Newcastle Covering Force

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=Newcastle Covering Force

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|dates=1941–42

|country= Australia

|allegiance=

|branch=Australian Army

|type=

|role= Fortress

|size=Brigade +

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|motto=

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|battles=Second World War

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|disbanded=

|commander1=

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|notable_commanders= John Murray

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}}

The Newcastle Covering Force was an Australian militia force responsible for protecting the strategically important Newcastle region in New South Wales and its approaches during World War II. Established on 8 April 1941, the formation's composition changed over the course of its existence, starting from a single infantry battalion support by a machine-gun unit and swelling to roughly brigade-size, with a brigade headquarters and three battalions – two infantry and one garrison – supported initially by a machine gun battalion that was later converted to a motor regiment. The unit was responsible for defending the important port and air bases in and around the town, part of Fortress Newcastle, against a feared Japanese invasion.{{cite web|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6475&Tab=Uhi&Titl=10%20Australian%20Infantry%20Division|title=10th Australian Infantry Division|publisher=Orders of Battle.com|access-date=9 March 2010}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Newcastle Covering Force was converted on 15 April 1942 to the 10th Division, a regular Australian Army unit, following a complete re-organisation of the higher command structures of the Australian Army.McCarthy 1959, p. 26.