Northern Territory Force

Northern Territory Force
Australian infantry at Darwin in August 1942
Active	1942–1946
Country	Australia
Role	Area defence
Size	1–3 brigades
Garrison/HQ	Darwin, Northern Territory
Commanders
Notable commanders	Edmund Herring Jack Stevens
Insignia
Unit colour patch

Northern Territory Force was an Australian Army force responsible for protecting the Northern Territory during World War II. Most units assigned to the Northern Territory Force were based near Darwin and were responsible for defending the important naval and air bases in and around the town against a feared Japanese invasion. Northern Territory Force was renamed the 12th Division in late 1942 but this was short-lived. Australian Army units were rotated through northern Australia during the war and six infantry brigades served as part of Northern Territory Force between 1942 and 1945. The formation was reduced over the course of the war as the strategic situation in the Pacific turned in the Allies' favour, although remnants remained until the end of the war. In early 1946, it was converted back to the 7th Military District.