Black Mamba strikes

Hot work: Pte Luke Teong conducts a hot extraction by zodiac after breaking contact with the enemy. Photos by LCpl Philip Parry

Eye contact: LCpl Dave Wiley looks for the enemy after inserting by zodiac.

Breaking away: Pte Brett Thewlis provides covering fire after breaking contact with the enemy.

By Capt Nigel Earnshaw

COWLEY Beach Training Area became a medium-threat environment when 2RAR’s Recon Pl deployed to train in advanced reconnaissance skills.

Where there’s smoke: Pte Andrew Kennedy, using smoke, disguises his advance on an enemy position.

Ex Black Mamba was conducted during April as a four-phase activity, including visual tracking, live firing, watermanship and a final patrolling activity.

According to Lt Russell Scutchings, the exercise has enhanced tracking skills and developed teamwork in the patrols.

“It also worked up insertion and extraction methods and confirmed all individual soldier reconnaissance skills for the battalion’s reconnaissance specialists as part of 2RAR Ready Battalion Group duties later this year,” he said.

The tracking activity progressed from an introductory level in open woodland to difficult pursuit tracking in Cowley Beach rainforest. Members of the platoon had to follow signs under both high and low-threat environments and conduct tracking that led them into occupied enemy camps.

The second phase of the activity was to conduct blank fire rehearsal during both day and night for the live fire activities. The live firing practices included rapid-fire shoots enabling reconnaissance members to practice accurate instinctive shooting.

The live firing activities by night used battle noise simulations, smoke and night vision equipment to ensure that the soldiers were exposed to realistic battle conditions.

Assault Pioneer Platoon, 2RAR, provided zodiac boats to conduct insertion and extraction drills within the Mourilyan Harbour area. The training provided was invaluable for the reconnaissance patrol soldiers, as it was the first opportunity for some of them to work with Assault Pioneer Platoon.

The two-day activity culminated in a tactical insertion into the mangroves and linking up with a local guide, which lead into phase four, a patrolling activity that tested all levels of the patrol in a high threat environment. This activity included the occupation of observation posts, marrying up with friendly forces, area searching, first aid and tracking.

The deployment to Cowley Beach enabled all levels of the platoon to confirm standard operating procedures and prepare for future exercises, such as 3 Bde Combined Arms Training Activity in May and Ex Talisman Sabre in June.

Training exposure

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