Battle on a desktop

Green light: Tpr Andrew Holland, 1 Armd Regt, trains at the Battlefield Training Centre in Darwin. Photo by Pte Jodie Richter

By Capt Kate Noble

THE Army has moved into a new era of preparing forces for overseas operations.

The new concept is known as the Land Command Battle Laboratory, or Battle Lab, which has been used to support AMTG 1 and 2 and the Secdets in Iraq.

The concept provides commanders and soldiers with a greater understanding and ability to view the environment in which they operate before they arrive.

Through a combination of computer simulation, detailed terrain digitisation, modelling, wargaming and analysis, commanders can maximise their planning and conduct of various operations or tasks, ranging from a patrol through a town in Iraq to handling an IED attack.

The Battle Lab’s five key tasks include training, mission support, strategic advice, campaign and capability development.

Training and mission planning for Iraq have been the two focus areas of Battle Lab just before and following the official launch of the concept in June by former CDF Gen Peter Cosgrove.

These two tasks have been delivered through the Combat Training Centre (CTC).

OC CTC Battle Lab Maj Stan Carnes said part of the training and mission planning for Iraq involved commanders and soldiers playing out various scenarios they might face in Iraq on about 50-networked computers at a facility in Darwin.

“These scenarios can be played out over several days and could be linked to similar facilities in Brisbane and Townsville,” he said

Maj Carnes said an example scenario could be one in which two insurgents with RPGs ambushed an ASLAV patrol returning to Camp Smitty.

“The actions of a soldier on one computer will affect the rest of the patrol, a bit like playing a sophisticated computer game up to company level,” he said.

“In this scenario, one of the learning outcomes for the cavalry was the collateral effect of HE rounds used to engage insurgents and the subsequent value of the ROE process.”

During a recent training session in Darwin, Tpr Andrew Holland, 1 Armd Regt, said the Battle Lab program was a great training system that gave realistic scenarios.

“If you could get it on X-Box I’d be on it every night,” he said.

Spr Col Radunz, 1CER, said the Battle Lab system was a good chance to play out scenarios before training in the field.

“But it gets a bit noisy with 50 to 60 grunts shouting in one room,” he said.

Maj Carnes emphasised that the collective simulation provided by Battle Lab does not replace field training. Instead, the simulation enhances field training and thereby plays a crucial role in preparing soldiers for deployment.

“Similar systems are used by the US and UK armies with the opportunity in the near future for the Australian Army to link with those to enhance preparation and conduct of future training and operations,” Maj Carnes said.