Image Gallery: August 2007
Defence rejects claims of faulty equipment
28 August 2007
Defence rejects the claims that Australian Defence Force personnel deployed overseas lack high quality weapons and equipment.
Defence takes weapon safety seriously and responds quickly to all reported weapon faults and improvement recommendations. The Report on Unsatisfactory or Defective Material (RODUM) system is an effective, robust and well-used method of identifying and fixing equipment problems.
The fact that Defence personnel use RODUMs to report equipment issues indicates they have a high level of confidence in the system.
The results achieved by Defence personnel in harsh operational environments in places like Iraq and Afghanistan bears testimony to their training, leadership, commitment and equipment.
In response to the specific claims made Defence confirms that the attached images show current Weapon System Mounts which have been used extensively in the Middle East since 2003. Army currently has serviceable mounts for the MK19 and the other weapon systems mounted to patrol vehicles. These mounts have undergone a number of local modifications to tailor them to the specific vehicle upon which they are to be employed. They are operating effectively in Afghanistan today.
Army is undertaking continuous improvement of this equipment and also working toward a common mount for all weapon systems.
Read media release | Listen to audio from Chief of Army
| 20070828adf74181_030 Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy addresses the media at Defence Headquarters regarding claims of faulty equipment. (Date taken: 28 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050903adf8205214_0047 Australian soldiers firing vehicle mounted weapons at a heavy weapons range in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 03 Sept 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050922adf8252964_038a Members of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare for a patrol in southern Afghanistan (Date taken: 22 Sept 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20060927adf0000_010 Members of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare for a patrol in southern Afghanistan (Date taken: 27 Sept 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070526adf8161479_142 Members of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) conduct a night range paractice in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 26 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070528adf8161479_072 Members of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare for a patrol in southern Afghanistan (Date taken: 28 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070528adf8161479_122 Members of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare for a patrol in southern Afghanistan (Date taken: 28 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070529adf8161479_044 Members of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare for a patrol in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 29 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050418adf8243116_010 Australian soldiers undergoing a range practice as part of the forward element of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) arrival in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). (Date taken: 18 April 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050418adf8243116_027 Australian soldiers undergoing a range practice as part of the forward element of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) arrival in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). (Date taken: 18 April 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050418adf8243116_110 Australian soldiers undergoing a range practice as part of the forward element of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) arrival in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). (Date taken: 18 April 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050507adf8243116_116 Corporal Josh Bowden of the Al Muthanna Task Group attending a range practice outside As Samawah. (Date taken: 07 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050507adf8243116_122 Corporal Josh Bowden of the Al Muthanna Task Group attending a range practice outside As Samawah. (Date taken: 07 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050507adf8243116_130 Corporal Josh Bowden of the Al Muthanna Task Group attending a range practice outside As Samawah with the British Light Dragoons. (Date taken: 07 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050507adf8243116_152 Corporal Josh Bowden of the Al Muthanna Task Group attending a range practice outside As Samawah. (Date taken: 07 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050717cpa8267338_012 Major Ed Smeaton, the Officer Commanding the Force Level Logistic Asset in the Middle East, takes aim across the bonnet of a US Humvee vehicle during a desert range practice. (Date taken: 17 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050729adf8243116_459 Member of Security Detachment Seven (SECDET VII) conducting range practice. (Date taken: 29 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050729adf8243116_615 Corporal Nathan Heckel and Private Stewart Alpert - both from 6 Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) sniper cell on the range in Baghdad. (Date taken: 29 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20050729adf8243116_618 Corporal Nathan Heckel and Private Stewart Alpert - both from 6 Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) sniper cell on the range in Baghdad. (Date taken: 29 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20060614adf8243116_008 Privates Mathew Clothier (left, with a Grenade Launching Attachment (GLA) equipped Steyr F88S) and Nathan Buswell (Sniper Team Leader, right with an SR-25) both from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR), pictured in a fighting bay - one of many surrounding Camp Smitty. (Date taken: 14 June 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20060614adf8243116_042 Private Mathew Clothier from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR), pictured holding the 7.62mm (.308) caliber Accuracy International (SR-98) bolt action sniper rifle fitted with a nightscope in a fighting bay - one of many surrounding Camp Smitty. (Date taken: 14 June 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20060826adf8185016_0113 1st Combat Signals Regiment, Signalman Stefan Holod puts his F88 Steyr rifle to the test as part of a range practice during training for the Australian 1st Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) for Afghanistan. (Date taken: 26 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070629adf8094997_466 Members of Battle Group Reserve hone their skills on the 9mm Browning pistol at a range practice in southern Iraq recently. (Date taken: 29 June 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070629adf8094997_493 Lieutenant Alvaro Charry from the Battle Group Reserve hones his skills on the 9mm Browning pistol during a range practice in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 29 June 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070629adf8094997_508 Captain John Van Hettam from Battle Group Reserve conducts a range practice with his 9mm Browning pistol as part of Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3. (Date taken: 29 June 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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