Sea change for 2RAR

Sea shells: LCpl Shaun Hughes, 3CER test fires his weapon from the flight deck of HMAS Kanimbla.

Good to go: Cfn Dave Groundwater, B Sqn 5 Avn Regt, signals to the crane operator while Cfn Brad Maher slips the rotor into place on a Black Hawk on Kanimbla. Photos by AB Brenton Freind

SOLDIERS from 2RAR found their sea legs recently during Exercises Sea Lion and Sea Eagle.
Elements of the Ready Battalion Group HQ (RBG HQ) and Ready Company Group (RCG) took to the decks of HMAS Kanimbla to test the soldiers’ ability to deploy by sea.

Exercise Sea Lion familiarised HQ staff with life at sea and the Joint Military Appreciation Process (JMAP) with staff of the Amphibious Task Group.

A command post was established and the ship set sail from Townsville Port. The CP controlled assets allocated to the exercise and relieved the routine from the planning group.

The planning group conducted the four-step JMAP with CO 2RAR appointed as the Commander Land Forces.

After the planning, it was time for the RCG to come onboard, who embarked by LCM8.

Once onboard, the soldiers received orders and conducted familiarisation training. The training prepared them for life at sea, including emergency drills, establishing routines and practising moving through the ship in marching order.

After a few days onboard, the RCG was ready to deploy to Townsville in preparation for Ex Sea Eagle.

Ex Sea Eagle kicked off with the RBG HQ and RCG’s deployment from Townsville to Cowley Beach Training Area and the execution of two missions.

The first mission was for the RCG to evacuate Australian and approved foreign nationals from the fictitious island of Cowley. 90 role-players acted as evacuees and Threatfor.

Before stepping ashore, the RCG conducted a turn-away rehearsal and inserted recon, sniper and JOST patrols to develop situational awareness and test-fired weapons off the ship’s deck.

The insertion used combined assets of zodiacs, RHIB, LCM8, Black Hawks and LCH.

Back on land, the RCG established an evacuation assembly area at Camp Cowley and began processing potential evacuees.
While conducting the evacuation, the RCG had to deal with local militia, evacuees presenting with various medical and welfare issues, and the local community.

After the first mission, the RCG returned to HMAS Kanimbla and received orders for the second mission. This mission reflected the deterioration of law and order in Cowley and called for the RCG to clear a terrorist training camp reputed to be hidden in thick vegetation.

Recon assets deployed, located the camp and sited FUPs and fire support locations, securing the beach landing sites for the insertion of the RCG.

Once ashore, the RCG established cut off and block positions before clearing the camp. The terrorists defended the camp with small arms, light machine guns, grenades and IEDs but were overwhelmed by the RCG’s assault.

After the camp had been cleared, the RCG redeployed to the ship and conducted battle prep for additional taskings.