Image Gallery: May 2006
Latest images from Exercise Croix du Sud
05 May 2006
Exercise Croix du Sud, or Southern Cross, is a biennial multinational exercise conducted by the French Armed Forces New Caledonia (FANC). Exercise Croix du Sud 2006 is being held in New Caledonia from 24 April to 7 May 2006.
More than 500 Australian Defence Force personnel have joined armed forces and security personnel of France, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga in Croix du Sud 2006 to train for multinational humanitarian and peacekeeping operations under joint command.
The Australian commitment to Croix du Sud 2006 includes HMAS Manoora, HMAS Tobruk, three Caribou aircraft from 38 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, and a beach team from the Australian Army 108 Battery, 4 Field Regiment.
Croix du Sud is the major national level French Armed Forces New Caledonia (FANC) field training exercise for 2006. The aim of the exercise is to train a combined joint task force headquarters to plan and conduct a medium-size joint non-combatant evacuation operation in the FANC area of responsibility.
The commander of the Australian contingent, and commander of the maritime component of the exercise, Captain Stuart Mayer, RAN, said, "This is a great opportunity for Australia to work closely with our regional neighbours in an exercise of this calibre.
"We were able to inject information that we have learnt from similar humanitarian operations while learning from the experience of others.
"It has been a great success."
| 20060503ran8098578_002 Australian and French troops prepare for an amphibious transit in the tank deck of HMAS Tobruk off the coast of New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_007 French troops prepare for an amphibious transit in the tank deck of HMAS Tobruk off the coast of New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_022 Australian troops provide all round defence on an LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) for their amphibious transit from HMAS Tobruk, off the coast of New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_029 Lance Bombardier Michael Harrison from 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, helps in providing all round defence aboard an LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_032 (Left to right) Major Mick Dawson, Lieutenant Michael Cook and Lieutenant Trent Spencer, from 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, discuss taskings as Australian troops transit to a beachhead aboard an LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_035 An Australian Army LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) carrying Australian and French troops and volunteer "civilians" approaches a secured beachhead in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_040 Australian and French troops approach a secured beachhead on an LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8), to repatriate volunteer "civilians" during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_045 Gunner Harley Whaikawa from 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, maintains his arc of responsibility by providing all-round defence with his F89 Minimi at the secured beachhead, as a LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) departs at Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_048 Bombardier Aaron Hong (standing) and Gunner Harley Whaikawa, both from the Australian Army 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, defend a secured beachhead at Canala Bay, New Caledonia, as a LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) departs during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_049 A LARC (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo) from the Australian Army 10 Force Support Battalion, 35 Water Transport, makes its way to the secured beachhead while HMAS Tobruk conducts a stern door marriage with a LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_055 Australian soldiers from 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, scramble up a hill to take tactical possession of high ground at the beachhead in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_056 Australian soldiers from 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, scramble up a hill to take tactical possession of high ground at the beachhead in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_059 Gunner Robert Nicholas from 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, helps to maintain security of the beachhead while HMAS Tobruk conducts amphibious operations in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_070 Amphibious traffic in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, between LARCs (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo), LCM8s (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) and HMAS Tobruk during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. Anchored in the centre distance is the Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic ship, HMNZS Resolution. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_071 Amphibious traffic in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, between LARCs (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo) and LCM8s (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. Anchored in the distance is the Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic ship, HMNZS Resolution. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_076 An Australian Army LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) laden with French trucks approaches the secured beachhead as HMAS Tobruk lies at anchor in the background in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_079 A French troop vehicle makes its way ashore from a LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) at a secured beachhead on the coast of Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_082 Sergeant Mark Wellsmore from 4 Field Regiment, 108 Battery, directs a French troop vehicle as it rolls off a LCM8 (Landing Craft Mechanised Type 8) at a secure beachhead during amphibious operations under Exercise Croix du Sud 2006 in Canala Bay, New Caledonia. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_091 HMAS Tobruk conducts amphibious operations in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
| 20060503ran8098578_098 HMAS Tobruk (foreground) and HMAS Manoora at anchor in Canala Bay, New Caledonia, for conduct of amphibious operations during Exercise Croix du Sud 2006. (Date taken: 03 May 2006) Low-res | High-res |
 |
