Linton Military Camp opens state-of-the-art maintenance facility to support NZ Army equipment The New Zealand Army has taken a major step forward in its ability to maintain a combat-capable, well-equipped and fully prepared fighting force with the opening of the new Maintenance Support Facility at Linton Military Camp Named Farrier Lines, the new 8,500-square-metre facility was opened on 06 December. It replaces Second World War-era buildings with state-of-the-art infrastructure which will allow personnel to maintain and repair current and future defence equipment. From the Latin word ferrum (meaning iron), the name Farrier Lines is a nod to the history of artisanal metal work in the NZ Army, which includes repairing gun carriages and artillery, tending to cavalry horse shoes and blacksmith work, particularly during the First World War. The new facility cost around $50 million and is one of five planned infrastructure projects to be delivered as part of the NZ Army’s Consolidated Logistics Programme. Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, said the Linton facility would improve and modernise Army logistic service delivery to better enable the force to meet the demands of the modern day operating environment. Farrier Lines has a number of features designed to improve its environmental footprint. It has underfloor heating, humidity and temperature controls, EV charging, solar panels and rainwater harvesting.
Line of Defence
Courtesy New Zealand Defence Force.
It will allow soldiers to work in comfort with drivethrough bays, hydraulic vehicle lifts, rolling roads, a gantry crane and a weapons range to test small arms after repairs. This facility will help maintain the NZ Army’s primary combat vehicle, the Light Armoured Vehicle, the recently acquired armoured Bushmaster trucks and a wide range of weapons, radios and specialist equipment. “Farrier Lines is key to ensuring future generations are well prepared for future challenges,” Major General Boswell said. Fit-for-purpose logistics infrastructure is fundamental to our Army being combat-ready and able to operate across the spectrum of military operations, as and when required, domestically, throughout the Pacific and around the world. Linton Military Camp, near Palmerston North, is home to more than 3,000 personnel, and is home to the Army’s primary operational force, 1(NZ) Brigade. It is also home to its biggest workshop which supports several hundred vehicles and its widest range of equipment. 27
