The Abrams Files
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

In the delivery: The BAE Systems team and Abrams trainees in the US.

DIRECTOR General Land Manoeuvre Systems (DGLMS) Brig Grant Cavenagh recently made a visit to Fort Hood, Texas to observe the Abrams New Equipment Training. After receiving a brief at III Corps HQ, Brig Cavenagh visited the Abrams Operator, Fitter Armament and Electronics Technician training where he talked with participating soldiers about a range of topics regarding their experiences in the US.

Brig Cavenagh also visited the Joint Services Manufacturing Centre at Lima, Ohio where he inspected Australian tanks on the production line and saw a number of tanks being prepared for shipment to Australia. Some 23 tanks have completed the production process to date.

Brig Cavenagh concluded his US visit at the BAE Systems facility in York, Pennsylvania. A short ceremony took place at the facility, where the brigadier took part in a ceremonial hand-over of the first M88A2 Hercules Armoured Recovery Vehicle to complete production.

Australian soldiers about to start conversion training on the M88A2 were also present at the ceremony.
These soldiers are some of the 67 RAAC and RAEME personnel in the US to support the introduction into service of the new tank capability. These soldiers will form a core of instructors to conduct conversion training at 1 Armd Regt, the School of Armour and ALTC.