Taipan a blast

In the beginning: There was a reinforced concrete beam until 8CER’s Cpl James White and Sprs Ray Uzzell, Wayne Wilson and Ben Choi got to it.

In the end: All smiles and wreckage. Photos by Capt Adrian Dolahenty

By Capt Adrian Dolahenty

VERY low temperatures were no deterrent when sappers from Newcastle-based 14 Fd Sqn and Sydney’s Dundas-based 6 Fd Sqn combined as 8CER for one of the prize training weekends of the year – demolitions.

Ex Taipan Blast was not just a blast for the reserves at Singleton but also had real training outcomes.

Skill and nerve were tested; setting explosives to precisely destroy targets representing fortified structures and antitank and anti-personnel obstacles. Effects ranged from a small cut in a heavy steel beam to the largest possible crater in the ground.

Noise and blast waves from the detonations were heard and felt by all in the safe confines of a fortified bunker 200m from the targets. Sods of earth falling all over the area brought a smile to the sappers’ faces.

Taipan Blast OC, 6 Fd Sqn’s Maj Brendan Casey, said the exercise tested both the sappers and supervisors.

“We make and we break is one of the mottos of the Royal Australian Engineers,” Maj Casey said.

“Destroying fortifications, obstacles or equipment is what any of these sappers could get called on to do and here we showed how we could have denied the enemy mobility – a brilliant result.

“Our experienced officers and soldiers also taught the tricks of the trade to the soldiers who had just finished their initial employment training.”

Cpl Matthew Stephens, who has been with 14 Fd Sqn for five years, enjoyed the exercise.

“Engineers is the corps where you get to do everything. You’ve got to take your hat off to these sappers,” he said.

8CER OPSWO WO2 Paul Wheeler said he was impressed with what he saw in his first reserve posting.

“It’s refreshing to see diggers who really want to be here on their weekends,” WO2 Wheeler said.

“These diggers are keen, and while they might not get to do this as much as the ARA sappers, they showed they want to learn and improve their skills.”