NZ ARMY’S WEAPONS CAPABILITIES ON DISPLAY

The Waiouru Military Training Area came alive with the sound of heavy duty armaments when the Army held a firepower demonstration recently.

The two-day display came at the end of 16 Field Regiment and the School of Artillery’s Exercise Brimstone.

The first day was devoted to showing Ministry of Defence and Capability Branch personnel around Waiouru, and introducing them to the various TRADOC schools.

The field demonstrations of the following day included the firing of the Javelin MRAAW missile, as well as the 105mm light gun, the 81mm mortar, the L119, and the anti-materiel rifle. The Light Armoured Vehicles’ M242 25mm cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun were also fired.

The fire power display was an opportunity to observe facets of the NZ Army’s core combat capability, in particular the supporting weapon systems of infantry, armour and artillery that can be employed within a Light Fighting Force. This activity was an important opportunity to demonstrate how we deliver combined arms effects on a battlefield, said the Land Component Commander Brigadier Hugh McAslan. The audience for the demonstration included many Defence civilian staff; providing important insights into how we operationalise capability to meet the policy requirements of being combat capable. The demonstration also gave our soldiers the opportunity to practise some of their skills in a combined arms environment. With the continuous demands of our current commitment to Op PROTECT, we have to take every opportunity to practise our warfighting skills when the opportunities arise to preserve critical skill sets with an eye to regeneration.

Photos: Corporals Chad Sharman and Rachel Pugh MAJ Michael Chivers provides a brief on future Command Post capabilities as part of the NEA project.