The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre (MCAGCC) at 29 Palms in southern California was the home to Exercise Gold Eagle. The Exercise saw nearly 100 Australian soldiers deploying from Darwin to the high desert region to participate in a number of training exercises, which included Exercise Steel Knights, a Divisional live fire activity.
MCAGCC is nearly 10,000 square miles in size and covers a variety of high desert and mountainous environments and the Australian tank soldiers experienced not only the landscape but also the harsh and often picturesque sunlight that beats down on the “wild west” landscapes.
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An Australian manned M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank guards the perimeter of an Australian overnight position during Exercise Gold Eagle. In the distance is one of the Marine Corps Urban Training Facilities that dot the training area at 29 Palms in southern California.
(Date taken: 22 October 2009)
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An M88 Armoured Recovery Vehicle and an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank lead the convoy of tanks and other support vehicles as they move into one of the “battles” during Exercise Gold Eagle in southern California.
(Date taken: 22 October 2009)
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Lieutenant Nicholas Hornbuckle rests in the commander’s position of his M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in the United States Marine Corps 1st Tank Battalion hangers before deploying into the field during Exercise Gold Eagle at 29 Palms in southern California.
(Date taken: 22 October 2009)
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An Australian manned M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank manoeuvres around the joint Australian Army and United States Marine Corps position as night descends on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre at 29 Palms in southern California. A Marine Corps HMMWV (Humvee) with a mounted TOW anti-armour system guards the positions perimeter.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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Call sign 11A, an Australian crewed M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank moves into its overnight position during Exercise Gold Eagle in southern California.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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With a dismounted guide for additional safety, an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank crewed by soldiers from the 1st Armoured Regiment moves into an overnight hide after a resupply during Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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An Australian tank soldier climbs onto his M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank as the sun sets over the high desert of southern California during Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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Two M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks are given their final preparation for a night hide, by their Australian Armoured Corps crews during a joint exercise at the United States Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre in 29 Palms, California.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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High desert dust glows gold in the Californian sunset as an Australian crewed M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks manoeuvres during Exercise Gold Eagle at 29 Palms.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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Australian crews “stand to” on their M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks as the sun sets over the southern Californian desert during Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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The Californian desert and mountains present a colourful light show for the Australian Tank Soldiers participating in Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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Major Michael Murdoch’s M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank slowly disappears into the twilight as he and his soldiers occupy a night hide during Exercise Gold Eagle in southern California.
(Date taken: 23 October 2009)
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Lieutenant Brian Hickey, an Australian Tank Commander, walks across the Californian high desert during Exercise Gold Eagle. Brian is heading for morning orders before commencing the day’s live fire exercise.
(Date taken: 24 October 2009)
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An Australian crewed M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank scans for targets in the Mojave Desert during Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 24 October 2009)
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Manned by Australian tank soldiers, two M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks advance across the Californian desert as they engage targets during Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 24 October 2009)
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A steel knight in the wild -west – an Australian manned M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank scans the Californian desert from behind cover during Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 25 October 2009)
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Lieutenant Brendan Thomas’ M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank proudly displays the Australian Flag during a non-tactical phase of Exercise Gold Eagle.
(Date taken: 26 October 2009)
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A United State Marine Corps CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter flies above an Australian manned M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank during Exercise Gold Eagle in southern California.
(Date taken: 26 October 2009)
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