A member of 176 AD Sqn secures a resupply load for SASR troopers operating inside Iraq. Photo by Cpl Darren Hilder, 1JPAU(P).

From Maj Mike Harris in the Middle East

Ten tonnes of stores and ammunition have been air-dropped to the SASR operating deep inside Iraq – the first aerial resupply by the Army since the Vietnam War.

SASR soldiers, as part of the Special Forces Task Group, were tasked with removing the threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction from Iraq.

Their operations have been extremely successful but, because of the range they work at, their operating tempo and the protracted nature of their tasking, they have required resupply to sustain their operations.

More than 1500 patrol rations, over 1000 litres of water, two tonnes of JP8 fuel, spare parts, radios and batteries, were part of a long list of goods packed on to 10 pallets and dropped to SASR troopers’ locations in Iraq.

OC Combat Service Support Group (CSSG) Maj Craig Donohue said the air-drop was significant because it was in a conflict situation and to Australian special forces.

“It was a big load, the biggest aerial resupply of stores for three decades, which posed its own challenges,” he said.
“There was a significant quantity of ammunition, including additional Javelin missiles. We knew that this ammunition was critical and needed to survive the parachute drop.”

Having niche skills in aerial resupply, the Australian soldiers from 176 AD Sqn were tasked with packing the load.
The warrant officer supervising the 176 AD Sqn detachment said the Australian contribution marked the first war-time aerial resupply since 1970.

“They have specialised skills in packaging up loads for air-drop and air-land operations. In this instance, the loads were a combination of water containers, fuel drums, bags and boxes,” he said.

“They worked hard to ensure the palletised loads were packed correctly and that all of the stores and equipment would handle the drop. It is certainly what we train for and it has been a good test of our skills.”

Using G-12D canopies, the parachutes were attached to specially-designed containerised delivery pallets, using honeycomb cardboard to cushion the load as it hit the ground, and straps and tarps to wrap the load.

The warrant officer said the five-man team from 9FSB proved to be a valuable contribution to the Special Forces Task Group.
While Australian soldiers packaged the load, it was the responsibility of the US Airforce for delivering the packed stores. Flying low and fast, the crew of the C130 Talon used an advanced Computerised Air Release Point (CARP) device to pinpoint when to feed the cargo on to the designated target.

By all accounts the parachute drop was successful.

Maj Donohue said all components of the CSSG were involved in the aerial resupply task.

“While we train in peace-time for such a scenario, delivering such a large volume of stores to our soldiers who are on operations in Iraq meant everyone in the CSSG has worked together as a team.

“It is certainly why we are here and justifies the composition of the logistic effort on the ground.”

Maj Donohue said the LSF now used a ‘capability brick’ approach to supporting major operations and deployments.

He said the planning for this operation identified that there would be an emphasis on aerial resupply.

“We are located alongside an air-head, with a 15,000km air-bridge between the Middle East and Australia acting as our supply chain. Therefore, the force needed to be composed of people who could provide support to aerial resupply operations.”

He said supplying troops in the field, who are conducting the dangerous task of seeking and destroying WMD and their infrastructure, added to the seriousness of the undertaking.

“Team-work and a sense of fellowship to our colleagues who are deployed into Iraq has been a feature of the CSSG. We are here to serve and ensure that all efforts are focused on keeping the troops in the field well supplied.”

.