Out with a bang
Aussie ammo tech destroys leftover munitions in Timor-Leste

Lined up: Ammunition Technical WO2 Leon Pennington and Australian National Commander Lt-Col Brian Cox prepare to destroy ordnance. Photo by Cpl Damian Shovell

By Cpl Damian Shovell

THE last Australian UN contingent posted to Operation Spire in Timor-Leste went out with a bang – literally.

As contingents from other nations departed, the destruction and disposal of any of their remaining munitions was passed to the Australian contingent.

WO2 Leon Pennington, the sole ammunition technician left in-country, was tasked with destroying more than 2.5 tonnes of munitions and more than 120,000 small arms rounds from 11 countries, including China, Bangladesh, Ghana, Niger, Pakistan, Thailand, Nigeria Sri Lanka, Fiji, Brazil and Australia.

“The items were destroyed by burning and demolition,” he said.

He said Australia completed the task on June 17, after initial investigations into giving the munitions to Timor-Leste were found to be at odds with UN policy. He said the task was identified early enough for him to prepare for the job.

“We had the only capability. There was an expectation that this would happen, and we knew we were to dispose of our own munitions, so it’s not like it was totally unexpected. We were fairly well ready for it.”

WO2 Pennington destroyed an average of two unexploded ordnance (UXO) items a week during his deployment, the largest being a 130mm rocket.

“Obviously all those that were found and disposed during the mission meant we’ve removed something that is potentially life threatening,” he said.

His departure came shortly before three former members of the Japanese Self Defence Force arrived in Timor-Leste to instruct Timor-Leste police in UXO destruction.