Rapier a wrap-up

Rapier air defence missile system

Fired up: LBdr Denis Oldenhove, a det commander at 16 AD Regt, part of the opposing force during an attack on Samuel Hill Airstrip by ADF and US Forces during Ex Talisman Sabre 2005. Photos by Cpl Bernard Pearson

By Pte Andrew Hetherington

AIR defenders of 16 AD Regt were right on target, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 05 (TS05) using the Rapier air defence missile system in its last live fire field deployment.

BC 110 AD Bty Maj Richard Watson said the battery’s role was to provide air defence for the assets of 2RAR.

“The battery spent most of its time conducting ground based air defence ambushes, route defence and mobile air defence or what is called crash action mobile drills,” he said.

“These drills are hard work for the Rapier crews, as the system is designed more for a static type of air defence and sitting in one place for long periods of time.

“Toward the end of the exercise the battery was employed as its own combat team and expected to fend for itself and was tasked to protect an airfield that was meant to serve as a decoy for the enemy.

The battery then had three days allocated for the live firing component of the exercise, from June 26-28.

“Unfortunately due to exercise constraints the battery’s firing days were cut back from three days to one and we had to try to fire all 14 missiles in one day.

“On the June 27, the battery established itself into the Mt Hummock Impact Area and fired nine missiles.

“This was the first time the battery had live fired over land as part of a combined arms field training exercise.

“Out of the nine missiles fired, six missiles were able to gain tactical hits on their targets, one missile missed and another missile was fired at a simulated ground target but was unfortunately off the mark.

“The other missile scored a direct hit on its target and the Lear jet had to land and reload its target drone,” Maj Watson said.

LBdr James Hill, A Troop, who fired that Rapier, said it was the first time he had fired a live Rapier missile.

“The target was the size of a cruise missile and when I fired on and hit the target, I got a good rush from it,” LBdr Hill said.

“It is good to know that I can do my job, I was buzzing for a couple of days afterwards and I was walking around with a big smile on my face.”

Maj Watson said that even though that TS05 is the Rapier missile systems final field deployment and firing exercise, the unit was planning its last live firing exercise for November.

“I have been contacted by a large number of ex-serving and serving personnel who have used the Rapier equipment and want to be present when the Rapier is last fired.