Fitting farewell for APCs
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006
By Lt Margaret Nichols

Flag-bearers: Cpl Brian Ford, Tpr Corey Buckley, Tpr Chris McPhail and LCpl Marcus Cocks, B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt, in front of an APC. Photo by LAC Rodney Welch

AFTER 40 years of service, M113 APCs from Townsville’s 3/4 Cav Regt have been dispatched on what might be their final overseas operational deployment.

Two APCs were transported from Townsville to East Timor on C-130s to help provide security to the lead elements of the 3RAR Bn Gp.

The deployment has come as the regiment transitions from the APCs to the new Bushmasters.
“Fortunately, they have been fully maintained in such a state that they could be quickly activated over the past 12 days,” said Maj Chris Kind, OC B Sqn.

The four soldiers that will operate the APCs are excited about the deployment and looking forward to applying their skills in an operational environment.

The crew commander of vehicle call sign 12A, LCpl Marcus Cocks, served in East Timor in 2001 with the 4RAR Bn Gp. It is the first deployment for the vehicle’s driver, Tpr Chris McPhail. “It’s what you train for and I have complete faith in that training,” Tpr McPhail said.

It is also the first deployment for the crew commander of call sign 12, Cpl Brian Ford. “It’s been a huge task to get these vehicles ready and I’m proud to be involved with what might be their final deployment,” he said.
His driver, Tpr Corey Buckley, completed his initial employment training a month ago.