CONTACT Yearbook 2019

YEARBOOK

2019

BEST OF

2019 YEARBOOK

Produced by Contact Publishing, PO Box 3091, Minnamurra, NSW 2533 www.contactairlandandsea.com

2019 YEARBOOK

Compiled from the 2019 archives of CONTACT Air Land & Sea e-magazine

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CONTENTS

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6 The Big Pictures 12 F-35A

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Arrives in Oz

16 Red flag

F-35 scorecard

18 Military Lifeline

North Queensland floods

24 FIRE FIRE FIRE 26 Does size matter?

Why Boxer is so big

32 New fleet

32 12

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Air Warfare Destroyer

36 Jungle training 40 Ex Matilda 44 Carl Gustav 48 Range in a box 50 Talisman Sabre

Large-scale exercise

48 Range in a box 60 Queen’s Standars 62 Spartan 64 Surabaya 66 Recruit training 70 Commandos 78 Danger Close 80 Iron beasts 84 Indo Pacific 90 Diamond Storm 92 WoI 96 Alaric 98 Cadet Corner 5

MARCH BIG PICTURE

Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller

THE ANGEL

HERCULES

A Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules creates a ‘flare angel’ by dispensing its self-protection decoy flares during Australia Day celebrations on Sydney Harbour.

Flares are an infrared countermeasure deployed by military planes and helicopters to confuse heat-seeking surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. Pilots and crew hope that the missile will be attracted to the heat from the flare instead of the aircraft’s engine exhaust.

Unfortunately, several modern missiles are smart enough not to fall for the trick.

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Photo by Sergeant Alexis K. Washburn, US Army

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D-DAY

LANDINGS

US Army soldiers assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct a parachute drop near the island of Mont Saint-Michel in northern France on 18 May 2019, to rehearse for and promote official commemoration activities to mark the 75th Anniversary of D-Day – the World War Two landings, on 6 June 1944, that paved the way for the Allied liberation of France.

JUNE BIG PICTURE

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SEPTEMBER BIG PICTURE

Photo by Leading Seaman Tara Byrne

FRENCH AIR SUPPORT

HMAS Toowoomba supports FS Charles De Gaulle as a Rafale F3 aircraft launches during Exercise La Perouse.

The Royal Australian Navy frigate was deployed to Asia in support of Australian Defence Force regional engagement objectives, interoperability with international partners and participation in international exercises.

During the wider deployment, HMAS Toowoomba participated in the French-led Exercise La Perouse, May 2019.

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Photo by Cristabel Migliorini

DECEMBER BIG PICTURE

C LOSE ENC OUNTERS

A No. 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster flies over the Brisbane River during the Sunsuper Riverfire event.

Sunsuper Riverfire is a much-loved community event that brings together more than half a million people to celebrate life in Queensland’s capital city with music, food, drink, fireworks and, of course, loud and low jets.

The Royal Australian Air Force has had a long association with the cultural festival, which has been running for 21 years.

A RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet and a C-17A Globemaster brought the noise this year.

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BIG PICTURES

Photo by Gunner Sagi Biderman Lance Corporal Steve Turnbull, 2nd/17th Royal New South Wales Regiment, in Tonga during Exercise Tafakula 2019.

Members of the Australian Army took part in the Tongan-led exercise for the first time this year. Held every two years, the exercise is led by His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga with the New Zealand Defence Force, New Caledonian Armed Forces, Nevada National Guard and the United States Marine Corps joining to train together. The Australian contingent consisted of 16 personnel from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) and the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers.

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Photo by Chief Petty Officer Cameron Martin Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer HMAS Hobart III entered the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Fleet Base East in Sydney in April.

She is in for scheduled maintenance and structural modifications to accomodate the MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ helicopter.

The docking evolution was carried out by the Commonwealth and defence-industry partners and is considered a milestone for the fleet.

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Sun begins to set on RAAF ‘classic’ Hornets

TOO Meet Conan, a military working dog wounded in a US special forces raid in which ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed on 26 October 2019. Conan is a Belgian Malinois. He is a four-year veteran of the SOCOM K-9 program and is credited with more than 50 combat missions. He was electrocuted during the Baghdadi raid, by wires made bare in the tunnel when Baghdadi detonated his suicide vest. He has since recovered and gone back to work – and paid a visit to The White House.

RAAF F/A-18A A21-053 enjoys one of her last sunsets in Australian ownership during Exercise Red Flag 19-1 in Nevada, USA. After the exercise concluded, A21-053 and A21-055 were ferried to Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, in Alberta –the first two of 25 Australian F/A18 (plus spares and ground equipment) sold to the Royal Canadian Air Force to bolster their fighter fleet while they decide which future fighter to purchase. The pair of Aussies landed in Cold Lake on Saturday 16 February and were formally accepted during an indoor ceremony the following day. They will shortly go through an upgrade/ modification program before joining the active Canadian fleet. Of the ‘up to 25’ aircraft sold to Canada, 18 will be made flight ready while the balance will be used for training and for spare parts. Australia got $90million dollars from the sale.

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Photo by Corporal David Cotton

Photo by US DoD 11

“

Replaces nothing – but changes everything

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WORDS AND PHOTOS BRIAN HARTIGAN

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The first two of 72 Australian F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters to be based in Australia landed at RAAF Base Williamtown on 10 December 2018.

It was a truly historic occasion as A35-009 and A35-010, the first of a new fighter fleet took residence in brand new and very impressive facilities at the RAAF base north of Newcastle, New South Wales.

Thousands turned out to see the arrival – with so many spectators outside the fence that the RAAF organised port-a-loos and traffic control to keep things running smoothly.

Inside the wire, a large and enthusiastic media contingent – including CONTACT – got excellent air-side vantage pozzies for the touchdown.

Before the grand entrance, a single F/A-18 put on a cool and close aerobatic display.

Then the stars of the show appeared on the horizon, escorted by four F/A-18As in very close formation.

As the four Hornets landed and taxied out of the way, the two Lightnings did two more passes, showing off their beautiful lines (yes, I am a fan ;-).

The waft of burnt jet fuel along the airfield was another delight.

As Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor of New South Wales David Hurley (since replacing General Cosgrove in the top job), Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne, Minister for Defence Industry Steve Ciobo, Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell and a very-happy Chief of Air Force Air Marshall Leo Davies – led their VIP entourage, the size of which has probably never been witnessed in Williamtown (nor many other places), to their seats, the media scrum were bussed to 3 Squadron’s heavily fenced aircraft compound for an excellently close view of the two new jets roosting in their flash new ‘car ports’.

Much of the speechafying was predictable – until Chief of Air Force got up.

“Ladies and gentlemen, how do you make an air chief happy,” Air Marshall Davies said, indicating the two jets over his shoulder.

“The F-35 is not just a 5th generation fighter, with speed and agility and advanced information systems, it is a catalyst for transforming us into a 5th generation fighting force.

“An integrated Australian Defence Force is greater than the sum of its parts and the F-35 has been a driver for this change.

“The F-35 replaces nothing – it changes everything.”

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He said that while it was a modest beginning with just two jets, a dozen pilots and 40 maintainers, the arrival of the first two aircraft in Australia represented the transformation of the Royal Australian Air Force.

“Today, ladies and gentlemen, the naysayers can take a seat – this is our day.”

Vice Admiral Mat Winter, F-35 Program Executive Officer, was my favourite speaker on the day – his classic US Marine Corps drawl and persona only excentuating the power of his oration.

“This delivery and the start of formal operational testing is a milestone more than 18 years in the making.

“It is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication from the joint government and industry team who completed the most comprehensive, rigorous and safest developmental flight test program in aviation history.”

Those are just a few highlights of his speach I managed to pinch from another source. I’m sorry I didn’t record the lot and can’t find a transcripot or remember the specifics of it – but I do remember feeling just a little bit goose-bumped by his delivery.

The two aircraft delivered on this day – A35-009 and A35-010 – were actually handed over to the RAAF in August and September 2018 and were the first to be accepted directly into an Australian operational unit under RAAF airworthiness authority.

The previous eight were delivered into the US/international pilot-training program at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

Ten nations are currently flying F-35s and, with the RAAF’s first two arrivals, Australia becomes the 7th nation with F-35 aircraft based on home soil, joining the US, UK, Italy, Norway, Israel and Japan – and with the formal commencement of flying operations out of RAAF Base Williamtown, F-35s are now operating from 16 bases worldwide.

The RAAF expects to receive another eight F-35s at Williamtown this year and that 3 Squadron will reach Initial Operating Capability (capable of going to war) by next year.

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F-35 SCORECARD AT

RED FLAG 19-1 Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron wrapped up flying operations with the F-35A Lightning II in an “exponentially more challenging” Red Flag 19-1 in February – integrating the F-35A into a large, capable ‘Blue Force’ in diverse missions against an equally capable ‘Red Force’.

Words USAF 388th Fighter Wing Photos RAAF Corporal David Cotton

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Nearly 3000 personnel from 39 units participated in the exercise, including the US Navy, US Air Force, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.

The Red Force was made up of hybrid threats, combinations of the “most advanced weapons systems out there,” meant to replicate “near-peer” enemies in a largescale conflict, in a shift closely aligning with the US National Defense Strategy.

388th Operations Group commander Colonel Joshua Wood said the first time he attended Red Flag, in 2004, tactics were the same as they had been since the early 1980s.

“Now, the threat and complexity are at a whole different level,” Colonel Wood said.

“It’s no longer assumed that we will gain and maintain air superiority – that’s a big shift.”

Red Flag aggressors encompass the whole spectrum of an adversary force – advanced integrated air-defense systems, an adversary air force, cyber-warfare and information operations.

Because of these diverse capabilities, many Red Flag missions are flown in “contested or denied” environments with active electronic-attack, communications-jamming, and GPS denial.

“Those situations highlight the fifth-generation capabilities of the F-35,” Colonel Wood said.

4th Fighter Squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Yosef Morris said they were still able to operate and be successful in such environments.

“In a lot of cases we have a large role as an integrated quarterback,” he said.

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“Our ability to continue to fuse and pass information to the entire package makes every aircraft more survivable.”

During the first week of Red Flag, F-35 pilots flew in a larger force of Blue Air in a counter-air mission, with more than 60 aggressor aircraft flying against them, blinding many of the fourth-generation aircraft with “robust” electronic-attack capabilities – but not the F-35.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Colonel Wood said.

“This is not a mission you’d normally want a young pilot flying in, but my wingman was a brand new F-35A pilot, seven or eight flights out of training.

“He gets on the radio and tells an experienced, 3000-hour pilot in a very capable fourth-generation aircraft – “Hey bud, you need to turn around, you’re about to die –there’s a threat off your nose”.”

The young pilot then ‘killed’ the enemy aircraft and had three more kills in the hour-long mission.

“Even in this extremely challenging environment, the F-35 didn’t have many difficulties doing its job,” Colonel Wood said.

“That’s a testament to the pilot’s training and the capabilities of the jet.”

One of the most valuable things about this exercise for the 4th Fighter Squadron was the experience it provided younger pilots flying combat missions as part of an integrated force.

Thirteen pilots in the squadron had never flown the F-35 in Red Flag, and four of them just graduated pilot training.

New F-35A pilot 1st Lieutenant Landon Moores said he was told Red Flag was the most realistic thing short of actual combat.

“It’s been pretty intense,” he said.

Missions aren’t just 90-minute flights. They require 12-hours of intense planning the day before, a two-hour pre-brief, and then several hours of debriefing after the mission – dissecting the outcome and looking for ways to improve.

“It’s not like we just come back and high-five if we’re successful,” Lieutenant Colonel Morris said.

“Could we have done better? Did we have all the resources we needed? Often the brief and debrief are the most valuable parts of Red Flag, especially for younger pilots.”

Red Flag is not a ‘rolling campaign’. It’s made up of different scenarios that increase in difficulty as the weeks go on. This allows the integrated force to learn how best to capitalise on the strengths and protect the weaknesses of each platform in very specific mission sets.

“With stealth, the F-35 can get closer to threats than many other aircraft can. Combined with the performance of the fused sensors on the F-35, we can significantly contribute to the majority of the missions,” Lieutenant Colonel Morris said.

4th Fighter Squadron brought 12 aircraft and more than 200 airmen to the three-week exercise – pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, weapons crews and support personnel, including reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing. Maintainers didn’t lose a single sortie to a maintenance ground-abort and had spare aircraft available for every mission.

“As this aircraft matures, we continue to see it be a significant force-multiplier in a threat-dense environment,” Lieutenant Colonel Morris said.

“Red Flag was a success for us and has made our younger pilots more lethal and more confident.”

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MILITARY LIFEL

For days, a monsoonal trough soaked north Queensland and, by January 31, the situation in Townsville and the broader region was dire. The deluge was predicted to continue at record levels and the Ross River Dam was already full.

That’s when 3 Brigade clicked into high gear.

WORDS FLYING OFFICER CLARICE HURREN AND CAPTAIN DEAN BENSON MAIN: 5th Aviation Regiment soldiers load bottled water on to an MRH-90 for delivery to Cungulla, Queensland, isolated by flood water. Photo by Private Brodie Cross.

RIGHT: A convoy of APCs negotiate flood-damaged areas of Townsville. Photo by Major Al Green.

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INE

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Led by the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG), Townsville’s emergency services, including the Army (with further support from Air Force later on), began planning for what was about to happen.

The men and women of 3rd Brigade started filling sandbags in earnest, loading them onto trucks ready to take them where directed.

Brigade HQ assembled and set up its Joint Operations Room. Notice to move was decreased across the brigade.

On the morning of February 1, the official request from the LDMG came.

Within 30 minutes, reconnaissance parties were out the door, surveying the areas where water was rapidly rising. Work parties accompanied by trucks loaded with sand bags were dispatched and platoons of personnel began sandbagging threatened homes.

As the waters continued to rise and modelling of the impact and potential flooding threat became clear, it was evident that sandbagging operations alone would not be enough. On the morning of February 2, the Brigade supported evacuation efforts through door knocking and providing information.

That evening, Air Force flew in more sandbags. These were filled and stacked and distributed to the community.

Defence continued to aid police and other civil authorities in their evacuation efforts.

On February 3, an official request for significant support was received by the government and Joint Task Force 658 was formed.

With its unique capabilities right on the doorstep, Townsville City Council and the emergency services called on the JTF to assist with evacuations of those caught by the rapidly rising floodwaters.

Using a range of vehicles, including Bushmasters and ASLAVs and new-to-service Land 121 vehicles, the JTF assisted civil authorities ensuring the safety of the Townsville community.

But the rain just kept coming. The dam was now overflowing, so its gates were opened to prevent disaster.

Being in the right place at the right time became imperative. From noon on 3 February to 5am on the 4th, the JTF evacuated more than 600 residents stranded in their homes.

When the floodwaters became too deep and the current too dangerous, small boats replaced the military vehicles.

In absolute darkness and driving rain, the task force ferried members of the community to the safety of the Lavarack Barracks Gym, converted into a short-term evacuation centre.

The next morning, a new team of boats were out on the water retrieving those who had spent the night in sodden homes, with no electricity and no way of getting out.

The speed at which the task force was able to react showed the readiness which all its elements are able to maintain, albeit in a ‘reset year’.

The courage of members and their bias for action was clear at every turn. Most encouraging was the teamwork displayed – not just throughout the JTF, but importantly with emergency services too.

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As the waters began to recede, a harsh reality came to light. The very troops who were instrumental in saving the lives of so many in Townsville faced the daunting realisation that they too had lost their homes.

Regardless, the JTF immediately began planning the recovery effort. The initial focus would be on immediate assistance to the civil authorities in gaining access to critical infrastructure...

These efforts were rapidly followed by a systematic approach to getting schools, child-care centres and community facilities back up and running.

The next phase saw the JTF assist the council with kerb-side rubbish removal. But, with two out of three homes in Townsville affected, this task was bigger than most could imagine.

More than 2800 ADF personnel from Army and Air Force were actively engaged in supporting the disaster response.

Further afield

While Joint Task Force 658 was busy cleaning up Townsville, a sister task force, JTF 646 was established to help the flood-ravaged central and north-west of the State.

With thick mud underneath and the stench of dead cattle all around, the thumping hum of approaching MRH90 helicopters brought a vital lifeline to those most in need.

“If it doesn’t come by air, then we’ve got nothing,” grazier Holly Stevens said amidst starving cattle on her remote Cremona property in north-west Queensland.

Holly and her husband David were just two of the scores of farmers who lost hundreds if not thousands of livestock as floodwaters destroyed vast areas of fodder across Queensland – particularly the shires of McKinlay, Cloncurry, Richmond and Winton.

With vast stretches of road still completely cut-off and submerged, the only way to help was by air.

On hand to assist in some of the hardest-hit and most remote areas was a massive ADF effort, aided by a staunchly resilient local population determined not to let one of the worst disasters in recent history knock them down.

“We had 30 inches of rainfall in 10 days and more than 12 inches in just one day. It was phenomenal and we just couldn’t do anything,” Holly said.

“The cattle here would’ve been dead by now if the Defence Force didn’t bring some feed in. We really appreciate it, but we’re not out of the woods yet.”

5th Aviation Regiment was at the forefront of the ADF’s operations in the west, delivering 30 tonnes of life-saving feed to stranded livestock on three MRH90s.

“The situation here in central Queensland is dire,” Officer Commanding B Squadron, 5 Aviation Regiment, Major Richard Ward said.

“There are a lot of dead cattle out there but there are also a lot of isolated cattle, and without that food they don’t really stand a chance.

“Our personnel here know how important the cattle are to the survival of these communities.

“A lot of them have friends and family back in Townsville affected by the floods, so for them to come out on a very quick deployment and provide such an amazing effort has made me very proud.”

TOP RIGHT: Bombardier Sam Stewart, Sergeant Jacob Garlick, Lieutenant Jack Cailes and Bombardier Christopher Broderick, 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, assess houses at risk of flooding. Photo by Private Brodie Cross.

CENTRE RIGHT: Members of JTF 568 prepare to launch Zodiacs to search flooded suburbs of Townsville. Photo by Private Brodie Cross.

BOTTOM RIGHT: View from a C-27J Spartan on approach to Normanton.

Photo by Sergeant Andrew Eddie.

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ABOVE: A fleet of Bushmasters stand ready to take 1RAR soldiers to assist Townsville residents during the flood. Photo by Private Brodie Cross.

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Teams from 9 and 10 Force Support Battalions set up refuelling points in the towns of Richmond and Julia Creek, allowing farmers and civilian contractors to get their own helicopters in the air to deliver feed to starving cattle cut off by the floodwater.

Brigadier Stephen Jobson, Commander JTF646, praised the efforts of local community members in helping his people to be as targeted and efficient with their assistance as possible.

“This is a massive operation from members of all three services that has been conducted shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the affected communities,” he said.

“These people have helped us be efficient and effective with our resources. The spirit they’ve shown out here has been incredible and all of the local councils have really pulled together.

“They’ve come up with the plan and priorities of where the fodder is going and so we’ve really managed to develop an excellent relationship with them in this tough time.”

Defence experts in environmental health, logistics, engineering, veterinary science and planning deployed to Julia Creek to help local councils develop and implement a robust long-term recovery plan.

Hub and Spoke

RAAF’s 35 Squadron’s C-27J aircraft and personnel from RAAF Base Amberley responded swiftly to deliver personnel and urgent fuel stocks to Mt Isa and western Queensland in support of the flood emergency.

The first two flights to western Queensland on February 9 were the first of the year for the squadron, marking the start of flying operations from their new base at Amberley two days earlier than scheduled.

Loadmaster Sergeant Jay Goggin said two C-27J Spartans and crew worked with Army personnel from 9th Force Support Battalion to load collapsible bladders containing 1895 litres of much-needed fuel.

“The fuel bladders were delivered to the isolated areas of Richmond and Julia Creek for local civilian helicopters dropping fodder and hay to farmers and livestock devastated by the extreme weather conditions,” Sergeant Goggin said.

Squadron Leader Mark Seery, XO 35 Squadron, said the deployed team consisted of pilots, loadmasters, technicians and engineers who flew the supplies more than 1500km to western Queensland.

“The C-27J Spartan is an agile aircraft that can land in austere airfields and along dirt strips enabling the quick insertion of supplies to areas that need it most, and would have otherwise been inaccessible for larger aircraft or via road transport,” Squadron Leader Seery said.

35 Squadron will continue to provide assistance in support of the north Queensland flood relief efforts over the coming weeks.

CO 35 Squadron Wing Commander Ben Poxon said the ongoing flood relief response was a “hub and spoke” operation that highlighted the strength and flexibility of the air-mobility fleet.

The squadron worked closely with C-17A Globemasters to move more supplies to those affected by the floods.

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“The C-17A flew multiple fuel bladders into larger, more established airfields such as Mt Isa airport – the hub – from where the C-27J transported to smaller, remote airfields – the spokes – where Army personnel are waiting to unload,” he said.

Ai r bridge

In one 24-hour period, No 36 Squadron and No 23 Squadron air movements delivered much-needed groceries following an urgent request for support from flood-ravaged Townsville.

Extreme weather conditions and unprecedented flooding cut off the movement of essential supplies and fresh food into the flooded areas of north Queensland via road and rail.

Air Movements Support Flight Commander Squadron Leader Ben Barber said a 40-strong team of movements, supply and loadmaster personnel came together on February 5 at RAAF Base Amberley to unload and pack 72 tonnes of stores trucked onto base by Woolworths and Coles.

“The first C-17A Globemaster was loaded with 90,000 pounds of supplies and the second had 53,000 pounds,” Squadron Leader Barber said.

“This included fresh fruit and vegetables as well as essentials such as bottled water.”

Flight Lieutenant Tim Smith, captain of the second C-17A, said helping the community in emergency situations like this was a rewarding experience for the crew and not a task they took lightly.

Echoing the sentiment, CO 36 Squadron Wing Commander Steve Ferguson said the squadron was committed to being the asset of choice for ADF responses to humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

“We have a unique capability to respond quickly and on a large scale to disaster relief efforts both at home in Australia and in our region,” he said.

“36 Squadron takes pride in being among the first responders.

“I also commend those in Townsville who were on the ground assisting, and continue to, despite their own homes being affected by floodwaters.”

Life savers

Bombardier Tyler Wolfenden and Gunner William Wakefield describe themselves as ‘just your average soldiers’, but the pair proved themselves a fair bit above average when they sprang into action as a life-threatening situation unfolded near the Townsville RSL. During the start of the inundation, a small team of soldiers were placing sandbags at ingress points around the Townsville RSL Club when a member of public got into difficulty passing a flooded culvert on Charters Towers Road.

The man had underestimated the strength of the current and was clinging precariously to a guardrail.

Alerted to the situation, Gunner Wakefield and Bombardier Wolfenden immediately ran through the swift water and secured the man, preventing him from losing his grip and being swept down the flood-swollen creek.

Other Defence members quickly arrived and assisted in removing the man from the hazardous area, which later saw three vehicles, including a police car, swept away by the fierce current.

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ABOVE: Bombardier Tyler Wolfenden and Gunner William Wakefield rescue a local from floodwaters. Photo from unit Facebook page.

RIGHT: An unnamed soldier from 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, assists Townsville residents sandbag their home. Photo by Lance Corporal Allan Firth.

FAR RIGHT: Essential supplies are offloaded from a C-17A Globemaster at Townsville Airport. Photo by Corporal Nicci Freeman.

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‘Catastrophic’ bushfire condition on Australia’s east coast in November were so overwhelming for civilian authorities that a major support effort from the ADF was officially called for – and all three services responded with much-needed resources.

Army and Navy helicopters were put to good use. A range of RAAF planes got a workout. Engineers, cooks, logisticians and a plethora of bodies pitched in.

However, the military assistance was strictly in a supporting role – though some got closer to the fire front than others.

The ADF is not trained, equipped or certified to undertake ground-based or aerial bush firefighting and does not get involved in the direct act of fighting bushfires outside Defence property.

Direct firefighting responsibility falls to the experts.

But where the military does excel is in areas such as transport – moving firefighters and their equipment from all over Australia to the fire front.

C-17A Globemasters, C-130J Hercules, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports and even 737 Boeing Business Jets picked up and deliverd firefighters by the hundreds.

Army and Navy helicopters also picked people up – firefighting experts and planners in smaller numbers for shorter transits, but also searching for and evacuating civilians in danger of approaching fire fronts.

One Royal Australian Navy MRH-90 helicopter spent the first day of catastrophic fire conditions on search24

and-rescue missions to support firefighting efforts around Kempsey, New South Wales.

After leaving Royal Australian Air Force Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, the helicopter kept ahead of the firefront to ensure property owners were well prepared and equipped for the approaching firestorm.

Flying low over properties in the direct path of the fire, the aircrew made hand signals to property owners and were prepared to evacuate any who did not give the ‘thumbs up’.

Lieutenant Commander Michael Cairncross piloted one of the first missions, making several landings for the specialist firefighter on board to engage with community members.

“MRH-90 has the capability to quickly move more people and equipment than firefighting helicopters can,” Lieutenant Commander Cairncross said.

“I have never witnessed the intensity of a firestorm engulfing an entire mountain in less than five minutes.

“It was an extremely dynamic environment to fly in and challenging for the entire crew.”

Jeff Hodder, an aviation rescue crewman, is one of only 30 specialist volunteers with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and joined the MRH-90 crew for these first missions.

“I am a volunteer with the Cowan Brigade, on the fringe of Sydney just south of the Hawksbury River,” Mr Hodder said.

“I had been out fighting fires on the ground on Friday night and Saturday morning around Taree before my first-ever flight in a Navy helicopter.”

Both men agreed that proving the interoperability between the Royal Australian Navy and Rural Fire Service under such extreme conditions had been a great learning experience.

Further north, in Queensland, Tiger helicopters, aircrew and mission support personnel assisted firefighting efforts by flying fire-mapping missions at night to supplement Queensland Fire and Emergency Service activities.

At night, the cooler air provides an opportunity for Tiger crews to map the fire perimeters so QFES firepredicting specialists can analyse them.

What they glean from their infra-red data helps better deploy firefighters where they are most needed and with a better plan of action.

QFES Acting Chief Superintendent Kevin Reading said Tiger helicopter crews were flying a number of profiles during the night, using the aircrafts’ manoeuvrability to tightly map the fire lines.

“The accuracy being provided by the Tiger aircrews is first class,” cting Chief Superintendent Reading said.

“They have been able to value-add to our operations in Queensland by gathering information through latenight missions that we then assess in the early morning and, ultimately, pass on to the firefighters on the ground at the start of their day.”

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As well as linking in with the QFES mapping software, Army Tiger crews also provided thermal imagery of potential flare-up areas detected during their missions.

Elsewhere, Army supplied personnel to prepare and cook three meals a day for 250 firefighters at the Rural Fire Service staging ground in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, to give respite to volunteers who had been providing meals.

Lismore Depot of the 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, and Singleton Army Barracks in the Hunter Region provided accommodation and catering support to hundreds of tired and hungry firefighters from the Victorian Country Fire Authority.

Army also provided logistics support to the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services incident control centre, hosted at Borneo Barracks, Carbarlah, and embedded liaison officers in several co-ordination centres across both States.

Personnel from Kokoda Barracks, Canungra, and the 7th Brigade, Brisbane, provided engineering support Subscribe free at www.aussiecombat.com

to assist Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to clean up fire breaks near Beechmont.

Army’s Borneo Barracks near Toowoomba established a helicopter-landing site, overnight parking and refuelling capability for civilian rotary-wing aircraft.

Helicopters and ground troops were used in at least two separate and successful search efforts for missing civilians in fire danger areas.

RAAF Bases Williamtown, Richmond, Edinburgh and even Pearce in WA catered to the needs of very busy firefighting aircraft.

RAAF Base Richmond also accommodated and catered for hundreds of firefighters, and opened maintenance hangars for up to 50 fire appliances and support vehicles.

It was a massive effort over several weeks – and the summer fire season hasn’t even properly started yet.

Good luck to you all – and stay safe.

Little did we know when we wrote this what was to come after Christmas!

OPPOSITE MAIN: Volunteer firefighters from Victoria’s Country Fire Authority board a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster at RAAF Base Richmond.

OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT: Army Aviation Detachment Commander Captain Abdul Hamidon provides a post-flight brief to emergency services near Yeppoon.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM RIGHT: Firefighters from across Australia receive a brief on the thermal-imagery capability of the ARH-Tiger.

ABOVE LEFT: Leading Seaman Benjamin Nixon on a search-andrescue flight.

ABOVE RIGHT: Captain Abdul Hamidon receives a briefing from Queensland Fire and Rescue Service officers near Yeppoon.

DOES SIZE MATTER?

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That’s a question I’ve been asked so many times I figured it was about time I came up with an answer. This photo says a lot, but when you see a boxer in the flesh, it’s still a real surprise.

Boxers (and vehicles like them) are huge. Bigger than anything else Australian Army drivers will take bush – or on public roads – for quite a while.

I used to drive an ASLAV on public roads – I took it to Summernats in Canberra and the Bathurst 1000, and drove it from Canberra to Wodonga and back several times. I nearly killed Tripple J’s Merrick and Rosso in it at Parliament House another morning – or so they told their radio audience that afternoon.

Back then I thought ASLAV was a pretty big beast – and doing 101km/hr while overtaking a bus full of Japanese tourists doing 100km/hr, I’m quite certain they thought it was impressive too – taking dozens of photos of it and me as I slid slowly past them, catching bugs in my teeth and wind in my hair in the exposed, driver-up seating position.

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Yep, I thought ASLAV was impressive – but fair dinkum, it’s no more than a toy compared to Boxer.

ASLAV weighed in at around 15 tonne, while boxer is much closer to 40 tonne (officially 38.5) all-up weight in battle trim.

ASLAV stands 2.7 metres tall to the top of the turret.

Boxer is nearly that tall in the chassis, before you add a turret.

Boxer is 1.4m longer and nearly 400mm wider.

And the ASLAV’s M242 25mm Bushmaster chain gun is significantly outgunned by Boxer’s Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon with co-axial 7.62mm machinegun – not to mention the advantages 28

of superior, modern optics, sensors and ballistics computing.

It will also be fitted with anti-tank guided missiles in the form of Rafael Spike LR, a .50cal remote weapon system (majority Australian-made EOS) and an as-yetunspecified active protection system (something like Israel’s Iron Fist, which detects incoming threats such as RPGs and essentially shoots them out of the sky before they hit).

It also has a laser-warning detection system and an acoustic shooter-locating system.

Yet despite the size, weight and capability differences, Boxer is actually more capable on the road

than ASLAV – with more than 60 per cent greater range (1100km v 660km) and marginally faster (officially 101 v 103km/hr) – thanks to an engine delivering more than twice the power – ASLAV’s 5.2 litre Detroit Diesel 6V-53T putting out 205kW (275hp) versus Boxer’s 15.9 litre MTU 8V199 TE20 Diesel delivering 530kW (711 hp).

That translates to 15.53kW per tonne for ASLAV versus Boxer’s 16.1kW per tonne at maximum weight.

And here’s a little aside while we’re at it – Boxer is permanent eight-wheel-drive with automatic Allison HD4070 transmission (seven gears forward and three reverse) with selectable differential locks, independent suspension, run-flat tyres and central inflation system.

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BOXER CRV The two front axles are steerable and lateral wheel brakes can also assist in tight turns.

But none of this explains why the vehicle is so big to start with.

Boxer, and other modern vehicles of the type, are as big as they are for one fundamental reason – occupant protection.

If you know anything about armoured vehicles of old, and especially if you’ve ever ridden in the back of one, you will appreciate that it has traditionally been a tight squeeze for passengers.

ASLAV, which Boxer is replacing, and the M113, are very small on the inside.

Picture this – you’re an infantry soldier, sitting on a 2-inch foam cushion atop a solid-metal bench seat, squished in tight against your buddies, bumping knees with the bloke opposite. You’re wearing patrol-order webbing, your weapon is muzzle-down between your knees and your shoulders and back are arched forward because there just isn’t the room to sit up straight. And if you did try to sit up straight, your Kevlar helmet might be tight against the roof, compressing your neck, especially if you’re average height or taller.

You’re basically riding in a steel can – or aluminium in the M113’s case – rattling, rocking and rolling your way, in some discomfort, from point A to point B. And, although the old saying goes, “a second-class ride is better than a first-class walk”, it crosses your mind that the advantage is marginal – especially when the ride hits another bump and your helmet hits the roof – AGAIN. But here’s the thing – what if a mine or an IED goes off under your ride? Now you’re in serious trouble. Even if the hull isn’t breached, the vehicle will be accelerated upwards against your own inertia, smashing your legs and compressing your spine. Then, just as your body begins to move upwards to follow the vehicle, the vehicle starts to come down, smashing your head against the roof. Then you have to come down again too…

This isn’t good, by any measure. Injuries can be very serious, even fatal, just from the force of the blast.

So, what’s the solution?

Proper seats for starters – with in-built shockabsorption and seatbelts.

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FAR LEFT: Aussie soldiers with the Boxer CRV during Exercise Chong Ju, Puckapunyal, 2018. Photo by Corporal Nunu Campos.

ABOVE LEFT: Boxer negotiates an obstacle on the Puckapunyal driver course. Photo by Lieutenant Colonel Chris McKendry.

ABOVE RIGHT: Privates Ingrid Miller and Andrew Cook try Boxer’s seats. Photo by Leading Seaman Helen Frank.

BELOW: Boxer measures up against ASLAV, the vehicle it’s replacing. Photographer unknown.

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Your feet should ideally be elevated at least 100 to 150mm away from the outside hull, either on a seatmounted footrest, or a floor that’s isolated from the hull.

And your head should be a similar distance away from the ceiling. Of course they can’t allow for the height of every soldier, but this distance is calculated to accommodate the majority of modern blokes, who are taller on average.

The hull itself is V-shaped in the belly, to deflect at least some of the blast out and away from the hull. And the hull is double-skinned, thanks to the ‘passenger’ compartment being a detachable, replicable module,

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bolted into the basic chassis. All together, there’s at least 300mm thickness between the outside and the inside skins.

The hull is also about 500mm off the ground, thanks to massive run-flat tyres that stand 1334mm (nearly 4-foot-4-inches) tall, on 27-inch rims!

So, if we do the maths on all that…

500mm off the ground + 300mm floor thickness + 150mm foot clearance + 1400mm seated-passenger height + 100mm head clearance + 150mm roof thickness = 2.6m hull height.

And that’s just a basic personnel-carrier variant. The turret goes on top of all that in the armed variant, which Australia has ordered.

The relatively slim-lined Rheinmetall LANCE 30mm two-man turret is 600mm tall, plus another 400mm of protruding sensors and optics.

All up, that’s 3.6m – or nearly 12 foot tall.

The Australian Army is buying 211 Boxers under Project LAND 400 Phase 2, with a couple of Germanmanufactured vehicles already delivered for testing and training.

About 25 vehicles will be made in Germany, with Australian experts on hand to learn processes and procedures to bring home to Australia.

Then, from about 2020 onwards, when the Rheinmetall factory is completed in south-west Brisbane, more than 180 Boxer 8x8 combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRV) will be manufactured in the Sunshine State, using Australian steel.

These vehicles will replace ASLAV, progressively rolling into service from 2020, with the rollout complete by 2026.

Project LAND 400 Phase 2 clocks in at about $5.2billion for acquisition, with close to $15billion budgeted for sustainment over its 30-year lifespan.

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BACKGROUND: BAE’s Patria AMV35 (left) and the Rheinmetall Boxer CRV at a foggy Defence Establishment Fairbairn during Land 400 Phase 2 air transportability trials (June 2017). Photos by Jay Cronan.

FAR LEFT: Rheinmetall Boxer CRV at a Fairbairn, in the ACT during air transportability trials.

LEFT: Boxer’s passenger seats, with gas-strut shock absorbtion.

Photo by Brian Hartigan BELOW: Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle (CRV).

Photo by Photo by Corporal Sebastian Beurich. Stats by CONTACT.

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What next?

If you think Boxer is big – next comes Project LAND 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle – the M113 replacement.

This will be a tracked vehicle, equally as big, much more capable in firepower – and more than double the fleet size.

Project LAND 400 Phase 3 calls for up to 450 vehicles.

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AIR WARFARE

DESTROYER Australia’s new fleet of three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers is in the water - two commissioned and the third undergoing final fitouts and checks before deliver early next year.

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The Royal Australian Navy’s third air warfare destroyer – NUSHIP Sydney – is on track to be delivered for commissioning into the fleet early next year after recently completing her builder’s sea trials.

Third and final in the class of three ships, Sydney will join HMA Ships Hobart and Brisbane as the most potent warships ever built for the RAN. The Hobart-class DDGs, which cost more than $3billion each, are based on the Navantia-designed Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class F100 frigatem, coupled with the Aegis Combat System.

They were constructed in Australia by the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance, comprising Defence Capability and Sustainment Group, Raytheon Australia and ASC Shipbuilding, supported by Navantia.

Hobart class will provide air defence for accompanying ships in addition to land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas, and for self-protection against missiles and aircraft.

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The Aegis Combat System, incorporating the stateof-the-art phased array radar AN/SPY 1D(V), in combination with the SM-2 missile, will provide an advanced air-defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150km.

Aegis can track hundreds of airborne targets simultaneously as part of its comprehensive airdefence network.

The surface-warfare function will include long-range anti-ship missiles and a naval gun capable of firing extended-range munitions in support of land forces.

The Hobart class will also conduct undersea warfare and be equipped with modern sonar systems (both towed and integrated into the hull), decoys, surfacelaunched torpedoes and an array of effective close-in defensive weapons.

Hobart class will also carry one MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk anti-submarine/anti-surface/search-andrescue helicopter.

In a powerful demonstration of the AWD’s advanced capabilities, HMA Ships Hobart and Brisbane have demonstrated a new-to-Australia war-fighting capability whereby the missiles from one ship can be fired and targeted using the radar and intelligence picture from another ship.

Both Aussie ships have proved the concept on separate trips to the United States with US Navy warships in American waters, but have also demonstrated the capability together off the coast of South Australia.

In the coming years, the Australian Joint Integrated Fires capability will link AWD and ‘future frigates’, as well as aircraft and land-based assets to create an increasingly sophisticated air-defence network.

Cooperative Engagement Capability will also be integrated into a range of ADF assets, including the E-7A Wedgetail airborne command and control aircraft and the Integrated Air and Missile Defence program.

Not only will this capability enable the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force to share targeting data in real time between ADF assets, it will also enable the ADF to share its data with United States assets, and vice versa, providing new levels of interoperability within a coalition force.

Australia is the first international partner outside the United States to gain access to this cutting-edge technology.

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NUSHIP Sydney on pre-delivery sea trials.

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UNG L

M

arine Rotational Force–Darwin (MRF-D) and the 5th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) conducted jungle training together at Combat Training Centre – Jungle Training Wing (CTC-JTW) at Tully in north Queensland, from 12 to 21 April 2019.

The purpose of this training was to improve the individual and collective skills of the marines and soldiers, so they can effectively operate in jungle environments.

During the training package the Aussie soldiers and US Marines enhanced their field-craft skills, rehashing everything from personal camouflage and basic patrolling, to ambushing, search techniques, detainee handing and marksmanship on a live-fire range.

The Australian Army is continuously striving to improve the capability if its soldiers, and CTCJTW is an excellent training establishment to not only enhance jungle operations skills, but to also build personal resilience and initiative, and to enhance trust and teamwork – and sharing those skills with, or subjecting their American brothers to the pleasures of Tully is always fun.

Welcome to the

BELOW: USMC Lance Corporal Cooper Hettinger yells target indications during a platoon attack. Photo by Private Brodie Cross.

RIGHT: United States Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Ortega establishes security in a village during jungle warfare training at the Combined Training Centre - Jungle Training Wing in Tully, Queensland, during a combined training exercise with the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

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Marines from I and III Marine Expeditionary Force are in Australia with a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, similar in size to a Marine Expeditionary Unit, consisting of a Command Element, Ground Combat Element, Logistics Combat Element – and the most potent Aviation Combat Element yet, including MV-22 Osprey, AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venoms.

MRF-D has grown in size and complexity since the first rotation of 200 Marines in 2012.

The main body of MRF-D 2019 is comprised of approximately 1700 marines and sailors, still short of the hoped/planned increase to about 2500 in future rotations.

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This eighth rotation arrived in Australia in April and have set a cracking pace of exercises and activities, not just with Australian soldiers in the Northern Territory, but all across Australia.

Spreading out across the country and even overseas, various elements of MRF-D have exercised with Australian and Japanese soldiers in Queensland, and travelled further afield as participating members of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 – with plenty of training time left in the year yet.

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LEFT: 5RAR’s Lance Corporal David Druery scans for enemy. Photo by Private Brodie Cross.

ABOVE: USMC Lance Corporal Andre Payton and 5RAR Corporal Troy Wyley provide security during a platoon attack. Photo by Private Brodie Cross.

RIGHT: USMC Lance Corporal Isaiah Barnes watching for drop bears. Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

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Singapore comes waltzing

Australian and Singaporean soldiers strengthened ties through training during Exercise Matilda 2019.

A

round 40 soldiers from the Singapore Army participated in the two-week biennial Exercise Matilda with their Australian Army counterparts from 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, at Brisbane’s Gallipoli Barracks in November.

Brisbane-based 7th Brigade Commander Brigadier Andrew Hocking said the exercise focused on a number of key military practices, including urban operations and reconnaissance.

“This exercise was a great example of Australian and Singaporean soldiers working together to plan and execute training missions in bush and urban environments,” Brigadier Hocking said.

“The training provided soldiers with opportunities to exchange tactics, enhancing our ability to work together in the future.

“Exercise Matilda is an important activity as we continue to build mutual respect, friendship and cooperation with our Singaporean counterparts.”

Exercise Matilda began with integration training across basic soldier skills including weapons, vehicles and tactics, before progressing to urbanoperations scenarios incorporating Singaporean Army intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets.

Brigadier Hocking said the troops gained valuable knowledge from one another, which helped build both side’s foundation warfighting skills and strengthed the bond between the two nations.

Australia and Singapore are close partners, and participate in a range of bilateral and multilateral exercises to increase interoperability each year.

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MAIN PIC PRIVATE JACOB HILTON ALL OTHERS DARRIN TOMLIN Find, like and share CONTACT Air Land & Sea on

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PICS DARRIN TOMLIN

Airsoft M4A1 A Defence spokesman told CONTACT that 8/9RAR, in these images, are using an Airsoft M4A1, for training purposes.

“Airsoft weapons offer additional flexibility for units to conduct reality-based opposed training in a close-quarter environment,” Defence said.

“This is often done before conducting more complicated training activities.

“The Airsoft M4A1 is an interim training weapon for Army’s Forces Command until the Airsoft EF88 is introduced, from late 2020.

“Army continues to seek innovative ways to enhance training through graduated methods and techniques, to maximise positive outcomes, while retaining safety for soldiers.”

Read more on Army’s new shooting philosophy starting on page 16, and thoughts on ‘pain incentive training’ starting on page 22 in issue 56 of CONTACT in ‘Archives’ on our web site.

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hero b at t lefield

Developed in the 1940s and as relevant in today’s technology-driven theatres of combat, a clever, basic design has evolved and innovated, and is used by more than 40 nations across the planet. The story of Saab’s 84mm Carl-Gustaf is the story of a Swedish battlefield hero.

ROBUST, SMART, RELIABLE Dismounted combat troops have one of the toughest jobs in the armed forces, engaging the enemy on an intimate basis, often operating just metres from their opponents, in complex, noisy, rapidly evolving environments. To succeed – and survive – they need to be agile and to be able to respond rapidly.

Malcolm Arvidsson, Head of Product Management for Business Unit Ground Combat at Saab, explains that in such environments, weapon systems need to be reliable.

“You can’t have a weapon that’s too complex or that might let you down,” he says.

“You need simple, robust systems that will work every time and when you really need them.”

Enter the Carl-Gustaf man-portable recoilless rifle system.

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Since being developed in the 1940s, the system has proved reliable in countless conflicts around the planet. Its simple, robust design and adaptability has made it a first-choice dismounted combat weapon for more than 40 nations, including Australia.

SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS

“The Carl-Gustaf is a true multipurpose weapon,” Mr Arvidsson says.

“It has anti-armour and anti-structure capabilities, it can defeat soft targets in the open, and it also has support capabilities such as smoke and illumination.

“Armed forces use the system everywhere from arctic environments, to the tropics and in deserts.”

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Carl Gustaf M4

WORDS AND PICS SUPPLIED BY SAAB – A LONG-TIME CONTACT SPONSOR Subscribe free at www.aussiecombat.com

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Locking mechanism (obscured)

Mounting bracket for intelligent sight system

Exhaust venturi Adjustable shoulder rest

Adjustable foregrip Pistol grip, trigger and trigger guard Stand

From an initial offering of just two rounds, today’s Carl-Gustaf systems are compatible with 11 different rounds, allowing it to be tailored for use on any mission.

Most commonly employed by a two-man team (a gunner and a loader carrying the ammunition), it is capable of anything from tank kills and bunker-busting to battlefield illumination.

Carl-Gustaf is also extremely light. Weighing less than 7kg, the weapon can be easily slung over a soldier’s shoulder. With the 84mm rounds weighing between 2.6 and 4.8kg, a two-person team of gunner and loader can easily transport an impressive support capability.

The first Carl-Gustaf weapons produced for the Swedish military in 1948 represented an impressive leap forward. Based on the barrel of an 84-calibre 19th-century canon, the rifled barrel and innovative recoilless firing system allowed the Carl-Gustaf to fire relatively large-calibre rounds at much higher muzzle velocities than rival systems, resulting in greater lethality, accuracy and range.

While the overall design of the system has remained constant since then – a gunner from 1948 could fire today’s system with almost no training – there has been constant innovation around components.

SYSTEM EVOLUTION

Saab has worked tirelessly to evolve the features of the weapon and its sights to ensure they meet the demands of modern troops.

With the release of the M4, the overall weight of the system was reduced by more than 3kilograms through the use of light-weight materials, such as titanium alloy.

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Carl Gustaf M4

Saab engineers also reduced the length of the weapon by 6cm and improved the overall ergonomics.

“We recognised that the weapon should be as light and manoeuvrable as possible because infantry are often operating in tight spaces and jumping in and out of vehicles and buildings” Mr Arvidsson says.

Another factor in the Carl-Gustaf’s ongoing popularity is the nature of warfare. While technology has removed the human factor from some theatres of conflict, it remains crucial in others.

“In many parts of the world, the threat environment is not symmetrical,” Arvidsson says.

“Over the past 20 years, there’s been a rise in conflicts where the enemy is inside buildings in urban environments, where engaging the enemy threat requires boots on the ground, and the troops involved need a weapon to solve their challenges.”

The sights for the Carl-Gustaf system have also undergone significant innovation.

“M4 can be fitted with an intelligent sight that can communicate with the rounds to increase the probability of hit,” Mr Arvidsson says.

“The sight looks at factors such as temperature of the propellant to carry out more accurate ballistic calculations, and the gunner can choose whether a round airbursts, explodes on impact or penetrates a wall.”

Meanwhile, guided-missile munitions have recently been tested that will potentially allow system users to strike at greater ranges, more accurately, with reduced risks of collateral damage.

In October 2019, Raytheon and SAAB test-fired 11 guided munitions in Sweeden and the US – with 100% success.

Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president Sam Deneke says Raytheon and Saab have spent the past 12 months working together to develop a precisionguided munition that will penetrate multiple targets at extended ranges.

“This lightweight round can overmatch potential adversaries while decreasing collateral damage, making it an ideal weapon when fighting under restricted rules of engagement,” Mr Deneke says.

“Increased range combined with the ability to fire at targets from inside structures, will offer troops greater protection.”

EVOLUTION

At just below 7kg, the Carl-Gustaf has lost half its weight since the first version 70 years ago.

After World War II, Swedish arms designers really got to grips with developing portable recoilless anti-tank launchers that could be fired from the shoulders of infantrymen.

But, with the gradual disappearance of light tanks and introduction of infantry support vehicles with much thicker armour, a more effective anti-tank defence system with better penetration was required.

That’s when they came up with the concept of using shaped-charge high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads.

CARL-GUSTAF TODAY

Being both lighter and shorter than its predecessors, today’s M4 has the same loading and firing system, with a two-man team comprising a gunner and a loader required for its efficient operation.

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LEFT: A laser-guided missile ammunition shot from a Carl Gustaf M4 in early-stage flight.

FAR LEFT: The target cops a very accurate hit.

The gunner takes up their position and the loader checks that the risk area behind the weapon is clear.

The locking lever is also an inbuilt safety system, which allows the M4 to be carried around the battlefield while loaded. Clearly beneficial, this means that the gunner no longer needs to venture out unarmed into vulnerable terrain before loading the weapon.

High-tech electronics on the M4 also set it apart from the purely mechanical nature of earlier Carl-Gustaf systems.

It has a shot counter, which means that soldiers no longer need to make a note of the number of full calibre rounds they have fired. Secure in the knowledge that they have up to 1000 live rounds to fire, they can be confident that the computer-connected system will monitor the weapon’s maintenance needs for them.

Operators are also able to keep hold of the handle while using a joystick or fingering a touchpad on the side of the weapon to scan the menu of its capabilities, thus remaining in control of the system at all times.

While both the Carl-Gustaf and its ammunition are evolving with the times, the calibre of 84mm has been retained thought the years, which makes every version of Carl-Gustaf compatible with any ammunition and vise versa.

1 RIFLE – 11 WEAPONS

Compatible with 11 different rounds, the Carl-Gustaf system can be tailored for use on any mission or in any environment. It has anti-armour and anti-structure capabilities, it can defeat soft targets in the open, or enemy soldiers behind concealment, expose the enemy with illumination or provide masking through smoke.

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Saab produces four types of anti-armour rounds for the Carl-Gustaf, including one against reactive armour, two single-warhead, rocket-propelled rounds, and a confined-space round with a different propulsion system for firing from inside buildings.

Anti-structure rounds for the system include the ASM 509, which is designed for use against buildings, and the multi-target round MT 756, featuring a tandem warhead that first punches a hole through a wall and then detonates behind it.

Anti-personnel rounds include the area-denial munition ADM 401, which is designed for defeating close-range soft targets such as cars, and the highexplosive round HE 441, which features a time fuze, allowing for airbursts to defeat targets behind cover.

Finally, support rounds include a parachutesuspended illumination round ILLUM 545C and a smoke round SMOKE 469C.

HOW THE HEAT CHARGE WORKS

Inside the shaped high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) charge, the kinetic energy released by an explosion is focused on a particular point, allowing it to pierce steel that is very thick.

The shaped charge device comprises a hollow cylinder containing explosives that are placed behind a metal casing. A detonator located behind the explosives ignites them, releasing a high-velocity detonation wave that creates a high-pressure front, which expands the metal casing, making it shoot forward in the form of a narrow jet. With its needle-like profile, this jet is able to penetrate reinforced structures.

So, despite its acronym, a HEAT round does not rely on heat or melting the metal to get through – but actually uses concentrated pressure.

FUTURE FIREARMS Saab and Raytheon are sharing the workload on developing the latest cutting-edge ammunition – laserguided missile munitions – on a 50/50 basis.

While Saab is providing the necessary warhead and propulsion capabilities, Raytheon has brought its seeker, guidance and control systems to the table.

Director Product Management Programmes at Saab’s Business Unit Ground Combat Johan Ekeroot says using a guided ammunition provides pinpoint accuracy, even at ranges up to 2000m, with similar target capability as the regular rounds but with the reduced risk of collateral damage.

“You just pull the trigger and the round will do the rest – I promise you that,” Mr Ekeroot says.

“The soldier simply aims at the target, locks the seeker to it, and fires the round in the general direction, then the round takes over.

“Launched at a relatively low velocity, it picks up speed as the flight rocket motor is started, and proceeds to home in on its target.

“The seeker in such a round allows it to track stationary and moving targets, providing high success rates even at long range.”

With cutting-edge capability, intelligent sights, programmable ammunition and, arriving soon, rocketpropelled guided missiles, Carl-Gustaf is ready for the future.

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LIVE-FIRE RANGE IN A BOX

Words Sergeant Dave Morley Pics Sergeant Max Bree From ARMY Newspaper

H

ow cool would it be to have a live-fire range rock up at your unit on the back of a semi-trailer?

Soldiers at Russell Offices in Canberra experienced just that when the Video Positive Identification Range (ViPIR) turned up for evaluation from May 13 to 24.

ViPIR OIC Sergeant Robert Brooks, a reservist on loan from Adelaide University Regiment and currently working for Army Land Simulation Program, said the range used a high-definition video projection system with real weapons and live ammunition.

“This range allows soldiers to be immersed in a training environment where they’re using in-service weapons and a new lead-free frangible close target round in highly realistic scenarios,” Sergeant Brooks said.

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“This assists in building a ‘pre-combat veteran’ with the ability to use live fire in real-life HD environment video-based scenarios played by actors on the screen who react to the soldier’s actions – or inaction.

“It also allows our soldiers to build positive combat behaviours, so when they are faced with similar situations on operations, they have the experience to draw on to enhance their likelihood of a successful outcome.”

Sergeant Brooks said that using this type of equipment aligned with the Small-Team Integrated Combat Training System experiential learning model, which is based on learning through doing.

“They’re firing a number of rounds to target effect – not, “During this serial you will fire two rounds”.

“They’re firing until they see a target effect on the screen,” he said.

“If the enemy combatant on the screen is wearing body armour, we can force the soldier to make a cognitive decision to fire lower or higher, or even punch through the body armour.

“As the box is limited to one or two firers at a time, it allows the learning experience and the feedback loop to be individualised to each firer.”

Sergeant Brooks said the beauty of the ViPIR was its simplicity and the concept of “turn up and shoot”.

“It significantly reduces the administrative overheads of live-fire training.

“Range operators hold all the ammunition, so when the OIC arrives in the morning he gets a quick brief from the operator, signs for the range, briefs his soldiers and can start shooting within 10 minutes,” he said.

“There’s no need for signing out ammunition and returning unexpended rounds or any of those timeconsuming activities that take time away from soldiers actually training.”

He said the system’s technology also allowed users to upload video footage to create their own scenarios.

“Imagine we’re going into a new AO and the first patrols take video footage that could be sent back to Australia and turned into scenarios for the next rotation to train on as part of their MREs [mission rehearsal exercises.

“Soldiers would get to undertake live training in [virtually] the same environment they’ll be operating in before they even set foot in country.

“Additionally, having a ViPIR in the forward operating base for soldiers to train during their downtime would be beneficial.”

Australian Target Systems are providing this product, also known as the Live Fire Range in a Box (LFRiB).

One soldier who experienced the system in Canberra was WO2 Brett Postlethwaite.

He fired multiple rounds into a terrorist who has emerged from around a corner with an AK – and neutralised the threat before he got a shot off.

After the ViPIR scenario ended, WO2 Postlethwaite said he didn’t know how they did it, but it was pretty clever the way they set up the video to do what it did in response to live actions.

“If you’re successful in prosecuting an attack on the target it will go down. If not, it will keep shooting at you,” WO2 Postlethwaite said.

“Diggers would benefit from using this range because it augments Army’s ranges and WTSS with particular scenarios.

“The beauty about this is you can park it anywhere and just get the shooting in. You don’t need a livefire template and it can also reduce waiting times for soldiers.

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ViPIR at Russell Offices.

ViPIR – a go-anywhere live-fire rifle range on the back of a truck!

“It’s got a lot of potential to augment our standard practices and prevent skills fade.

“We spend a lot of time training our soldiers on advanced shooting techniques but little time following those up.

“A soldier may attend an advanced shooting course but then not shoot again for the rest of the year, depending on their schedule.

“This will help keep skills in place.”

ViPIR toured the School of Infantry in Singleton in June, followed by Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane, then Darwin and Townsville, during a12-month evaluation.

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RIGHT: Sergeant Robert Brooks (right) explains combat shooting techniques to Warrant Officers Class Two Brett Postlethwaite and Adam Krongold in the ViPIR – also know as a ‘livefire range in a box’ at Russell Offices, Canberra.

OPPOSITE: Australian Army WO2 Adam Krongold fires on a target during a training scenario in the Video Positive Identification Range (ViPIR) evaluation at Russell Offices.

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More than 30,000 Australian, American, New Zealand, Japanese, Canadian and British sailors, soldiers, marines, commandos, airmen and coast-guardsmen came together for three weeks of high-end warfighter training in July.

This was the eighth iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre – a biennial joint-force shakeout, billed primarily as a bi-lateral Australian/US exercise, but with significant participation from a growing number of partner nations.

India and South Korea were also present as invited observing nations – while China hovered up sig-int out at sea, as usual.

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HMAS Canberra, far left, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, left-centre, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, right-centre and the Japanese helicopter destroyer JS Ise, right, break away from formation with 13 other ships from the US Navy, US Coast Guard, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019.

US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaila V Peters.

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TALISMAN SABRE Running from 7 to 27 July, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 saw 36 ships and hundreds of aircraft converge mainly on Queensland for a massive military training effort.

Talisman Sabre 2019 was designed to improve combined and integrated training between US and Australian forces, focusing on combat training, readiness and interoperability, through realistic, relevant training.

Exercises of this scale are considered necessary to maintain regional security, peace and stability – and show the Chinese what we’re all capable of as a group.

Rear Admiral Fred Kacher, commander US Expeditionary Strike Group 7, said Talisman Sabre became more valuable, more realistic, more challenging and made all participants better with every iteration.

“This year’s Talisman Sabre was the culmination of months of planning spent preparing a challenging scenario and examining how, working together, we would respond to a tough and wellequipped adversary,” Rear Admiral Kacher said.

“In addition to our Australian and US forces, I express my heartfelt appreciation to Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom for sending their personnel to participate in this high-end exercise.

“Our experience here highlights the importance of exercising our combat skills together, so we have a better appreciation of each other’s capabilities and how to combine into a lethal and cohesive force should we be called to do so.”

Australia’s deputy chief of Joint Operations Major General Roger Noble said Talisman Sabre 2019 – the eighth of the series – was the most demanding, the most complex and largest of the series to date.

“There are very few exercises of this size, scale and complexity where we operate in air, land, sea, cyber and space and we test the joint force and the combined-nation forces,” Major General Noble said.

“This is the first time the Australian ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra have operated together in a full tactical scenario doing amphibious landings as a combined force.

“It is the first time the US Army and the US Marine Corps, fired their high mobility artillery rocket system – HIMARS – in a live-fire setting in Australia.”

TS19 emphasised developing short-notice contingency-response operations between the joint US-Australian forces in the air, on the sea, on land – and especially on shore where the latter two meet.

Amphibious landings were a prominent feature of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019, hyped and promoted by the various PR cells covering the activities – though, despite the assurances of some PR teams, this years’ amphibious landings didn’t seem to have the same impact as in 2017.

Billed as the “Largest Australian-led amphibious landing and offensive assault since the Second World War”, and with no supporting fact or figures provided, this years’ photos did very little to support the hype or disprove the very similar size claims made in 2017 – which were backed up by impressive photo evidence.

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TALISMAN SABRE Despite this, however, landing craft air cushion (LCAC), amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) and Australian LCH landing craft did indeed bring an unknown number of personnel, vehicles and equipment ashore at Shoalwater Bay Training Area and, a few days later, further up the coast at Bowen.

TS19 was also the first time Japan’s newly established Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade participated, after travelling to Australia aboard the JMSDF ships Ise and Kunasaki.

Commander Landing Force, Japan Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Major General Shinichi Aoki said his contingent was excited to be part of TS19 and to prepare for the exercise’s D-Day. “We are able to enhance our amphibious operational capability, demonstrate it, and contribute to peace and stability in the Pacific,” he said.

British Royal Marine Commandos also played a key role, working alongside soldiers of 2RAR (Amphib), who are transitioning to a similar sea-based role.

Although joint training between the Australian Army and British Marines isn’t new, Talisman Sabre 2019 was the first time a whole Royal Marine company joined the exercise.

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The marines worked alongside 2RAR (Amphib) reconnaissance specialists and Navy clearance divers as part of a pre-landing force tasked to take out forward enemy positions and infrastructure and clear a path for the larger amphibious assault.

The Royal Marines were also testing and evaluating their own constructs on this exercise.

Lieutenant Simon Williams, 40 Commando, said the Brits were grasping new command structures, breaking their typical specialisation-exclusive troops into bespoke mixed-teams for specific tasks.

“This is all part of work on the ‘Future Commando Force’ concept, which will see Royal Marines embrace new technology and develop new ways of working,” Lieutenant Williams said.

“It embraces a ‘commando first’ initiative where everyone is foremost a commando, but then handpicked for various skill sets required for the task, including snipers, signallers, reconnaissance and medics.

Extensive F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and helicopter gunship support was provided for the landings as MV-22 Osprey and CH-47 Chinook helicopters took up considerable air-mobility slack in

the absence of Australia’s MRH-90 air-lift support, after the entire Australian fleet of Taipan helicopters was grounded on day one, for the duration of the exercise.

Despite this setback, however, Colonel Matt Sieber, Colonel Amphibious for Australia’s Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, from the United States Marine Corps, said the large-scale amphibious assault began three days out from the actual landing as troops prepared for the assault and surveilled the enemy.

“Once the beachhead was secured, the amphibious assault group moved in, using amphibious assault vehicles, landing craft and simultaneous helicopter insertions into landing zones ashore,” Colonel Sieber said.

Australian Army Colonel Kim Gilfillan, Commander Landing Force, Australian Amphibious Task Group, said that in a very short time, the various nations had come together as a cohesive team capable of executing complex amphibious actions.

“We launched a combined forcible-entry operation with teams from the US, Japan, New Zealand and the UK,” Colonel Gilfillan said.

“The operation included simultaneous surface and air assault to secure key objectives and was preceded

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ABOVE: A 2RAR (Amphib) ASLAV drives off of a Royal Australian Navy LHD landing craft at Langham Beach, Queensland. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

FAR LEFT: A CH-47 Chinook carries an artillery piece. Australian Army photo. LEFT: Leading Seaman Geoff Hermann supervises lashing a US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey on HMAS Canberra. Photo by Richard Cardell.

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by sophisticated pre-landing reconnaissance and shaping operations.”

Major General Noble said the amphibious assault was a key phase of TS19.

“Through exercises like Talisman Sabre, we demonstrate the strength, viability, and endurance of the alliance between Australia and the United States, as well as the varying levels of interoperability between our services.

“Australia’s defence policy continues to be based on the three interconnected strategic interests of a secure, resilient Australia, with secure northern approaches and sea lines of communications; a secure nearer region, encompassing maritime South East Asia and South Pacific; and a stable Indo-Pacific region and rules-based global order.

“To ensure these three interests, the Australian Defence Force must be capable of operating as a joint force across sea, land and air domains, maintaining high-end capabilities to act decisively when required.

“The relationship between Australian and the United States is the cornerstone of our regional stability.

“Practicing interoperability builds our flexibility to achieve our shared aims.

“A credible amphibious capability significantly broadens the options for Australia and the United States to fulfill these requirements.”

A few days later in Bowen, south of Townsville, US Marines, Australian soldiers, and Japan Ground SelfDefense Force members conducted multi-national

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amphibious, mechanised and direct-action raids on the small township and its beaches.

Assault amphibious vehicles loaded with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, launched from the amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay, landing on the beach in waves along with Australian soldiers assigned to the Amphibious Task Group and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force service members with the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade.

Following the landing, Force Reconnaissance Marines with 31st MEU’s Maritime Raid Force pushed inland on Light Armored Reconnaissance Vehicles and up-armored Humvees, brought ashore by hovercraft from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, to conduct a simulated, limited, small-scale raid on a factory as a culminating event for the exercise.

Major Mike Mroszczak, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit operations officer said the Marine Corps and Navy relationship was inherent to amphibious operations and, during a large forcible entry it became much more deliberate and focused to accomplish that objective.

“But, the fact that US Marines, the Australian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducted an amphibious combined joint forcible entry into the same objective area cannot be understated,” he said.

“Alongside the landing force, the US Navy simultaneously tied-in with the Royal Australian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to make this large scale amphibious operation happen.”

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MAIN: Japan Self Defense Force members approach King’s Beach, Bowen, on a reconnaissance mission. HMAS Adelaide in the background.

US Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Tanner D Lambert.

FAR LEFT: An amphibious assault vehicle comes ashore from USS Green Bay. US Army photo by Sergeant 1st Class Whitney C. Houston.

BELOW LEFT: US Marines come ashore during a simulated amphibious assault. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Tanner D. Lambert BELOW RIGHT: 2RAR (Amphib) soldiers land at Langham Beach, Queensland. US Army photo by Sergeant 1st Class Whitney C. Houston.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: HIMARS vehicles leave the field after a fire mission. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton; Australian soldiers watch HIMARS action. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ashley Maldonado; and, An Australian Army officer watches an M142 HIMARS launch. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.

After completing simulated actions on objectives, the combined force rapidly withdrew from the beachlanding site, returning to amphibious shipping in preparation for the next potential mission.

A new and impressive element of TS19 this year was the first time US Army and Marines conducted a HIMARS live-fire serial.

US Marines with 3rd Marine Division, soldiers with 2nd Infantry Division and the Australian Defence Force conducted the long-range High Mobility Artillery Rocket System raid near Bundaberg.

The training event began with Marines on MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Rotational Force Darwin seizing the airfield, allowing two HIMARS launchers from the 3rd Marine Division and two from 2nd Infantry Battalion to be inserted into Bundaberg by two US Marine Corps KC-130Js from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 and two Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemasters.

Major John Huenefeld, operations officer for 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, said Q Battery, a HIMARS unit from the 3rd Marine Division, demonstrated the flexibility and lethality of the combined joint force by conducting the HIMARS rapid infiltration from the air.

“That mission type gives commanders the ability to quickly deploy an extended-range precision-strike capability,” Major Huenefeld said.

“The employment of HIMARS in this manner – also known as HIMARS rapid infiltration or HIRAIN – gives commanders the ability to shape the battle space and engage high value targets.

“HIRAIN missions also significantly increase the survivability of the launcher, crew and aircraft due to the reduced exposure to hostile fires.”

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He said this raid was just one of many opportunities the forces had to use and demonstrate HIMARS during their time in Australia at Talisman Sabre.

“With the range of the HIMARS and the ability to insert it wherever we want, we can hit targets just about anywhere in the world, in a very short time.

“The muscle of this system is just extraordinary.”

US Marine Corps Sergeant Waikin Tee, a HIMARS operator with the 3rd Marine Division, said he and his colleagues controlled one of the most accurate weapon systems in the world.

“With HIMARS we can ensure that all of our highvalue targets or positions of interest are destroyed effectively,” Sergeant Tee said.

“And once we destroy our targets, we can quickly move on to the next ones.”

Coincidentally, Australia is currently in the market for a self-propelled artillery system – and CONTACT is just putting it out there that these HIMARS demos may have been as much about strategic marketing as a warfighter interoperability demonstration.

Aside from the rockets and myriad helicopters and tiltrotor action down low, air spaces over Queensland and its oceanic neighbourhood were also highly active with fighter jets, bombers, air-to-air refuellers, reconnaissance and airborne warning and control aircraft.

Up to 12 USAF F-22 Raptors from 90th Fighter Squadron, based in Alaska, were based out of RAAF Base Amberley for the duration of Talisman Sabre 2019.

Australian aircraft participating alongside the F-22s included F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F/A18 Hornets and E-7A Wedgetails.

Commander of the Amberley-based AustralianUS task unit for the exercise Group Captain Stephen

Chappell said training with the F-22 stealth fighters would help to hone Australian fifth-generation integration and provide valuable training for RAAF pilots and support staff.

“Talisman Sabre builds on the regular exercises we do at Amberley, in the United States and the key training programs and exchanges with USAF and US Navy that we use to develop our tactics, techniques and procedures,” he said.

“Integration with fifth-generation platforms such as F-22 and F-35 are key to how we will do our job both now and in the future.

“We train with Raptors annually, and this is a continuation of that journey and the ongoing pursuit and maintenance of full air-combat integration.

“For Talisman Sabre, we focus on how we operate and train on our F/A-18 classic Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and E-7A Wedgetail in the same theatre as this advanced F-22 stealth fighter.”

Colonel Barley Baldwin, Amberley USAF Group Commander, 13th Expeditionary Air Force, said his personnel appreciated the opportunity to exercise in Australia.

“Exercises and training opportunities like Talisman Sabre foster stronger relationships and increase interoperability with our Australian allies, as well as enable our aircrew and support personnel to become familiar with conducting operations out of Australian air bases,” he said.

“I am excited for the 90th Fighter Squadron to return to Queensland where the squadron first established its long-term relationship with the Australians in 1942.

“During TS19, RAAF and USAF airmen trained for high-end, modern combat as we continue to build upon our 70-plus-year relationship.”

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ABOVE: A RAAF C-17 Globemaster arrives at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo by Christabel Migliorini. RIGHT: A Japan Self Defense Force member comes ashore at King’s Beach, Bowen, on a reconnaissance mission. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Tanner D Lambert.

Alongside the F-22 Raptor from 90th Fighter Squadron, the US Air Force also deployed E-3C Sentry from the 962nd AACS, KC-10 Extender from the 6th Air Refuelling Squadron, and B-52 Stratofortress bombers from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan added another 90 aircraft to the busy air picture.

Multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp’s F-35B Lightning II fighters – the short takeoff, vertical landing variant – would have been an impressive sight too, when it used its GAU-22 cannon against a simulated target at sea.

During the training flights, F-35B jets fired the 25mm cannon in coordination with MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters firing 7.62mm machine guns – and dropped a GBU-32 1000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition, and a GBU-12 Paveway II 500-pound laser-guided bomb.

After expending all ordnance, the fighter jet performed a vertical landing on the Wasp, reloaded and refueled with engine running, and had a second crack at the seemingly indestructible ‘killer tomato’ floating target.

Major Jeffrey Davis, F-35B detachment officer-incharge said the execution of hot-reload procedures while afloat demonstrated 31st MEU’s ability to surge offensive air support for kinetic missions.

“Our organic MEU assets and personnel demonstrated the ability to reload and refuel F-35Bs when executing surge operations,” Major Davis said.

“Under the direction of controllers on the ground or aboard ship, targets can be prosecuted with semiarmor-piercing high-explosive incendiary tracer 25mm rounds.”

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Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel Sallese, aviation ordnance officer with the 31st MEU, said employing four barrels in rotation, the GAU-22 was able to fire 3300 rounds per minute with deadly accuracy.

“Our skilled controllers and pilots combined with these systems, take the 31st MEU to the next level of what it means to be lethal as we are now able to rain destruction like never before.

“My ordnance team proved efficiency with these operations, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Colonel Robert Brodie, commanding officer of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit said the recent F-35B strike rehearsals demonstrated 31st MEU’s lethality and readiness to address potential adversaries.

“The speed that we can conduct precision strikes with devastating effects while providing close air support to our Marines is nothing shy of awesome,” Colonel Brodie said.

“Bottom-line – the F-35B defines shock and awe!”

Whether it was F-35s or F-22s, aircraft carriers or hovercraft, HIMARS or Hellfire, the array of platforms, equipment, weapons and professional users was pretty awesome all round – especially for those who got a good close look at it all.

Rear Admiral Kacher said he believed all observers and participants left Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 smarter, better trained and more confident than when they started.

“We also conclude this exercise, with an even better appreciation for Australian hospitality.

“For so many Americans, Australia is a dream destination, and I can promise you that our sailors and marines visiting for the first time won’t forget it.”

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Lieutenant W Travis Johnson, Strike Fighter Squadron TWO SEVEN, off the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, waves from his F/A-18 Super Hornet, to CONTACT photography stringer Christabel Migliorini.

One person who got a good close look at one small but important aspect of Talisman Sabre 2019 was CONTACT photography stringer Christabel Migliorini, who volunteered for the ‘arduous task’ of flying in a US Air Force KC-10 Extender while it refueled American and Australian fighters high above the Queensland coast.

The tanker was in Australia supporting Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 and regularly refueled a range of Hornets, Super Hornets, Growlers, Raptors, Wedgetails and anything else that needed a top up with ‘freedom juice’.

KC-10 lead aircraft commander Major John Langley said the flight up the Queensland coast from Brisbane International Airport – with Christabel Migliorini aboard – was a pretty routine sortie for him and his colleagues.

“Today was honestly pretty simple for us, but there was a ton of logistics and planning that went on behind the scenes to make it all happen,” Major Langley said.

“Our piece is just a small part of a much bigger picture. Our part is pretty transparent – we go up with plenty of gas and whoever wants it comes and gets it.

“We had F-22s and F-18s come up to us today, some off carriers and some out of Amberley, to get fuel before going into their fight.”

Major Langley said the airspace for Exercise Talisman Sabre was divided into different sectors – part of it where the fighter aircraft go to fight – and other areas are divided into corridors for transit and climbing and descending.

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“Then, way out on one edge, there’s this separate area set up for the tanker.

“So really we’re just orbiting out there, racetrack shaped, waiting for someone to come up to us for fuel.

“It’s pretty cool knowing that they can’t do what they do without us being there doing what we do.

“Really, we’re just a very small piece in a much bigger exercise – and I like my piece.”

Modesty aside, Major Langley and his colleagues’ piece of the bigger picture is a super important aspect of any exercise or operation – literally billions-of-dollars-worth of fighter aircraft would much prefer to splash and dash way up there than be forced to fly back to Amberley or an aircraft carrier to top up with fuel.

It’s all about keeping the fighters in the fight longer.

Group Captain Stephen Chappell, Amberley’s task unit commander, said it was always a pleasure to fly alongside the United States Air Force.

“Exercise Talisman Sabre is an extension of the US/Australia ‘Enhanced Air Cooperation program’,” Group Captain Chappell said.

“To use a sporting analogy – we are two football teams, who not only can play the same game, using the same tactics, against the same opponent, but we can both win and do well, and also swap in and out.

“Australians and Americans are training to be in the forward pack, so we can win every day.”

And what did Chrissie think?

“Wow what an amazing experience!”

“We received fuel from another KC-10 Extender, I got the F-22 shots I really wanted and I even got to fulfill a bucketlist shot – a Super Hornet pilot waving at me high in the sky,” Christabel said.

“The Super Hornet pilot, Lieutenant W Travis Johnson, from Strike Fighter Squadron TWO SEVEN, off the USS Ronald Reagan, actually gave me some stick – in jest – for not waving back.

“And when I did wave back, our flight engineer, Technical Sergeant John Loera from Travis AFB, California, was ready to take that shot.

“I didn’t even know he was doing it, and that’s a picture and a memory I’ll treasure forever.

“It has been a great two weeks.

“Thank you so much for allowing me to share my pictures with you and giving me the chance to show my abilities.

“It was an amazing experience, but also a huge privilege to be able to observe and be part of such an important exercise – especially on board the KC-10.”

CONTACT extends a very special “Thank You” to Christabel Migliorini for volunteering to be our photography stringer at this event. Follow Christabel on instagram. com/aussielifethruphotography/ – where, if you find her latest tattoo photo, you’ll appreciate this girl has a thing for airplanes ;-)

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ABOVE: Christabel Migliorini waves back to Super Hornet pilot Lieutenant W Travis Johnson out the cockpit jump-seat window of a USAF KC-10 Extender. This photo by Technical Sergeant John Loera, an Instructor KC-10 Flight Engineer from Travis AFB, California.

RIGHT: A KC-10 Extender from McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, lines up to receive fuel from another KC-10 Extender from Travis AFB, California.

Photo by Christabel Migliorini.

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Queen’s Standard General (Retd) David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia, presented the Queen’s Squadron Standard to the Royal Australian Air Force’s No. 86 Wing at RAAF Base Amberley on 21 November 2019.

Officer Commanding 86 Wing Group Captain Steven Pesce said a Squadron Standard was a ceremonial flag of honour awarded for 25 years of service by operational, combat support, intelligence or battlespace-control squadrons and units.

“86 Wing was first formed in 1945 to undertake ground-attack missions in the South West Pacific and, during this campaign, was awarded battle honours,” he said.

“Since then, I am proud to say, through conflicts, alliances, aircraft variations and capability upgrades the men and women of 86 Wing have continued to excel and uphold the traditions and values of the Air Force.”

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Approximately 100 personnel from No. 33, 34 and 36 Squadrons participated in the ceremonial parade under a flypast by C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft.

RAAF Base Amberley Base Warrant Officer Korey McGregor said the different ceremonial flags, generically termed ‘Colours’, of the Australian Defence Force held a revered position.

“Colours are a tangible recognition of the services’ devotion to duty, the Sovereign, and to Australia and can take years to make,” Warrant Officer McGregor said.

“The edges are bordered with two bands of gold lace and floral emblems of each Australian State and Territory.

“Colours are the embodiment of service traditions, achievements and history.”

Today, No. 86 Wing is responsible for managing the Air Force’s strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, and special-purpose aircraft.

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SPARTAN BUZZES GOLD COAST PICS CHRISTABEL MIGLIORINI

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan conducted lowlevel flying training in August between the Gold Coast and Moreton Island.

The aircraft flew from RAAF Base Amberley, commencing low level operations in the vicinity of Hastings Point, then travelled east from Coolangatta toward Stradbroke Island along the coast, turning back inland at the most-northern point of Moreton Island.

And CONTACT photography stringer Christabel Migliorini was in position to snap these great shots.

The ability to fly over different terrain in all weather conditions is essential to RAAF C-27J Spartan operations and aircrew training.

Australia purchased 10 C-27J Spartans at a cost of $1.6 billion to fulfil Australia’s mid-sized airlift capability following the retirement of the Vietnam-era Caribou in 2009.

Caribou was the Royal Australian Air Force’s longestserving aircraft type, acquired in 1964 and retired in 2009 – after 45 years.

The first Spartan arrived in Australia on 25 June 2015 and was initially based at RAAF Base Richmond, operated by No. 35 Squadron.

The 10th and final aircraft arrived on 2 April 2018 and 35 Squadron moved to RAAF Base Amberley the following year.

ALL ABOARD SURABAYA EXPRESS Soldiers from Darwin’s 1st Brigade flew to Indonesia in November to participate in Exercise Wirra Jaya 2019, a bilateral training exercise held annually with the Indonesian Army.

The 2019 iteration of Exercise Wirra Jaya took place at Dodiklatpur in Asum Bagus, East Java – Indonesia’s premier live-fire field training facility, which regularly hosts international exercises.

Australia’s Chief of Army Lieutenant General Rick Burr said 2019 would be the first time Australian Army Bushmasters were deployed with soldiers as part of the exercise.

“Our soldiers, from 5RAR, introduced the Bushmaster to their Indonesian counterparts in the Northern Territory last year and will now continue that training on unfamiliar ground,” Lieutenant General Burr said.

“The Tentara Nasional Indonesia Army (TNI-AD) strategic reserve force, the 2nd Division Kostrad, will this year have the opportunity to show the Australian infantrymen their own armoured fighting vehicle capability.

“Familiarising ourselves with each other’s doctrine, equipment, tactics and techniques broadens our knowledge and understanding of each other, which in turn naturally builds trust and relationships that endure,” Lieutenant General Burr said.

Each year, Australia and Indonesia share hosting duty for Exercise Wirra Jaya.

In 2018 the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade welcomed around 90 TNI-AD soldiers to Robertson Barracks.

Exercise Wirra Jaya debuted in 2013.

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Photo by WO2 Richard Swaby

Photo by WO2 Richard Swaby

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Photo by Corporal Shane Kelly

Photo by Corporal Shane Kelly

Photo by Corporal Shane Kelly

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Major changes to Army

RECRUIT TRAINING A collection of related stories first published in ARMY Newspaper, 30 May 2019

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Revi sed recruit course A modern recruit course will reflect a modern force, reports Captain Aaron Oldaker.

Hand-to-hand fighting and combat-focused marksmanship now feature on a revised Army recruit course after changes were approved at the end of last year.

Recruits will also receive foundation training in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence and be required to pass a PESA (physical employment standards assessment) before marching out of Kapooka.

The Army swim test and the basic fitness assessment are conducted, but are diagnostic assessments only.

Commanding Officer 1RTB Lieutenant Colonel Roger McMurray said the course was modified to prepare every soldier to be ready for the physical, mental and moral rigours of close combat.

“Our goal is to deliver world-class foundation combatants who are physically robust, possess grounded combat behaviours, ethics and values

Combat mindset The Army Combatives Program (ACP) aims to promote combat effectiveness, increased lethality and survivability through the development of combat skills, instilling a combat mindset and building combat behaviours.

Lieutenant Rhys Faulder, Platoon Commander, 2 Platoon, A Company, 1RTB, said instilling combat behaviour in recruits was a key foundation of recruit training.

“The ACP is a safe and effective hand-tohand fighting program,” Lieutenant Faulder said.

“It provides a structured and graduated progression of self-defence and non-lethal response options, through to lethal fighting techniques.

“The focus is on instilling recruits with basic skills to survive a close fight through a combat mindset and the development of combat behaviours, with the goal of bringing the recruits to a level where they could survive an encounter, retain their weapon and continue the fight.”

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and be set up to succeed at their initial employment training,” Lieutenant Colonel McMurray said.

“We are very fortunate to live in an advanced, respectful and relaxed modern society, so our challenge is to draw people from that society and transform them into confident and capable soldiers.”

While drill and navigation remain in the course, some elements have been removed – including movements in slow time, and, aiming off, bypassing and conducting resections have been removed from the navigation syllabus.

1RTB plans to process 4500 part-time and full-time recruits in 2019.

“That’s an enormous responsibility that necessitates a considerable workload for staff,” Lieutenant Colonel McMurray said.

“But, the opportunity to train the next generation of Army’s soldiers is one of the most worthwhile and rewarding opportunities that Army offers.”

Combat shoot i ng The Army Recruit Course has modified shooting lessons to exploit the enhanced lethality of the EF88 and place greater emphasis on combat marksmanship.

1RTB Master Coach WO2 Anthony Pratt said the new series of rifle practices was intended to replace the legacy live fire (LF) series and place the focus on combat.

“The purpose is to engender a conceptual shift in Army’s approach to small-arms live firing.

“They will enhance the shooting skills of Army while instilling a combat mindset and building combat behaviours,” he said.

“Rifle practice 3A is the new gateway for field firing that recruits must pass, replacing the old LF6.

“All recruits are trained on the EF88 and the Combat Marksmanship Continuum (CMC), and must achieve an RP3A pass standard as a march-out requirement.

“Rifle practices provide graduated combat marksmanship training, designed to develop soldiers’ combat-shooting skills at ranges from 100m to 300m using a combination of static and moving targets.”

WO2 Pratt said.

“Recruits respond well to the new methods despite the challenge of progressing trainees to a state of ‘unconscious competence’ during the course.

“The major differences between the legacy LF program and the CMC is the intensity of shooting and the level of survivalist combat behaviours expected to be displayed by the firer.

“The CMC program places an increased responsibility on the firer to make decisions that are not unlike the decisions that would need to be made in actual combat – for example, the firer decides on how many rounds to fire to neutralise a threat, when to apply safe, when to use cover and when to conduct tactical or emergency reloads.

“The end-state is far superior to what was produced under the legacy shooting program – recruits have demonstrated higher levels of weapon confidence, proficiency and safety.

“Skill degradation between the completion of the qualifying practice and Exercise Challenge is minimal, demonstrating that the level of training and repetition is more than sufficient and beyond expectation for the all-corps environment.

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CBRN prot ect ion

Physical conditioning

1RTB has introduced basic operator training to prepare soldiers to use future chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protective gear.

Lieutenant Colonel McMurray said the training conducted at 1RTB was an introduction to selfprotection skills and individual equipment.

“Recruits are instructed on the basics of CBRN to provide foundation skills that are further developed at initial-employment training schools or in units,” he said.

“They learn the basics on CBRN threats, practise individual drills and complete a respirator confidence test using a mask-test facility [which is Army’s nice way to say, they get first-hand experiece with tear gas].

“The use of a riot-control agent to confirm drills is a daunting prospect for recruits, but they gain complete confidence in their equipment – and there is universally positive feedback on the experience.”

Applying a single fitness standard across a diverse range of people is difficult and, at the start of military training, this difficulty is coupled with the added risk of injury to new, unconditioned trainees.

The Army swim test and the basic fitness assessment are still conducted at Kapooka, but they are now used only as diagnostic tools.

Instead of the old-school BFA (basic fitness assessment consisting of pushups, situps and 2.4km run) recruits are now required to pass a PESA (physical employment standards assessment) before marching out of Kapooka.

1RTB warrant officer physical training instructor WO2 Dean King said the all-corps PESA coupled with Army’s recent emphasis on conditioning helped deliver soldiers fit for the rigours of their future roles from a wider pool of recruits.

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“PESA provides a field-ready indicator for recruits by assessing job-specific aspects of fitness through the use of occupational tasks,” WO2 King said.

“It sets a standard of physical preparedness that is gender and age neutral, providing confidence that recruits can perform to standard without sustaining injury.”

PESA standards were developed with the assistance of human performance scientists, to maximise individual performance, rather than focusing on collective physical training methods.

PESA is based on muscular strength and muscular endurance, aerobic and anaerobic capacity.

The standards for measuring each of these four capabilities were developed based on the requirements of typical military tasks and are not based on gender-specific criteria.

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Evolut ion of Aust rali a’s

WORDS Corporal Sebastian Beurich PHOTOS Corporals Sebastian Beurich and Kyle Genner, and Leading Seaman Craig Walton 70

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COMMANDOS After officially becoming a special-forces unit in the middle of Operation Slipper, years of overseas service have transformed the 2nd Commando Regiment – 2 Cdo Regt – into one of the Australian Army’s most experienced units.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2019, the unit has undergone many changes since it changed its name from 4RAR (Cdo).

Following the announcement of a significant funding boost for Australia’s wider counterterrorism fraternity, Corporal Sebastian Beurich spent time with the 2nd Commando Regiment to find out how the organisation has evolved over its 10-year history.

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ergeant L said 2nd Commando Regiment had grown and adapted in every area, from equipment to training facilities, to suit its changing mission profiles since he arrived in 2006.

“Initially, there were a lot of changes in the gear we were using, because of our experiences on Operation Slipper,” Sergeant L said.

“We learnt a lot throughout that era and needed to change our weapons, body armour and ammunition, among other things, to suit our mission profiles.

“The unit went from young to very senior, with a lot of experienced commandos, in a short timeframe, because of the multiple deployments we were doing in Afghanistan.

“We’ve transitioned that knowledge, experience and equipment back into the domestic counterterrorism mission profiles we conduct as part of 2 Cdo Regt’s hostage-recovery and counterterrorism (HR/CT) role.”

Training for those roles, as well as general commando training, is conducted at the Special Forces Training Facility (SFTF) – a collection of ranges that has grown alongside 2 Cdo Regt and evolved to meet contemporary demands.

Range manager Sergeant J said the SFTF, originally comprised of 10 ranges, now had 43 ranges spread across the Holsworthy Training Area and encompassed the HR/CT role as well as the commando’s ‘war roles’.

“SFTF comprises two training areas,” Sergeant J said.

“The indoor range complex gives us the ability to conduct the full spectrum of our responsibilities within the CT space and consists of multiple ranges which can be linked together to make one large live-fire range – which is unique to this facility.

“The second encompasses the external areas, which allow us to conduct training ranging from breaching, longterm surveillance and sniper engagements through to urban warfighting using live or non-lethal man-marking munitions.

“It also covers the full spectrum of units within Socomd (Special Forces Command) – 2 Cdo Regt and SASR, through to SOTEC, 6 Aviation Regiment, SOER, 1 Cdo Regt and all of the other units that provide training and support.”

Although it opened 12 years ago, the SFTF has gone through numerous upgrades, culminating in what Sergeant L said was a world-renowned training centre.

“The SFTF has put us leaps and bounds in front of other special forces,” he said.

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“With so much packed into such a tight area, we can do a vast range of training, allowing us to advance our tactics quickly.

“We have flat ranges and a ‘method-of-entry’ house, we’ve conducted driver training and we’ve even done free-fall activities in there.

“All the partner forces who train with us love the facilities.

“They all wish they could have what we do, which allows our relationships with them to mature as they come back.”

Although the SFTF is equipped to deal with several different training scenarios, the facilities – which Sergeant J described as “humble rather than lavish” – were only as good as the soldiers who made use of them.

“You can’t buy excellence,” Sergeant J said.

“The ranges enable the development of modern warfare techniques, so we can learn what fails before we even enter combat, which lets us prepare for the unexpected.”

Creating and sustaining a fighting force was as much about what you did after training as it was the training itself, according to Sergeant M, who set up and manages 2 Cdo Regt’s Rapid Recovery and Reconditioning Centre (R3) as part of the unit’s human performance program.

“The term we use is ‘operator availability’, which is about the commando’s ability to rest, recover and get back online quicker, enabling them to train smarter and shorter and recover better and more efficiently,” Sergeant M said.

“What that means is the physical requirements of our job can be achieved through training less.

“But, the R3 is only one part. We also have a big focus on nutrition, sleep and biomonitoring.

“I did a benchmarking tour around sporting organisations in Australia and looked at what peer nations like the US were doing, which helped me frame how we were going to design the facility and make it attractive to people who are time poor.

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“That information let us design a relevant facility grounded in good, evidencebased research, enabling the commandos to be better in role both physically and mentally.

“The commandos love it – and the workplace is demonstrating they have a vested interest in not only the wellbeing of the operators, but also their performance.”

Real-world t raining

Sailing through Sydney Harbour, the first sign things were amiss was the dull thump of helicopter blades, barely audible over the water rushing past the bow of the Sydney Harbour ferry.

Moments later, 2 Cdo Regt soldiers disembarked from rigid-hulled inflatable boats – RHIBs – and climbed over the side rails, while their comrades fast-roped on to the deck from a hovering Black Hawk, supported by snipers in another Black Hawk providing aerial fire support.

The commandos stormed through the ferry and subdued all threats they encountered.

Within minutes they had the ferry under control, threats neutralised and hostages saved.

This scenario was part of Exercise MARS Rotor Anchor Toothfish (RAT) – a key exercise for the Sydney-based Tactical Assault Group – East (TAG-E) – the ADF’s “in extremis” counterterrorism force drawn from 2nd Commando Regiment .

Along with the maritime counterterrorism exercise on Sydney Harbour, MARS RAT also included a ship-at-anchor recovery of a large merchant vessel off Port Kembla, New South Wales, plus a coordinated assault on two linked cells, in a high-rise building in Melbourne’s CBD and a shipping facility in Hobart.

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Cdo Regt

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Lead-up component and refresher training meant the commandos were “fully versed” in the activity, according to Corporal B, who said increased access to training resources was great for the team.

“We moved TAG-E down to Melbourne for the high-rise scenario, with some of the team driving and others flying,” he said.

“From there, we assaulted the building from both ends, using Black Hawks to get us on top, while other call signs moved up through the building’s stairwells.

“This sort of training only happens once or twice a year, usually during these big exercises, but having real infrastructure to train on – like a high-rise building in the middle of Melbourne – is a real benefit.”

The regiment’s HR/CT company that makes up TAG-E includes a RHIB boat team, commando assaulters, commando snipers, a dedicated medical team, supplemented by Navy clearance divers.

This mix of skills gives ground commanders many approach options, with Captain N saying the addition of Navy clearance divers added flexibility.

“The exercise is really about consolidating our key domestic counterterrorism skills,” Captain N said.

“Part of that is the maritime counterterrorism piece, where we have a remit out to 200 nautical miles.

“We covered off on ship-alongside and ship-underway assaults, including sub-surface approaches with our divers.

“We were also working on force projection, using helicopters to launch us into top-down assaults to achieve vertical envelopment and using Royal Australian Air Force assets to deploy interstate.

“2nd Commando Regiment companies rotate onto HR/CT duties on TAG-E every few years at the moment, so it’s a good opportunity for us to consolidate our core skills.”

While MARS RAT gave the company an opportunity to hone its maritime counterterrorism and aerial insertion skills, it wasn’t the culmination of their training program however.

Because of their unique mandate, 2 Cdo has to be prepared for any eventuality.

“TAG is basically the Australian government’s fix for any situation that is beyond the capability or capacity of state police,” Private R said.

“I can put my hand on my heart and say the guys I work with are the best.

“You want to come to work every day and you want to push to achieve your goals because you’re with like-minded people.”

Funding boost The Australian government has approved the first stage of a multi-billion dollar investment in cutting-edge equipment for Australia’s special forces.

Project Greyfin will deliver $3 billion to special forces over the next 20 years, with an initial investment of $500 million over four 74

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Cdo Regt

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years, so they can better respond to threats, including terrorism.

While making the funding announcement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with 2nd Commando Regiment soldiers for lunch in Sydney and watched several training demonstrations showcasing the unit’s counterterrorism skills.

“We’re ensuring the men and women in our special forces have the equipment and training they need to succeed in their operations,” Prime Minister Morrison said.

“Australian special forces undertake complex, highly demanding operations in high-threat environments.

“Global threats will continue to evolve in ways which threaten Australia’s interests.

“This funding will ensure our special forces have cuttingedge capabilities to stay ahead of those who might threaten Australia’s interests.

“Our Special Forces are at the leading edge of the world and in fact, are sought after both for their expertise and advice with our partner forces all around the world.

“What I’ve seen on display today is a level of expertise, a level of capability that Australia should feel very proud of – but equally, one that should also make them feel safe.

“It’s our special forces’ job to keep us safe – it’s my job as Prime Minister – our most important priority – to keep Australians safe.

“And these are the people who are doing that job, not just overseas, but also through their capabilities here to deal with domestic counterterrorism.

“We want to thank them very much for their service, and the best way to do that is by making sure they have the capability to continue to do that job for the next 20 years.”

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said Project Greyfin would ensure our Special Forces have the best body armour, weapons, diving, parachuting, roping and climbing systems, medical search and rescue, communications, human-performance training and support, and everything else they needed to help ensure Australia’s security.

“Our special forces, now more than ever, need to be ready and able to deploy on operations anywhere in the world, at short notice, and in very uncertain conditions,” Minister Reynolds said.

“This first stage of funding enables our special forces to engage with intelligence, science and technology, and innovation organisations to ensure future threats and opportunities are assessed, to make sure we are delivering them the capability they need in the future.”

Prime Minister Morrison said the special-forces funding package formed part of the government’s commitment to increasing defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP, which would ensure that our Defence Forces are ready and fit and able and capable of being able to keep Australians safe in the 21st century.

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DANGER CLOSE THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN

I was nervous going to see this movie. Not because I had any doubts about its quality – but because I had seen the trailer and I expected it was a ‘raw’ war movie, about a battle that happened not that long ago.

In fact, the Battle of Long Tan was so ‘recent’, there are heaps of that-war’s veterans around – and I drink coffee with a handful of them twice a week every week.

I’m not old enough to remember Long Tan – I was three years old, and living in Ireland back then, where Vietnam wasn’t the ‘issue’ it was here in Australia.

But now, having been an Australian soldier myself, knowing some boys who were over there, and being of a more sensitive, nervous disposition than I used to be – I was a little trepidacious going in.

But, I survived – and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

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Quite simply, I call it a proper, PROPER war movie – full-on action from go to whoa with no Hollywood sentimentality.

As a war movie, they don’t come much better. It’s brilliantly made, with all the brutality and special effects of that now-famous opening scene in Saving Private Ryan.

It’s a high-quality Australian production with an Aussie (and a few Kiwi) cast and, as is the way with most Australian movie and TV productions these days, it is world class in terms of cinematography and production values.

Speaking of cast – the lead actor looked very familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him – and I won’t spoil it, in case you want to guess too.

Getting quickly immersed in the movie, however, I stopped trying to guess and did a Google search after. Aah! That’s who he was! And I never knew he was Australian in that show. Fascinating biography on Wikipedia too.

Anyway, when I say ‘no Hollywood sentimentality’ I mean there was no getting to know the characters back home in Australia, saying goodbye to girlfriends as they went off to war – no exploration of the politics of the war or conscription or any of that stuff – just a pure, unadulterated war movie.

If I was to pick one negative though, it probably does actually fit into the ‘Hollywood’ mould in one important regard – the truth of the story and ‘playing with history’.

The Battle of Long Tan is an amazing story of survival against overwhelming odds. 105 Aussies and three Kiwis, against an estimated 2000+ battle-hardened enemy, with ‘only’ 18 friendlies killed, while taking out an (official) estimate of about 250.

But, apparently, the real story of the Battle of Long Tan wasn’t good enough for the big screen – it had to be embellished in key details, to make it a better story – to make it ‘more Hollywood’ – more sellable.

And, while I appreciate the fine-line balance between historical fact and making a quid, between telling a story that sells and telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – it’s a shame it has to be so.

That said though, I don’t think there are too many people grossly upset by the ‘poetic licence’.

Major, now Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Harry Smith, the central character in the movie and the man who ‘led the charge’ on the battlefield – and for years after, fighting for proper recognition for his men – was interviewed by ARMY Newspaper after watching the movie.

“I am proud of my men and those who supported us, and to see the battle portrayed on the big screen, albeit after 53 years, is indeed wonderful,” he said.

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ABOVE: Major Harry Smith (Travis Fimmel) and Lance Corporal Willie Walker (Jay Kiriona) call in fire support.

RIGHT: Bombadier Ray Ngatai (Uli Latukefu), directs 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery.

“The movie demonstrates the courage, gallantry, mateship and determination of my company in fighting off odds in the order of 20 to one.

“The four-hour battle was brief, but was the most savage combat action of the war.

“I lost 17 men – the enemy lost hundreds.”

But, of the ultimate battle scene, Lieutenant Colonel Smith said the APCs racing to the rescue did not happen as depicted.

“The enemy had withdrawn by the time [the APCs] arrived 300m south of our defensive position. “[The enemy were] defeated by the magnificent 3500 rounds of artillery support and 10,300 rounds fired by my machine gunners and riflemen,” he said.

Despite this change in script, however, Lieutenant Colonel Smith still believed the battle scenes in Danger Close were excellent.

ARMY Newspaper reporter Sergeant Dave Morley says the former Officer Commanding D Coy, 6RAR, had tears in his eyes after seeing his soldiers shot and killed in graphic scenes.

“The Australian public should go to see this movie, as it demonstrates what all our battalion soldiers went through during the long war,” Lieutenant Colonel Smith said.

I went back for a second viewing, this time with a couple of older vets, one of whom had worked with one of the key characters.

Afterwards, we sat down for a debrief and, while the historychanging poetic license in the script was generally dismissed as necessary or warranted for the sake of making a viable movie, nitpicking minor details were discussed in depth – though generally laughed off. But, the consensus was overwhelmingly positive.

And that’s where I sit too. A brilliant movie, beautifully made – whether you know (or care) nothing about the battle itself, it’s a proper, PROPER war movie – or if you do know and care about the history of this dreadful battle, and are prepared to accept the poetic license – then DANGER CLOSE, The Battle of Long Tan is well worth seeing.

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ABOVE: Travis Fimmel as Major Harry Smith awaits a resupply by helicopter.

OPPOSITE: Sergeant Bob Buick (Luke Bracey) and WO2 Jack Kirby (Alexander England) make a sad roll call.

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AUSARMOURFEST 2019 – CAIRNS WORDS AND PICS BY PETER JACKSON

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Where Iron beasts roam They say that if you are passionate about what you do, you would never have to work a day in your life. After meeting Rod Lowden, the owner and curator of the privately operated Australian Armour and Artillery Museum, I beg to differ.

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The blood, sweat and tears required to search for, restore and display one of the largest collections of military muscle in the Southern Hemisphere is almost palpable.

Rod and his team scour the World’s battle sites, scrap yards and abandoned collections to fill his massive museum with more than 150 armoured and artillery pieces, some dating back to WWI. Once relocated to his museum in Cairns, the team painstakingly breathe life back into these massive steel and iron beasts of war before presenting them for the public to marvel at.

But having a static display for these metal monsters was just not enough. Military enthusiasts wanted to hear them roar. They wanted to feel the ground shake as they passed by. They wanted to listen to the howl and whine of monster engines. They wanted to hear the clack and squeak of tracks as these great machines once again roamed the earth.

So, in 2014 the first annual Ausarmourfest was born, drawing military-armour fans from across Australia and indeed from across the globe, to tropical north Queensland ever since.

To be honest, I’m somewhat of a groupie too.

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This year was only my second Ausarmourfest since moving to the tropics of Queensland. However, I have lost count of the number of times I have visited the museum over the past two years.

It seems to grow larger with every visit, with more and more incredible displays filling the place.

Some think that Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth.

Again, I beg to differ.

We arrived early and already they had the big armour out wowing fans.

The queue to ride on the various choices of rolling heavymetal displays snaked through the museum.

And what choices there were.

Everything from the APC (Armoured Personnel Carriers) used by the Australian Army in Vietnam, to a rare, original German Panzer 1V D. Moving out of the sun to the very civilised shade of the exclusive ‘Commanders Deck’ for a better view, the entire paddock laid out before me was alive with metallic motion.

A replica Tiger 1 tank trailed a Sherman Firefly around the dusty course, both appearing to be stalked by a Cold-War era Soviet T72 that, even after all these years, still seemed to wreak of evil intentions.

I deemed that the Commander’s Deck luncheon area was exactly where I needed to stay, to observe the day’s activities, for three reasons mainly; the excellent overall view of the vehicles on display; the wonderful food being served and the cold beer on tap.

As an Australian, I chanced having my citizenship questioned for not imbibing in available beverages – so I felt it best not to risk it. It’s a cultural thing.

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A series of loud bangs and shouted commands heralded the outbreak of hostilities between local military re-enactment groups, with the field soon hazed by smoke belching from the German 8.8cm flak cannon and various small arms as the Wehrmacht once again held their ground against a mix of American and Australian ground forces.

The heated combat rolled on to the delight of the evergrowing crowd filling the outdoor display area. And I do mean heated, as the tropical Australian sun was fairly baking the poor lads wearing authentic traditional woollen uniforms and heavy leather webbing.

Once a ceasefire was called, the military re-enactors regrouped and blended back into the museum crowd to once again be photographed and to answer questions on their chosen military uniform.

Ausarmourfest’s reputation as a must-see event is growing stronger every year, drawing military-vehicle fans from all over.

One enthusiastic gentleman and his wife from the UK spent his annual leave flying to north Queensland to witness the event alongside other armour fans from across Australia and from around the World.

I totally get it.

The event, like the museum itself, is always evolving, with new and exciting displays being added to the already impressive collection.

For more information on the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum head to their excellent web site ausarmour.com Conveniently, the webpage has a ‘countdown clock’ displaying in days, hours, minutes and seconds how long before the 2020 Ausarmourfest kicks off. I say conveniently as I am counting the days – as many others are too.

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INDO PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR

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Key strategicengagement activity

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Indo-Pacific Endeavour 19 (IPE19) – the third iteration of this strategicengagement activity – was launched in Western Australia on 11 March 2019 with the departure of HMA Ships Canberra, Success, Newcastle and Parramatta and 1200 Navy, Army and Air Force personnel from Fremantle.

According to official Defence information, the fleet was tasked to carry out a series of engagement activities and military-training exercises during port visits in (alphabetically) India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. However, the Task Force’s own Facebook page was much more comprehensive, reporting from (by date) Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombo and Trincomolee in Sri Lanka, Chennai and Visakhapatnam Port in India, Langkawi and Port Klang near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Phuket in Thailand, Nha Trang in Vietnam, Changi Naval Base in Singapore, and finally, Jakarta in Indonesia.

IPE19 encompassed a wide range of activities, including disaster-assistance planning, multinational naval manoeuvres and training serials with partner security forces.

One good example was that of a team of Navy clearance divers embarked on HMAS Success who took full advantage of an opportunity to strengthen ties with their Sri Lankan Navy counterparts in a joint training initiative.

Conducted at the Sri Lankan Navy Base in Trincomalee on the north-east coast of the island, the training involved a series of activities and exchange of ideas based mainly on the disposal of improvised explosive devices.

Clearance Dive Team 4 Executive Officer Lieutenant James Leeds said the interaction provided a valuable opportunity for the two navies to share ideas and experiences in the field of ordnance disposal.

“We conducted a number of important serials with our counterparts from the Sri Lankan Navy, including demolition serials both on land and underwater, as well as exchanging IED-disposal techniques in a classroom environment,” Lieutenant Leeds said.

“By conducting activities such as this, we can see firsthand how the Sri Lankan Navy operates in this field, and likewise they were able to do the same with us.

“Both parties learned a lot.”

Also, in Puttalam, the Sri Lankan Navy showed off capabilities of its small-boat squadrons, which are ready to respond on the country’s waterways to disaster scenarios.

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The Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and the Rapid Response Rescue and Relief Unit (4RU) are elite units with two very different roles to play in the maritime space.

RABS Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander DDK Duminda Dayananda said the squadron was first established in 2006 to combat the threat of waterborne terrorism.

“RABS was established in a time when terrorism was a real threat, but when the Sri Lankan war ended in 2009, 4RU was stood up to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”

4RU demonstrated several real-world disaster situations at their highly effective and specially built simulation site, featuring a natural estuarine system to replicate a flooded village, where the unit demonstrated rescue operations by boat, land, air and across water gaps.

A village buried beneath a landslide had also been cut into the landscape and the Australian contingent watched as 4RU members conducted search-andrescue operations with dogs and specialist equipment.

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Lieutenant Commander Dayananda said the exchange of experience was great for his unit and he felt the Australian Defence Force members got a lot out of it too.

“Disasters are a global issue and, as militaries, we should work together to save lives.”

HMAS Canberra’s Commander Amphibious Division Lieutenant Colonel Rory Hale agreed.

“We witnessed a very capable Sri Lankan Navy simulate a recovery operation from a landslide event,” Lieutenant Colonel Hale said.

“Activities like this are important for Australia and Sri Lanka. Should a natural disaster occur and the ADF is requested to support, we have already formed key relationships and have a greater understanding of each other’s capabilities.”

Back on the water, and throughout IPE19, HMAS Newcastle provided primary defence for HMAS Canberra and the wider fleet.

As she transits from west to east on what will be her final mission, the Adelaide-class guided-missile frigate has been at Canberra’s side throughout.

Operations room supervisor and combat systems supervisor Petty Officer Bianca Sherrington said Newcastle used sensors and liaised with the other ships to provide an up-to-date force picture for the Joint Task Force.

“Newcastle is the air-warfare and electronic-warfare coordinator in charge of the air, space and electronics spectrum – we’re the superior air-defence unit with our long-range missiles,” Petty Officer Sherrington said.

“As a warship, we are more tactically focused – it’s our job to protect the high-value ship, Canberra.”

Newcastle’s ship’s company also participated in military-to-military training, community engagement activities and diverse maritime evolutions throughout the deployment.

“Some of our interactions with partner nations have been unique to IPE19, such as live contact time with a kilo-class submarine in India,” Petty Officer Sherrington said.

“We were able to demonstrate interoperability during our participation with the Indian Navy through several successful serials.”

Principal warfare officer Lieutenant Hayden Clark said it had been an honour to be part of IPE19.

“Newcastle is a fundamental force to the IPE19 mission and she has integrated well into the Joint Task Force,” Lieutenant Clark said.

“Even though she is an older ship with older combat systems and sensors, she’s very capable, with a highly efficient team that delivers complex warfare capability to the task group.”

Newcastle has about 200 personnel embarked, varying in trades, roles and rates.

About 60 form the Action Information Organisation, 86

which ranges from boatswain’s mates, communication information system sailors and combat systems operators.

“Being a much smaller ship than Canberra, each person has first and secondary roles – we’re a really tight team,” Lieutenant Clark said.

“It’s been a very busy deployment but also a very productive one.

“I’ve really enjoyed the experience and it has been a privilege to be part of the ship’s legacy.”

When she gets home from IPE19, HMAS Newcastle will visit her namesake city, then ceremonially decommission in Sydney later this year.

With four ships at sea for such a long period, replenishment of fuel and supplies was important and it was the professional and passionate crew of HMAS Success who delivered as needed.

Also on her final mission before decommissioning, HMAS Success’ flight-deck crews worked together in hot and humid tropical conditions to prepare ‘palnets’ (palletised cargo nets) of frozen food for vertical lift by helicopter to the other ships.

Success also celebrated her 33rd birthday at sea, with Commanding Officer Captain Darren Grogan and his crew marking the occasion with a slice of birthday cake and a deck party for their beloved ‘Battle Tanker’.

Captain Grogan said that despite her age, Success was still maintaining an extremely high-tempo during her four-month decommissioning deployment.

“Success – also known as the First Lady of the Fleet – is the oldest ship in the Royal Australian Navy, but don’t be put off by her age – she remains at the top of her game,” Captain Grogan said.

“In fact, last year we conducted 100 replenishments at sea, which is more than the ship had achieved in a single year for more than 20 years,” he said.

Moving on to Thailand, the 800 members of Canberra’s and Newcastle’s companies and embarked forces tucked into a busy program, which included humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief demonstrations from both Australian and Thai forces, as well as a variety of community engagements.

Air Commodore Owen said the visit to Thailand built on a long history of cooperation on security challenges.

“Our strong defence relationship has a 70-year history, covering a variety of areas crucial to maintaining regional stability and security,” he said.

“Our nations have time and again proven their ability to work together when required, having both contributed to UN missions in East Timor, South Sudan and Iraq, as well as Combined Maritime Forces patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

“The humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief demonstrations during IPE19 facilitated greater knowledge-sharing between our militaries, ensuring more seamless integration when responding to potential future events.”

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Moving on from Thailand, late April saw the fleet in Malaysia for a series of cultural exchanges and training activities with the Malaysian Armed Forces, as well as commemorative activities for Anzac Day on foreign soil.

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Commander IPE19 Joint Task Force Air Commodore Rick Owen said the visit to Malaysia was a highly anticipated part of the Indo Pacific Endeavour program.

“Australia and Malaysia’s defence relationship is longstanding and one of Australia’s closest in southeast Asia, underpinned by the close people-to-people links, which were further developed over this visit,” Air Commodore Owen said.

“We were particularly looking forward to training opportunities with the Malaysian Armed Forces, including jungle-warfare training, subject-matter expertise exchanges and a reciprocal band activity.”

And Anzac Day commemorations in Kuala Lumpur were also very special, with more than 1000 Australian and New Zealand sailors, soldiers, aviators and officers on hand to commemorate the 104th anniversary of the dawn landings on the Gallipoli peninsula.

On 4 May, HMAS Newcastle, in company with IPE19 flagship HMAS Canberra, made her final transit through the busiest and most complex waters in the world – the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

Navigation officer on HMAS Newcastle Lieutenant Mitchell Smith held responsibility for the tricky transit.

“As the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are some of the most strategic straits in the world,” Lieutenant Smith said.

“About one third of the world’s oil production passes through here.

“That’s about 50,000 ships passing through an area only 2.7 kilometres wide, and represents about 25-30 trillion dollars in global trade.

“Add on top of that the international law of territorial waters and archipelagic sea lanes, this becomes a very complex transit.”

Lieutenant Smith also had to ensure Newcastle did not break any international laws or agreements in the area.

“These straits are backed on to a number of nations that patrol the area and prevent acts of illegal activity known to occur throughout the straits and the South China Sea,” he said.

“It’s very important as a team that the whole ship is working together to ensure we safely transit these waters, protect our ships in company and also the merchant traffic in the area.”

During the passage, the bridge thrummed with activity with all hands on deck to monitor other ship movements and potential navigational hazards.

Boatswain’s mates on each bridge wing, one on the gunnery direction platform and one at the helm formed a quick-response-force team.

Commanding Officer HMAS Newcastle Commander Anita Sellick said passing through the highly congested sea-lane was a complex task with other ships involved.

“There are many maritime boundaries that are adjacent to one another and above these maritime

boundaries are also air-space boundaries,” Commander Sellick said.

“That’s where Newcastle’s strength lies – we provide force projection and air protection to the task force as we navigate these congested waters together.”

On 7 May, HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle pulled in to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.

Air Commodore Owen said the visit was an important opportunity to increase defence cooperation between the two countries – a youthful relationship that had been upgraded just last year.

“Our defence engagement with Vietnam only started in 1998, but in the intervening years we have become important partners in helping to ensure the region remains safe, secure, open and prosperous,” Air Commodore Owen said.

The relationship with Vietnam was upgraded with a Joint Vision Statement on Enhancing Defence Cooperation, signed in November 2018.

Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program with Vietnam includes English language training, maritime security, officer development, peacekeeping, aviation safety, military medicine and counter-terrorism.

“This visit is an important part of strengthening our partnership,” Air Commodore Owen said.

Adding weight to the Vietnam visit, Australia’s Deputy Chief of Army also visited.

Major General Anthony Rawlins toured HMAS Canberra and watched training activities involving soldiers from 3RAR. Private Jayden Page, on his first deployment overseas, was part of that demonstration.

“We simulated a capture-or-kill exercise where an enemy force took control of the flight deck on board Canberra and planned to conduct operations from there,” Private Page said.

“This kind of training is invaluable for us – we work across the Navy and with foreign militaries sharing techniques and building our skills.

“Being on Canberra allows us all to come together and work as one force.”

That’s the new norm Major General Rawlins said.

“The Army is a maritime force and we need to build upon our relationships in the joint space with Navy and Air Force so we can project ourselves into the region and build capacity with our partner nations.”

Another Army capability exercised during IEP19 was the embarkation of four Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters and associated support on HMAS Canberra.

However, the Tigers did not originally deploy with the ship, instead transported by RAAF C-17 from their home base in Darwin to Kuala Lumpur’s international airport, then flown to marry up with the ship in Port Klang.

Such a deployment not only provided a significant opportunity to train aircrew and ground staff for day and night operations on HMAS Canberra, but was an 87

LEFT: Private Matthew Jamiso, 3RAR, on a live-fire exercise at Terendak Barracks, Malaysia. Photo

by Able Seaman Kieren Whiteley.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT OPPOSITE: Leading Seaman Istvan Dobo demonstrates an explosive ordinance countermeasure to a Sri Lankan Navy diver at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: Petty Officer Jason Wickman observes a cargo lift from HMAS Success by MRH-90: Petty Officer Brendan Pugh demonstrates an explosive ordinance countermeasure to a Sri Lankan Navy diver at Trincomalee: Able Seaman Tylor Bootle and Able Seaman Yasmin Dench attach a palnet to an MRH-90 on HMAS Success: Photos by Leading Seaman Christopher Szumlanski:

excellent shakeout of ‘strategic projection’ with the RAAF. Tiger pilot Captain Daniel Tidd said the opportunity to train onboard HMAS Canberra had several benefits.

“Exercising with the Navy enables 1st Aviation Regiment the opportunity to work together to integrate the aviation and maritime assets,” Captain Tidd said.

“It also allows our groundcrew aviation support, maintainers and aircrew the opportunity to live, work and train on board in order to understand how we conduct sorties from the ship.”

Once certified for the Navy’s Landing Helicopter Dock, tiger will allow the Canberra-class ships to be declared completely operational as an amphibious platform.

“Our aim is to replicate the mission profiles we conduct on land. From there we will be able to layer 88

different operational components but adapt our point of origin to the maritime domain,” Captain Tidd said.

“This is the first significant deployment for the ARH and 1st Aviation Regiment onto a maritime platform.

“It’s a big step that offers a lot more choices, broadens our capability and offers commanders more options.

“The ADF’s amphibious capability, with air-mobile and air-assault operations from a maritime platform, is now a possibility.”

After Vietnam, it was back to Singapore for another suite of activities, including participating at Imdex Asia – a major biennial naval trade expo.

For the first time, Indo Pacific Endeavour incorporated Australian defence-industry rep, showcasing some of Australia’s defence-industry capabilities and services during official receptions on board HMAS Canberra.

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“IMDEX Asia provided the IPE19 Joint Task Force with an opportunity to discuss the value of these partnerships to a stable region with a wide and influential audience,” Air Commodore Owen said.

“Our visit this week was about working closely with Singapore and other partners to progress defence relationships to enhancing the security of both countries and the broader region.”

Singapore’s city lights gave way to those of Indonesia’s capital for HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle on 18 May, while Success visited South Sulawesi.

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In Jakarta, members of the Joint Task Force conducted a series of civilian and military engagements, and were joined by Australian Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mike Noonan for high-level talks with Indonesian National Armed Forces officials – while in Makassar, Indo Pacific Endeavour 2019 members conducted a similar program, hosting local authorities.

Indo Pacific Endeavour 2019 departed Indonesia on 23 May and arrived back in Australian waters on the 26th, stopping first in Darwin before proceeding south and home.

Chief of Joint Operations Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld said this third iteration of IPE had been one of the most ambitious regional-engagement activities undertaken by the Australian Defence Force.

“With four ships and various aircraft, more than 1200 personnel from across the ADF, partner nations and Defence industry, this was a landmark activity for our modern joint force,” Air Marshal Hupfeld said.

“IPE 19 was a sophisticated demonstration of jointforce integration, combined interoperability with partner forces, and military diplomacy.”

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AIR WARFARE INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE More than 2000 personnel, 100 aircraft and the next generation of Air Force Air Warfare Instructors were tested to the limit during Exercise Diamond Storm in the Northern Territory.

Exercise Diamond Storm is a large-force employment exercise with a focus on the execution of tactical offensive counter-air operations.

The exercise was the final stage of an intensive three-phase Air Warfare Instructor Course that assesses candidates in academic and practical activities, spanning six months.

Exercise Director Group Captain Matthew McCormack said the Diamond series of exercises were designed to enhance the integration of people and systems to facilitate the introduction of fifthgeneration capabilities into the Australian Defence Force.

“The course exercises complex war-like scenarios and the students put their newly developed skills into practice and make decisions that will shape the way Air Force fights in the future,” Group Captain McCormack said.

He said a strong cadre of personnel capable of integrating warfighting functions across a range of specialisations graduated from the course.

“It has been a very busy month at RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal as we reach the conclusion of 90

Photos by Corporal Craig Barrett

this specialist course that has tested the candidates in a range of high-end warfighting scenarios,” Group Captain McCormack said.

“Diamond Storm has seen course members plan and execute offensive counter-air scenarios using just about every aircraft in our Air Force, as well as some from the United States Air Force and United States Marine Corps, and a range of specialist ground-based enablers and Royal Air Force capabilities.”

The types of US aircraft participating in the exercise included US Air Force F-15C Eagle and B-52 Stratofortress bomber, and US Marine Corp MV-22 Osprey and AH-1Z Viper.

RAAF aircraft participating included F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, Hawk 127, AP-3C Orion, P-8A Poseidon, C-17A Globemaster, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, E-7A Wedgetail and C-130J Hercules.

Supporting the aircraft were a range of ground-based surveillance and reconnaissance, air-warfare centre and combat-support group capabilities and personnel.

The Air Warfare Instructor Course began at RAAF Base Pearce in January, with Exercise Diamond Seas, a maritime-focused scenario with Navy and Army elements, before moving into Diamond Shield, a defensive counter-air exercise conducted from RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown.

“As instructors, the course graduates will be required to operate in a range of environments, cooperating with other Defence units and international forces to accomplish their objectives,” Group Captain McCormack said.

“They represent the next generation of tactical and integrated warfare leaders across the air-combat spectrum.”

Exercise Diamond Storm formally concludes with the return of all personnel and aircraft to RAAF Base Williamtown on 31 May for a ‘Dawn Strike’ off the coast of Newcastle.

Dawn Strike saw fast-jet aircraft and ‘big wing’ aircraft land at Williamtown before graduates received their patches during an official ceremony.

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No. 36 Squadron’s C-17A Globemaster III played a key role in the early stages of Exercise Diamond Storm in the Northern Territory by facilitating training integration of Air Mobility Group assets for the Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC).

C-17A 212 flew into the austere environment of Nackeroo Field military airstrip at Bradshaw Field Training Area on 8 May for exercise tasking, as well as to provide much-needed resupply and support to deployed personnel in the remote area.

C-17A Detachment Commander Flight Lieutentant Tim Smith said this was not a typical role for the C-17A when flying from the aircraft’s home base at RAAF Base Amberley.

“It’s a different day in the office to land the massive C-17 at Bradshaw, and we will be doing this a lot throughout the exercise, to deliver necessary logistics and personnel, and to achieve exercise objectives,” Flight Lieutenant Smith said.

“We are landing on dirt strips that airfield engineers from No. 65 Squadron have prepared for us, at 3500 feet in length, it is right on the minimum prescribed for C-17A operations.

“We rarely get to land on dirt runways and, as a robust and versatile airlifter, the C-17 is capable of doing this without too much effort.

“It’s unreal to land such a big aircraft in Top End’s red dirt.”

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Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett 91

WINGS OVER

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It was an airshow of contrasts for Wings Over Illawarra in 2019 – the old and gracefull contrasted beautifully against the modern and mostly loud – perfect no-wind sunshine on Saturday contrasted starkly against gusting crosswinds and torrential showers on Sunday.

Amazingly and thankfully though, not even Sunday’s weather dampened the enthusiasm of either the public or the pilots, with thousands braving a drenching in favour of spectacular flying displays between downpours.

Photographically, too, I think Sunday was the better day, with clouds, mists and streaked sunshine adding a plethora of very memorable shots to CONTACT’s file-photos catalogue.

Billed as Australia’s best annual airshow (because Avalon is biennial), Wings Over Illawarra is a CONTACT favourite – not least because it’s only 10km from my front door.

And this year was probably my favourite so far – mainly for the variety of spectacular flying, in varied weather conditions, against the never-get-tired-of Illawarra escarpment backdrop.

Also impressive, as always, on ground display was the record-breaking (non-stop London to Sydney) Qantas 747 as well as our old favourite ‘Connie’ the Super Constellation, now fully restored.

Four RAAF Roulettes, in their new PC-21 aircraft and paint-scheme, kicked off the aerial action.

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OPPOSITE: C-17 Globemaster LEFT: Felix the Cat on a Catalina RIGHT: P-8A Poseidon

ILLAWARRA

Beautiful one day – perfect torrential the next ; -)

TOP: CAC CA-18 Mustang ABOVE: CAC CA-27 Sabre Mk.32

they were restricted to basic formations and a solo handling display (a full-on, new aerobatics routine not expected to be officially unveiled until later this year – probably at the RAAF Airshow at RAAF Base Edinburgh on 9 and 10 November).

Other Defence notables also graced the sky – C-27J Spartan (easy to see why some call it the ‘Baby Herc’), C-130J Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, MH-60R ‘Romeo’, P-8A Poseidon and the Hawk 127 rounding out the day’s flying with a bang – i.e. ‘Wall of Flame’.

While Hawk is certainly loud, fast and pretty impressive, it really couldn’t make up for this year’s notable absentee – F/A-18 – which was otherwise engaged in the Northern Territory on Exercise Diamond Storm.

While Felix the Cat – who adorns the flanks of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society’s Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat – may be a happy chappie, Wings Over Illawarra airshow organisers weren’t so chirpie in the slipstream.

Following what seemed to the experienced outside observer to be a very successful event, Bright Events chiefs told several local media outlets the show was a financial loss-maker, struggling to surviv.

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TOP: North American T-28 Trojan MIDDLE: CAC CA-18 Mustang BOTTOM: Grumman TBM 3E Avenger

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However, we feel the event is almost ‘too big to fail’, and with passionate and committed organisers like Mark and Kerry Bright working feverishly behind the sceens, we think – and certainly hope – that it will survive, and thrive.

That said, and with the advantage of 20/20 foresight (editing this in March the following year), the 2020 Wings Over Illawarra Air Show was ‘postponed’ because of the COVID-19 virus lockdowns.

So, to ensure that Wings Over Illawarra does stay as New South Wales’ ‘second-biggest regional annual event’, it is more important than ever to support this it – whenever it returns.

CONTACT certainly will.

MAIN: Hawk 125 ABOVE: C-27J Spartan TOP RIGHT: Seahawk ‘Romeo’

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T Alaric reactions WORDS Nicholas falconer Pics supplied

Bookings and directions:

Web: alaricoutbackretreat.org Phone: 07 4530 1001 Email: alaricoutbackretreat@gmail.com Address: 2665 Cannaway Downs Rd, Quilpie, Qld 4480 Facebook: Alaric Outback Retreat Instagram: alaric_outback_retreat

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he original owner of Alaric in 1918 was a man by the name of Corporal JC (James Chum) Tully, who had returned from the horrors of WWI where he was wounded on his left arm from a machine-gun burst, and later received a depressed skull fracture, possibly from a shell striking his helmet.

Under a Soldier Settlement Scheme designed to aid returned veterans, Chum drew Alaric, a block of about 12,000 hectares near Quilpie, and chose to employ only returned veterans with the aim of helping them rebuild their shattered, shell-shocked lives.

Chum apparently refused to grow beetroot on the property as it reminded him and his colleagues of the horrific injuries they saw in the war.

Today the original Alaric homestead and property is now known as Alaric Outback Retreat, a fully fledged Australian charity co-founded by two Vietnam veterans, Lenny Thompson and Ted Robinson, and is a working cattle property of some 50,000 hectares.

Located in south-western Queensland, Alaric Outback Retreat (AOR) is 100km northwest of Quilpie and about 1100km west of Brisbane.

It aims to provide a secure and relaxing retreat to aid the advancement of social welfare of current and former members of the Australian and Allied Defence Forces, police, fire services, ambulance, emergency services and their families.

Lenny Thompson, who was wounded in Vietnam before having a long career in banking, said it was now a place for all first responders and their families, those dealing with PTSD and other issues – not just for Vietnam and other war veterans.

Lenny and fellow co-founder and Vietnam vet Ted Robinson, hatched the idea for a retreat, under the stars at nearby Adavale where Ted had already purchased an old, early 1900’s corrugated iron shed-like home, called ‘The Hut’, and the surrounding block of land for less than $500.

Veterans used ‘The Hut’ at Adavale for many years, to relax, recuperate, ‘recharge their batteries’ and ‘get away from it all’ – a trend among veterans, seeking solace and refuge in the outback.

“In 2006 Lenny and I met the new owner of Alaric, grazier Jim Scott, who told us he may have to bulldoze the house as the absentee new owners had no real need for the 100 year-old five-bedroomed homestead,” Ted said.

“Immediately my dreams of winning Gold Lotto and buying the homestead as a Vietnam veterans retreat came back, so we put together a proposition to Jim and the Veterans Association and, after much discussion about certain conditions and rules relating to cattle properties, plus some hard work, the retreat was eventually established.”

Len said working parties mustered from the 400-strong Sunshine Coast Vietnam Veterans Association arrived in September and November 2006 and worked their buttsoff repainting, rewiring, re-plumbing and reparing.

“People were most generous and came out of the woodwork offering us furniture, freezers, paint, as well as patronising our raffles,” Len said.

When Chum took on Alaric in 1918, conditions were primitive.

Today’s guests have electricity, running water, baths (indoor and out), air conditioning, TV, WiFi, 4WD’s and an airport nearby in case of medical emergencies.

But the overall beauty of Alaric is the isolation and quiet.

One guest, Darryl Wilson, who suffered from PTSD said he had never felt such peace, tranquility and relaxation than that which he experienced at Alaric Outback Retreat during his stay there in 2019.

While performing manager’s duties at Alaric Homestead, Vietnam veteran Graeme ‘Scotty’ Scott said, “three couples visited for up to a week at separate times and before they departed, each wife told me they hadn’t seen their partner so relaxed, happy and enjoying himself, for years” – a common observation from most partners of veterans who stay a night or two – or a week or two.

Perhaps it’s because there are no organised formal activities at Alaric. Visitors are free to do as little, or as much as they wish and are welcome to stay for a day, a week, or longer.

Many choose to help out on tasks like vegetable gardening, watering, cleaning or collecting timber for the evening chat around the fire pit.

Visitors can choose between the spacious bedrooms of the homestead or just park their caravans, mobile homes or tents in the ample space – with power and water available.

During the day, activities such as opal fossicking, fishing, catching yabbies, bird watching, photography, bush walking, or visits to one of the two working opal mines on the property are available.

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Day trips to the historic town of Adavale or Hell Hole National Park can be arranged.

Most visitors however prefer to just relax, read a book, sit around the fire in the evening with new-found friends and tell a few yarns.

This is when the magic of Alaric Outback Retreat recuperation is seen at its best.

Alaric’s very remoteness is a major part of the retreat’s attraction and contributes to the healing processes of both mind and body and, when like-minded guys gather, drink a few ales and talk, you can literally see the weight lift from visitor’s shoulders.

With almost zero light pollution in the Outback, you can lean back on your fireside seat and look upwards and, before you know it, you’ve gasped at the cloudy brightness of the Milky Way, seen a meteorite burn its way into our atmosphere and watched a satellite orbit our planet – and most of your problems seem to shrink away.

Talking around the fire pit with mates who experienced similar traumatic events can generate a humbling, honest conversation.

Men, most of who were teens or barely older at the time, who had never fired a gun during the conflict in Vietnam, sit and talk with men who had to deal with events that still, to this day, wake them at night, sweating, screaming.

As current volunteer manager at Alaric, Alan ‘Sparrow’ Christie admits, he had no idea what was coming before he left for Vietnam, but insists he would have volunteered anyway. He was only 17.

“My grandfather was in the First World War and my dad was in World War 2. This was my generation’s war and there was no way I was going to miss it,” Sparrow says, smiling as he lights up a rollie from a twig burning in the pit.

Sparrow was part of 3 Field Troop, the first engineering unit in the war. They were led

by Sandy MacGregor, who says he was proud of all of them, and lovingly described them as a ‘motley crew’.

Sparrow was one of those men nicknamed by media as ‘tunnel rats’ and spent a lot of his wartime under ground, looking for and chasing Vietcong, in dark, tight tunnels with a torch, a bayonet and bucket-loads of courage.

Alan loves Alaric Outback Retreat and spends more time volunteering there as manager than anyone else.

Alan built and maintains the vegetable garden, which provides lettuce, kale, tomatoes, beans and cucumbers – but still no beetroot.

Over 14 years of operation, many souls have benefitted from their stay at Alaric.

Alaric Outback Retreat co-founder Ted Robinson was back home on the Sunshine Coast at the Vietnam Vets Drop-in Centre at Maroochydore three months after Alaric had opened when a veteran came in and asked to see him. The man walked up to Ted and said, “Thank you. Alaric saved my life,” turned around and walked out.

“How many lives has Alaric saved or helped?” Ted muses. “I don’t know, but at least I met one.” Mates helping mates.

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97

CADET ER CORN

Where young eagles soar

A small group of South Australian Air Force Cadets started on their pathway to earning their ‘wings’ in February 2019.

A preparatory weekend was held at the Gawler Australian Air Force Cadets depot, which will eventually lead to a formal Radio-Controlled Aircraft Course – a flying camp for those interested in learning about and flying radio-controlled fixed-wing aircraft.

This training is being offered by No 906 Aviation Training Squadron in conjunction with No 608 (Town of Gawler) Squadron.

Flying Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig, 6 Wing Public Affairs and Communication Officer, said: “A pilot course (pun intended) was run in 2017 to assess the course structure and content, in order to make any necessary adjustments for future courses.

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Further information on Cadets can be found at

www.cadetnet.gov.au

LCDT Connor Bonham (608 Squadron, Gawler), LCDT Adomas Neocleous (609 Squadron, Warradale), Sergeant (AAFC) Shayne O’Hara (608 Squadron and 906 Aviation Training Squadron), LCDT Tristan Hahn (605 Squadron, Seaford) and CCPL Timothy Cox (608 Squadron).

This is now the start of formal radio-controlled flying training in South Australia”.

On completion of the course, comprising theoretical instruction and practical flying experience, Cadets who achieve the necessary standards will be eligible to receive the Bronze Wings awarded by the Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (MAAA) for modellers flying models under 2kg.

This preparation activity was run by Sergeant (AAFC) Shayne O’Hara. Shayne served as a cadet in the Air Training Corps in the 1970s and attained the rank of Cadet Flight Sergeant, and has now completed some 17 years’ service as an Instructor of Cadets.

He has a background in performance vehicles, and motor sport and classic cars, and through his active role in go-cart racing earned three medals in

the Australian Masters. He also maintains an active interest in aircraft modelling.

Sergeant O’Hara said: “We’ve put a lot of work into developing this course, and it’ll be great to see it get off the ground”.

As an air-minded youth organisation, the Australian Air Force Cadets has the mission of developing young Australians in a military and aviation environment.

No 906 Aviation Training Squadron is always looking for qualified and motivated instructors with excellent people skills and a passion for youth training, aviation and an appreciation of the military lifestyle, to join the team.

Part-time volunteer positions are available now, and experience as a military officer or NCO is preferred but not essential.

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Navy Army Air Force

Future leaders

Cadet FlightSergeant Benjamin Dunk and Air Commodore Gary Martin. Photo

by Aircraftman (AAFC) Josh Watson.

Cadets from South Australia and Mildura – No 6 Wing, AAFC – completed a range of residential promotion courses early this year, and are set to take on increased leadership responsibilities within their parent squadrons.

No 6 Wing conducted the 2019 Promotion Courses at RAAF Edinburgh from the end of December into January, with two staff and 14 cadets joining them from No 5 Wing (Tasmania).

Of those seeking to be promoted to Cadet Under Officer, the Dux of the course was Cadet FlightSergeant Benjamin Dunk (photo) from 613 Squadron (RAAF Edinburgh).

CFSGT Dunk is a solo glider pilot, ‘C’ Certificate qualified, and provides instructional support to No 906 Aviation Training Squadron. Last year he was Dux of the Senior NCO Course.

Cadet Flight Sergeant Artyom Keddie from No 507 Squadron, Devonport, Tasmania, was Dux of this year’s Cadet Warrant Officer Course.

Cadet Corporal Kimberly Wyatt-Read, No 602 Squadron (Adelaide Hills) was Dux of the Senior NCO Course.

Leading Cadet Elijah Barrott-Walsh from 619 Squadron at Noarlunga and Leading Cadet Darcy Needle from 605 Squadron at Seaford (both ‘City of Onkaparinga’ squadrons) tied for Dux of the Junior NCO Course.

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FLYING START

CCPL Sean Fry, 605 Squadron, Seaford, honouring the service of his Bomber Command grandfather Mark Fry.

Australian Air Force Cadets from Adelaide have started this year with a Pilot Experience Flight (PEX) from Aldinga airfield (YADG).

Not only was this a rare chance to fly over South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, and capture clear views of the stunning coastline and rolling vine-covered hills of the famed McLaren Vale wine region – but some had the luck to do this in a classic Great Lakes 2T1A-2 biplane, made available by Adelaide Biplanes.

Among the participants was Cadet Corporal Sean Fry from No 605 (City of Onkaparinga) Squadron, who recently graduated from the 2019 Senior NCO promotion course and is due to be promoted to Cadet Sergeant.

Sean is the grandson of Bomber Command veteran Flying Officer Mark Fry, an Australian who served as an air gunner with No 149 (East India) Squadron RAF. Sean’s grandfather flew in several aircraft, including over Europe in Stirling and Lancaster bombers.

This heritage prompted Sean to join AAFC: “I chose to join the Australian Air Force Cadets because I had a passion for aviation and I saw cadets as a good pathway into that”, he said.

“I did a couple of PEX flights through cadets at Aldinga, and that really got me interested. I did some training privately in powered aircraft, and then I got an AAFC scholarship for gliding and started learning to fly that way”.

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CADET ER CORN

Further information on Cadets can be found at

www.cadetnet.gov.au

HISTORIC FIRST FLIGHTS

Cadet Sergeant Mark Hargreaves is congratulated after his first solo powered flight by EFTS Head of Operations Squadron Leader Gary Presneill. Photo by Squadron Leader (AAFC) Scott Wiggins.

During the April school holidays, when thousands of Australia’s teens were playing video games or hanging out at the mall, 10 Australian Air Force Cadets took to the skies in the AAFC’s new Diamond DA40 NG training aircraft – seven of them achieving solo status.

The first to go solo, on 16 April, was Cadet Sergeant Mark Hargreaves of No 402 Squadron at Watsonia, from No 4 Wing (Victoria).

Cadet Sergeant Hargreaves, who has always wanted to be a pilot in the RAAF and is on a very good path to achieve his goal, said his first solo flight felt very similar to a flight with an instructor on board, except there was no-one watching his every move.

“I had to make all the decisions by myself, Cadet Sergeant Hargreaves said.

“When I landed the plane and had taxied it back to the parking spot, I looked across and saw all my coursemates, staff and RAAF officers on the porch cheering me on as I opened the canopy.

“That’s something I will never forget.”

Cadet Sergeant Hargreaves was followed two days later by fellow Victorian,

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Leading Cadet Luke Gould from No 403 Squadron (Beaconsfield) and Cadet Corporal Brianna Haunold of No 710 Squadron (Bunbury), who was the first cadet from No 7 Wing (Western Australia) to go solo.

The first cadet from No 6 Wing (South Australia) to go solo was Cadet Corporal Max Ramm, from No 609 Squadron (Warradale Barracks).

Then Cadet Warrant Officer Artyom Keddie from No 507 Squadron (Devonport) was the first cadet from 5 Wing (Tasmania) to achieve the memorable personal milestone.

They were followed, also on 18 April, by Cadet Sergeant Lachlan Davis of No 428 Squadron (Newtown) and Cadet Corporal Kiera Galan of No 429 Squadron (Queenscliff).

Course coordinator Squadron Leader (AAFC) Scott Wiggins said, “We heartily congratulate each one of them on achieving this milestone in their careers”.

“The other three who didn’t have the chance to go solo will have further opportunities with continuation flying training, as they will remain part of the program for up to 12 months,” Squadron Leader (AAFC) Wiggins said.

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Navy Army Air Force

Very speci al ai r mai l deli very NQ Army Cadets Anzac salute The normally rowdy Townsville football crowd fell silent recently as young Australian Army Cadet George Abednego read the Ode before the North Queensland Cowboys Anzac-tribute match on 3 May 2019.

The event featured an Australian and New Zealand National Flag ceremony conducted by Australian Army Cadets from 151 Army Cadet Unit based at NRL Cowboys House.

Respect in many forms was on display – for those who have served and in those who proudly

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continue to wear the uniform as part of a ground-breaking initiative.

The Australian Army Cadets and NRL Cowboys House are institutions highly respected in the north-Queensland community as having a positive influence on young people’s lives.

The successful flag ceremony was the beginning of a memorable evening for the appreciative crowd – and the cadets – with the Cowboys overcoming a tenacious Titans team 28-14.

Army Cadet George Abednego (above) and his colleagues from 151 Army Cadet Unit.

A RAAF C-17 Globemaster III from No. 36 Squadron was dispatched to Europe in January to fetch the first of eight new fixed-wing aircraft for the Australian Air Force Cadets.

The special air-freight delivery was organised so that the AAFC could showcase their new equipment at the Australian International Airshow – and, no doubt, so that Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester had a live aircraft on hand to announce the lease arrangement at Avalon.

Eight Diamond DA40 NG light aircraft have been leased for exclusive use of the Australian Air Force Cadets for the next 10 years.

The remaining seven Diamond DA40 NG aircraft are expected to be delivered to Australia [presumably by sea?] before the end of this year.

The aircraft will be based at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, RAAF Base Richmond in NSW and RAAF Base Point Cook in Victoria, and regularly deployed to regional areas on weekends and during school holiday periods.

DA40 NG features the latest in avionics and a turbocharged piston engine, giving cadets the opportunity to learn on an aerodynamically advanced aircraft with contemporary navigation and flight-control systems.

Defence has signed a 10-year contract with Airflite Pty Ltd, which includes the provision of maintenance services.

Airflite was the principal maintenance contractor for the Royal Australian Air Force PC-9/A aircraft for the past 30 years.

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CONTACT is dedicated to presenting stories, photos and video that capture the essence of serving-members’ lives, as far as possible in their own words.

CONTACT web site is our internet-based headquarters where we publish daily news and other interesting, related items. We also use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube as ’embassies’ where we engage our audience, inviting them back to our headquarters.

CONTACT newsletter is a free fortnightly email-based publication that draws attention to recent news stories. Its intent is to bring readers the best of the previous fortnight in a handy-reference format, linking back to the original story in our headquarters (web site) – and updating developments in older stories.

CONTACT Air Land & Sea magazine is a high-quality, full-colour, features-based magazine published four times per year. Initially launched in March 2004 as a traditional paper-based magazine, it switched to digital in 2013. It is now only available by free subscription.

Web: www.contactairlandandsea.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CONTACTmagazine Email: editor@militarycontact.com Mail: PO Box 3091, Minnamurra, NSW 2533

Subscribe: www.aussiecombat.com Phone: 0408 496 664