12/40RTR members conduct dry CQB drills during Exercise Sanananda Road in New Norfolk, Tasmania. Photo by Capt Phil Pyke, 1JPAU(P)

By Capt Phil Pyke
CQB skills recently learnt on deployment to Butterworth, Malaysia, were put to good use by Tasmania’s infantry battalion, 12/40RTR, during urban operations training.

The weekend saw the platoons practice building entry, searches and clearances in both single and multi-storey structures as part of Exercise Sanananda Road.

OPSO Maj Simon Barker said the weekend was an introduction to military operations in an urban environment.

“With Australia’s ongoing commitment to peacekeeping operations, it is now a requirement that we train our reservists in both an urban and rural environment,” he said.

The urban training scenarios were set in and around a former psychiatric hospital in New Norfolk.

With a sad and violent history over the past 150 years, the psychiatric hospital was described as very eerie during the night operations.

While not actually seeing any ghosts, several of the enemy party reported being uncomfortable in parts of the hospital.

Night operations involved building entry using Ninox, VCPs and urban patrolling.

CSM B Coy, WO2 Michael Hinchey said the aims of the weekend were accomplished and the training was a good build up to other bigger activities.

“The weekend culminated in an aggressive clearance involving a company assault on the Sunday,” he said.

“This low level of training will lead into Exercise Pozieres which is based on UN operations.”

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