The sign of the cross
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006
By PO Kaye Adams
and Lt Simone Heyer

Human chain: Soldiers from 108 Fd Bty carry rations aboard a French Puma helicopter on the flight deck of HMAS Tobruk, to be flown to Houailou.Photo by AB Brenton Freind

On the ball: Soldiers from 108 Fd Bty provide all-around defence on an LCM8 during an amphibious transit from HMAS Tobruk.Photo by AB Brenton Freind

A sign: Gnr Paul Rantucci and Bdr Paul Rose, 108 Fd Bty, exchange field signals aboard HMAS Tobruk. Photo by AB Brenton Freind

THE ADF strengthened its French connection during Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia last month.

Exercise Croix du Sud – Southern Cross – held from April 25 to May 8, was a multinational, non-combatant evacuation exercise and humanitarian activity led by the French armed forces – Forces Arméess Nouvelle Caledonie (FANC).

Participants included forces from New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and French Polynesia.
Australian elements included 108 Fd Bty, two LCM8s from 35 Water Tpt Sqn, HMAS Manoora and Tobruk, Commander Australian Task Group staff and a detachment from 38 Sqn.

4 Fd Regt showed its professionalism when it deployed with just 36 hours notice to move, replacing 3RAR, which was scheduled to take part in the exercise, but had been called on to deploy to the Solomon Islands.

Pl Cmdr 1 Pl Lt Mick Cook said that about 60 108 Fd Bty personnel easily accepted the challenge of being re-roled for a few weeks.

“We had gunners through to cooks and signallers becoming infantry men. It was good for the soldiers to get back to the basics,” Lt Cook said.

“An IMT exercise a few weeks before the trip ensured the soldiers were up to date with infantry tactics, and with the short notice to deploy, their field kit was adequately prepared.”

Lt Cook said the soldiers left Townsville on HMAS Tobruk, which had to negotiate rough seas, a legacy of Cyclone Monica.

“Soldiers found their sea legs quickly and got on with the intensive training conducted on the trip to New Caledonia.”

When the soldiers arrived, they were integrated with a French infantry platoon and became 6 Coy.

After an amphibious rehearsal at Ngo Bay, troops and vehicles embarked ships and moved to Canala Bay.

There they established an evacuation control centre and a logistic advanced base and began processing nationals for evacuation. Role players simulated localised clashes, and rebels and protesters kept the ships at force protection readiness throughout the evacuation.

Lt Cook said that during the exercise, the Australian artillary soldiers performed in an infantry role to the same standard as that of the French infantry members, who had recently served on overseas operations.

“Our guys are very fit and were ready for patrolling in full body armour and packs,” he said.

A Combined Surface Task Group conducted surveillance of maritime approaches to protect the Amphibious Task Group while operations continued ashore.

Once the east coast was secured, evacuations took place by air and sea, and humanitarian assistance was provided as needed.

The amphibious component of the exercise allowed the Ships’ Army Detachments to work their skills manoeuvring troops and equipment from ship to shore using LCM8s and LARCs. And, in a first in many years, cross-loading vehicles from the Tobruk into a French vessel – Jacques Cartier.

The amalgamation of nationalities enabled the soldiers to try their hand at different weapons, learn from each other and swap ration packs.

Lt Cook said that from his point of view, the exercise was a valuable experience for 108 Fd Bty.

“It was a fantastic idea to have a French platoon integrated with the Australians. There was no inter-service rivalry between the Australian forces, or with the French.”