More Defence news: 19 May - 25 May 2008
| Aviation history at HMAS Albatross | Progress made on 'Tiger' helicopters | Chief of Army farewells friends in Timor-Leste | Defence to help clean up the Jordan River | The Navy provides support to NSW Police | Kangaroo Management at Belconnen | Papua New Guinea relief | HMAS Success on four-month deployment | Memorial service for Kapooka tragedy of 1945 | Australian forces push into Taliban territory | Australian soldier injured in Iraq | |
| Aviation history at HMAS Albatross 22 May - A range of current and historic military aircraft will be on display during the Fleet Air Arm Museum’s Open Day in Nowra this Sunday, 25 May 2008. The event will be part of Diamond Jubilee celebrations for the Fleet Air Arm and its home, the Royal Australian Navy establishment, HMAS Albatross. Commanding Officer of HMAS Albatross, Captain Mark Sackley, said Navy was looking forward to the event as it would showcase the historical development of the Fleet Air Arm and HMAS Albatross. “This will be an opportunity for the local community to help us celebrate the history of naval aviation in the Shoalhaven over the past 60 years,” Captain Sackley said. The Open Day will see static displays of current Navy helicopters, along with aircraft from the RAN Historic Flight, Raytheon, and Pelair. A Neptune, Dakota, Winjeel and Tiger Moth from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society will also be on static display. Several Warbird owners will attend, bringing along an L-39 Albatross, a T6 Harvard and an A-37 Dragonfly. The Army Parachute Training School will jump twice during the day from the Historic Flight UH-1B Iroquois helicopter and the Shoalhaven, Illawarra and Sydney Jet model aircraft clubs will fly between 11am and 1pm. Other highlights will include displays by the RAN Hydrographer, Navy Clearance Divers and the RAN Band. The Royal Australian Air Force Dog Squad will give two demonstrations and several military vehicle clubs will display motorcycles, trucks and jeeps. |
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Progress made on 'Tiger' helicopters
Mr Combet, speaking at a Defence function announced the signing of a Deed of Agreement that resolves contractual issues between the Commonwealth and the contractor, Australian Aerospace Ltd. The Agreement also includes an initiative by the contractor to base two EC135 helicopters in Darwin for two years for lead-in skills training for pilots prior to conversion onto the ARH Tiger. Eleven ARH Tiger aircraft have been accepted, 2400 hours now flown and 20 aircrew qualified. More: Imagery |
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Chief of Army farewells friends in Timor-Leste
“Thank you for the way you represent Australia, and our Army. Thank you for your dedication, professionalism and commitment to helping the people of Timor Leste. I see significant changes here and I sense a better future for Timor Leste. You and those who came before you, have helped this change,” Lieutenant General Leahy said while farewellling the ISF soldiers. During General Leahy’s visit he spent two days visiting soldiers at Gleno and Same forward operating bases, as well as several locations in Dili. Of special significance was his visit to the Chief of the Timor Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak. The two men have become firm friends over recent years and the warmth of their friendship was evident during the meeting at the Memorial Hall in Dili. General Leahy congratulated the Chief of the F-FDTL for the recent successes of the Timorese Joint Command, and for the surrender of the rebel group. He stated that this outcome will do much to contribute to the long term stability of the country. |
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| Defence to help clean up the Jordan River 22 May - The Australian Army’s 2nd Force Support Battalion, based at Derwent Barracks Glenorchy in Victoria, will conduct a vehicle recovery exercise at several locations along the west bank of the Jordan River this weekend. Under the command of Captain John Stanfield, Defence personnel of 6 Logistic Support Company will conduct the recovery exercise to clear vehicles from the river bank and intertidal zone. A number of dumped vehicles are currently located at the bottom of a steep decline while others are submerged below the surface of the river. While providing an environmental service to the local community, the exercise will also provide Defence personnel with valuable training in revising, practicing, and consolidating skills necessary for vehicle recovery. The exercise also will provide leadership training. The recovery tasks will include the movement of Defence personnel and equipment, requiring coordination and team building. |
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The Navy provides support to NSW Police
The LACACC is made up of local police and Indigenous people from the Macquarie Fields community. The initiative was established to achieve a safe NSW with a respected police force working with the community to reduce violence, crime and fear. The Navy provided HMA Ships Albatross, Cresswell and Success which played host to 15 Indigenous youth with tours of 723 Squadron Squirrel helicopter flight simulators within the Naval Air Station and the Navy’s Fire Training Ground at Jervis Bay. The group were then given the opportunity of a boat transfer to HMAS Success and took part in an over night sea ride, arriving alongside Fleet Base East in Sydney the following day. More: Imagery |
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| Public Information Line For Kangaroo Management at Belconnen Defence Site 21 May - The cull of kangaroos at the former Belconnen Naval Transmission Site (BNTS) continues. Defence is acting in accordance with its legislative obligations to manage the site in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner. Members of the public seeking information about the management of kangaroos at the former BNTS can contact: Phone: 1800 816 231 (during business hours only) |
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Papua New Guinea relief
RAAF Caribou aircraft were in PNG from April 30 to May 9 on a pre-planned training exercise, and were called upon to deliver aid and PNG Defence Force personnel to towns which had been cut off by the landslides. Amongst the highlights for the trip included one flight with 450 kilograms of medical supplies to Tapini in the Central province, while another aircraft airlifted 900 kilograms of food to the town of Goroka, capital of the Eastern Highlands province. No. 38 Squadron conducts routine training exercises in Papua New Guinea throughout the year, and is often called upon to assist the civil community by moving people and much-needed supplies and equipment. Papua New Guinea is a very challenging training environment, with its combination of high mountain peaks and rapidly-changing weather conditions. The Caribou is adept at flying in and out of the many short, unprepared mountain airstrips throughout Papua New Guinea, which are inaccessible to larger aircraft. The recent trip continues a tradition of RAAF Caribous supporting the PNG community. More: Imagery |
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HMAS Success on four-month deployment
The first stop in the Auxiliary Oiler’s schedule is Darwin, where she will commence domestic maritime security activities in waters off Northern Australia as part of Operation RESOLUTE, the Australian Defence Force's contribution to Australian whole-of-government efforts to safeguard Australia’s interests through the conduct of surveillance, response and enforcement activities coordinated by Border Protection Command. “My ship's company is focused on this very important mission and we will give 100 per cent in ensuring that our part in it is achieved before we depart for Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC) off the islands of Hawaii,” said HMAS Success Commanding Officer, Commander Simon Brown. Success will join a number of RAN assets in Hawaii including HMA Ships Anzac and Tobruk, the Collins class submarine HMAS Waller and a Clearance Diving Element. This year marks the 21st iteration of the biennial RIMPAC series, the largest maritime exercise in the world. Countries from the Pacific Rim and other invited nations will combine forces to improve interoperability in the full spectrum of war-fighting activities on land, sea and air, with the focus on the maritime domain. This year RIMPAC exercise organisers anticipate up to 40 surface ships, seven submarines, more than 100 aircraft and approximately 19,000 personnel from nine nations to take part in the month-long exercise. |
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| Memorial service for Kapooka tragedy of 1945 20 May - On Wednesday, 21 May 1945, 26 engineers from the First Battalion of the Royal Australian Engineers Training Centre (RAETC), now ARTC, lost their lives in an explosion during a training exercise. This was one of the largest incidents of accidental death during a training activity in Army’s history. On Wednesday, 21 May 2008, The Commandant ARTC, Colonel Bill Hanlon, will lead a Memorial Service at the site of the memorial plaque, which commemorates those who lost their lives in the incident. Family members and guests are invited to attend. |
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Australian forces push into Taliban territory
The Australian push is being spear-headed by engineers, infantry, cavalry and support troops of the 4th Reconstruction Task Force (RTF 4) who are drawn mainly from the Sydney and Brisbane areas. RTF 4 Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Yeaman, said the Task Force has moved into the Baluchi region, north of its base at Tarin Kowt as part of a joint Dutch and Coalition operation. “This is an area of huge tactical and strategic significance for the Taliban extremists,” Lieutenant Colonel Yeaman said. “This is the Taliban’s backyard and we are right on their main supply route between Helmand Province and their supply bases to the North. “The aim of this series of operations is to clear out the Taliban, and then build the physical infrastructure – patrol bases particularly - which will allow the Afghan National Army (ANA) and police, with support from the International Security Assistance Force, to dominate these areas. “Just months ago Taliban extremists were able to operate almost unhindered here, now the situation is very different. It’s fair to say that these operations, which are happening across Afghanistan are having a real, positive impact on the security situation here.” Lieutenant Colonel Yeaman said a delicate balance is required between overcoming the Taliban by force and making them irrelevant through capacity building and winning the hearts and minds of the local population. More: Imagery | Operation SLIPPER |
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| Australian soldier injured in Iraq 19 May – An Australian soldier from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment serving with the Overwatch Battle Group in Dhi Qar Province, has been wounded in a roadside bomb attack in southern Iraq. The wounded soldier was participating in a patrol near An Nasiriyah early Saturday morning (Iraq local time) when the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle he was a passenger in was struck by a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said the patrol reacted to the incident immediately. “Other members of the patrol secured the area quickly and carried out first aid to treat shrapnel wounds to the soldier’s upper body. He was then evacuated from the scene via helicopter and is currently receiving treatment in a coalition hospital at Tallil. “I am advised that his condition is assessed as serious but stable. We will be guided by expert medical advice in relation to his ongoing medical needs. “Defence has notified the soldier’s family and we join them in hoping that he makes a speedy recovery,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said. Air Chief Marshal Houston said that in placing IEDs, extremists seek to indiscriminately kill and maim people. “IEDs are indiscriminate weapons that not only threaten our troops, but innocent Iraqi civilians who use these areas. Patrolling by the Overwatch Battle Group in coordination with US and Iraqi Security Forces has reduced IED attacks significantly. Although Iraq remains a dangerous place, I am pleased to say that IED attacks in Dhi Qar Province remain at an all time low,” he said. More: Operation CATALYST |
