In 9 Div’s footsteps

2RAR soldiers were well aware that they were following in the tradition of those who served before them when they got their feet wet at Cowley Beach Training Area during Exercise Sea Eagle.

Embarked on HMAS Kanimbla, Ready Battalion Group HQ 2RAR and Ready Company Group conducte amphibious landings to develop and enhance the ADF’s capability to operate in the littoral environment. As the exercise progressed, a number of historical parallels became apparent.

The original HMAS Kanimbla served as an amphibious transport during World War II and was one of a number of vessels that transported the veteran Australian 9th Division ashore during the amphibious assault on the island of Tarakan.

Soldiers who took part in the Battle of Tarakan were later shipped to the island of Morotai where volunteers enlisted in the 66th Infantry Battalion, later becoming the 2nd Battalion, The Australian Regiment, and then 2RAR.

Exercise Sea Eagle saw 2RAR onboard HMAS Kanimbla to move to the amphibious area of operations off Cowley Beach, load onto HMAS Tarakan and conduct a surface assault to the shore. This important historical link between elements of today’s Army and Navy was not overlooked and added to the positive spirit of the exercise.

For more on the Battle of Tarakan, visit: http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-battles/ww2/tarakan.htm