Armoured vehicles ride from Darwin to Port Augusta. Photo by Lt Helen Suttie, HQ 1 Bde

We've been tanked on the train track




By Cpl Cameron Jamieson
TRANSCONTINENTAL military history has been made following 1 Bde's first rail move of armoured vehicles from Darwin to Port Augusta.

Taking two days to complete the journey, the trainload of 35 tanks, APCs and ASLAVs still beat a road convoy that was stuck in Katherine waiting for flooded roads to open.

On arrival in Port Augusta, the vehicles were transported to the Cultana training area for Exercise Southern Leopard.

Commander 1 Bde Brig Ash Power said 1 Bde's training had previously been restricted to the dry season due to road and weather conditions in the Northern Territory during the wet season.

Brig Power said the railway provides a vital link for moving soldiers and vehicles to exercises and it would make regular wet season training much more accessible.

"Valuable training time in the past, been spent waiting for the road from Darwin to be re-opened before we could move our vehicles," he said.