name changes, became the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada in 1968. This was a new Regular Force regiment which was created in Valcartier, while a militia unit was left in Trois-Rivières under the name 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (Milice). The number in the regimental title commemorates The Three Rivers Regiment's title during the Second World War: 12th Armoured Regiment (The Three Rivers Regiment). The Canadian Army traditionally avoided having city or region names in the titles of its Regular Force regiments; this was likely the reason for the 1960s name change.
The 12e Régiment blindé du Canada is called "twelve R-B-C" for short, and affectionately known as the "Twelve Rubber Boot Company" by anglophones in the Canadian Forces.
The regular force regiment comprises four squadrons. B Squadron is equipped with Leopard tanks, and D Squadron is a reconnaissance squadron.
The Second World War: Débarquement en Sicile, Grammichele, Piazza Armerina, Valguarnera, Agira, Adrano, Vallée du Troina, Sicile 1943, Termoli, Le Ravin, Ortona, Cassino II, Ligne Gustav, Vallée du Liri, Ligne Hitler, Ligne Trasimene, Arezzo, L'Avance à Florence, Monte La Pieve, Monte Spaduro, Italie 1943-1945, Apeldoorn, Nord-Ouest de L'Europe 1945
