Formed in 1965 from the ranks of the Royal Army Service Corps and the Movement Control Service of the Royal Engineers, the Corps was responsible for all forms of Army transport from pack mule, staff cars, trucks, trains, hovercraft and ships. They also provided Air Despatchers for RAF aircraft and movement staff to control the movement of vehicles, equipment and personnel between theatres on operations and exercises.

As a result of the accepted recommendations of the McLeod Committee, a Royal Warrant dated 26 March 1965 changed the title of the Royal Army Service Corps to Royal Corps of Transport to be effective from 15 July 1965.

THE McLEOD REORGANIZATION

During the period 1961 to 1963 there were discussions within the then War Office on the need to reorganize the Logistic Services. The proposition put forward was in general terms that there should be:-

One Corps for supplying the Army.
One Corps for moving the Army.
One Corps for repairing the vehicles and equipment of the Army

Brigadier WJ Potter (later Major General Sir John Potter KBE CB) was Director of Administrative Planning at the War Office, and with the then Quarter Master General, General Sir Gerald Lathbury developed the theme for the reorganization on the above lines. The QMG presented a paper to the Army Council (now Army Board) on the subject, and after a number of discussions by the Council, General Sir Roderick McLeod GBE KCB DL then GOG in C Eastern Command was appointed as Head of the Committee to examine the proposals. The first meeting of General McLeod's Committee took place on 7 May 1963 and the Committee in a remarkably short time presented to the Army Council their proposals for the changes that would in fact produce an organization on the basis of the concept given above. These included the formation of a Transport Corps for the Army based on the RASC.

In addition, the Royal Engineers would hand over to the new Transport Corps, its transportation functions including Ports, Inland Water and Railways, (other than its civil engineering aspects and mechanical repair), and the Movement Control Service.

From 15 July 1965, the RASC ceased to exist except in history, and the RCT was formed. Its role is to provide transport and movement support to the Army in both peace and war. Transport support includes road, rail and maritime transport together with port operating and air despatch duties. Movements support comprises planning, policy, co-ordination and control of all non-tactical personnel and freight movement, by land, sea and air.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RCT

The main responsibilities of the new Corps are:-

The operation of all forms of road, rail and inland water transport in support of the Army (other than transport organic to the unit). All aspects relating to movement affecting the Army by land, sea and air in peace and war, other than tactical movement.
All transport matters in connection with replenishment in the field including the distribution of all combat supplies forward of replenishment parks.
The operation of harbour and coastal craft and logistic seagoing ships of the Army Department Fleet.
The operation of military ports in the United Kingdom and overseas.
The management, tasking and control of the secure military lines of communication.
The operation of supply by air.
The formulation of doctrine and policy for the administration and operation of B Vehicle management and the control and use of non-operational road transport in the Army.
The management of the system of B vehicle and certain A vehicle driver training in the Army.
The co-ordination of road safety measures in the Army.

Royal Corps of Transport Major Units

Royal Corps of Transport Minor Units

The RCT was amalgamated with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Pioneer Corps, Army Catering Corps, and the Postal and Courier Service of the Royal Engineers, to form the RLC in 1993.