New iron age
Volume 11, No. 53, October 05, 2006
By Cpl Mike McSweeney
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In order: Bound Abrams barrels (above). Tough: Recovery variant trundles along Port Melbourne (above right). Pet project: CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy gives a press conference with Defence Minister Brendan Nelson (right).
Photos by Cpl Rachel Ingram and AB Kade Rogers |
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Load up: Cpl Phillip Young secures an Abrams on to a Heavy Tank Transporter at Melbourne port in preparation for the journey to Puckapunyal.Eighteen tanks and five recovery vehicles were taken to Pucka.
Photos by Cpl Rachel Ingramt |
THE whine of the gas turbine diesel engines could be heard from the belly of the ship. Then came the clanking of tracks, and finally the centrepiece of Land 907 came charging out of the hold and into the Melbourne sunlight.
The line of M1A1 AIM SA Abrams tanks and M88A2 Hercules ARVs was a welcome sight to SO1 AFV Capability Implementation Team Lt-Col Duncan Hayward.
“It’s great isn’t it? It’s absolutely great,” he beamed.
“It’s the culmination of 925 days of hard effort by a wide range of people.”
Lt-Col Hayward, who is looking forward to continuing his service with the Abrams as CO 1 Armd Regt for the next two years, said the Australian Abrams were among the most advanced tanks available.
“It’s now called the M1A1 AIM SA tank, or situational awareness tank, because it’s got far-target locating, the ability to laser a target down range and have the grid displayed,” he said.
“It’s got a generation two thermal sight (FLIR2), it has incredibly advanced armour, it has an inertial navigation system with advance GPS system and satellite battlefield management system. It really is a cutting-edge tank.”
He said the successful delivery of the Aussie Abrams, the centrepiece of the Hardened and Networked Army initiative, was due to the cooperation between Army, DMO and the capability development team, as well as the support from the US.
“The US Army has been superb in providing training opportunities to our soldiers,” he said. “Finally, we chose the right tank for Australia, at the right price, and we bought it with the right options. This is a first-class bit of kit.”
Lt-Col Hayward said the US Army approached CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy to display an Australian Abrams at the US Armour conference in May this year.
“[It was] to showcase to the US Army the selection of options that Australia has put on its vehicle as being the baseline that the US should strive to get to for theirs,” he said.
Land 907 Project Director Lt-Col Andrew Libby, who was awarded a CA commendation for his role in acquiring the tanks, said he was pleased the tanks had not only arrived under budget, but ahead of the 1000-day schedule.
“Two-and-a-half years ago I never would have thought we would have done it on time, but we did. It’s been great,” Lt-Col Libby said.
“The Abrams tank brings an enormous capability to the Australian Army.
“For an Armoured Corps officer to deliver a new tank to the corps is a pretty special moment.”
Lt-Col Libby praised the efforts of his DMO team, which included Majs Craig Burn, David Barton and Ian Watt, and Mr Richard Culvenor.
“They’re the key people that have been responsible for the majority of the hard work that has gone into this project,” he said.
American Ambassador Robert McCallum said Project 907 further strengthened the relationship between Australia and the US. “We’re delighted that our oldest and closest ally in the Pacific will be operating the Abrams tank … increasing our joint operational capabilities,” Mr McCallum said.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the Abrams would be “an essential part of Australia’s defence and the defence of our people, our interests and our values”.
“I hope and pray that [the tanks] will not have to be used in anger, but I fear that those hopes may be dashed,” Dr Nelson said.
“The reality is we are living in a world that is changing very quickly. It has changed enormously over the past five years especially.”
Tank transporters share the load
Volume 11, No. 53, October 05, 2006
By Cpl Mike McSweeney
IT WAS a tense moment when Sgt Gary McCabe drove an Abrams tank on to the trailer of a Heavy Tank Transporter (HTT) for the first time.
There were smiles all around when the Brisbane-made Drake trailer, part of the HTT project that was delivered ahead of schedule in Brisbane recently, proved it was up to the task.
HTT Tp Comd 1CSSB Lt Kerrie Hooper said it had been a busy time for the crews of the HTT in preparation for the arrival of the new armoured vehicles.
“The HTT project has definitely been something that we’ve all looked forward to for the whole year,” Lt Hooper said.
“The drivers are very professional and keen and they just can’t wait to get these guys out on the road now, so it’s very exciting times.”
The five HTTs transported the 18 tanks and five ARVs, each weighing more than 63 tonnes, from the docks in Melbourne, across the Westgate Bridge and to the School of Armour at Puckapunyal without incident.
Lt Hooper said RACT moved the Leopard tanks from Melbourne port to Puckapunyal 30 years ago and was pleased to repeat history.
“It’s very historical for us to be in the new trucks, doing the same thing 30 years on,” she said.
“It’s something you dream of. As a logistics officer you’re not going to be on the front line doing the exciting combined arms sort of things.
“As a transport officer it’s definitely something you dream of – a new piece of kit coming out and having such a spotlight on it with the arrival of the Abrams – it’s fantastic.”
In addition to providing rail transportation in the future for the armoured vehicles, the Chief Transport Inspector of NT has assured Army that the HTTs and their cargo will be able to access their normal training areas in NT. The weight restrictions on NT bridges are based on axle weight, not total weight, which places a fully loaded HTT well under the limits.
By March 2007, a fleet of 14 HTT will meet the remaining Abrams and Hercules in Darwin.
“The drivers have been excellent. They’re very well trained, professional soldiers and I’m proud to be their troop commander,” Lt Hooper said.
