Gold members
This year’s exchange Exercise Golden Eagle put the men of B Sqn 1 Armd Regt at 29 Palms California to train with the US Marines in mastering their weapon of choice; the Abrams M1A1 AIM tank. Lt Mitch Watson reports.
Volume 11, No. 57, November 30, 2006

Home on the range: B Sqn’s 1 Troop on the last day of training at the armoured vehicle range at 29 Palms, California At the halt: Australian and US crews conducting halt parade during driver training

At the halt: Australian and US crews conducting halt parade during driver training

Just like this: Cfn Sean McClure-Maher and Cfn Adam Walsh adjust a 50 Cal machine gun mount with a USMC mechanic.

Unplugged: Australian soldiers preparing the M1A1 AIM for a pack lift.

Mount up: B Sqn about to depart for a day of live-firing on the armoured vehicle range.

In position: Tpr Ben Garrigan in the operators’ position with a USMC Tank Commander.

Lets roll: Tpr Anthony Fisher in the operators’ position with a USMC Tank Commander.

THE men of 1 Armd Regt have paved the way for the integration of the M1A1 AIM into the Australian Army by participating in Exercise Gold Eagle 2006 with the Marines of 1 Tank Battalion (1TB) in the US.

The soldiers of B Sqn 1 Armd Regt can attest first hand the awesome lethality of the Abram’s 120mm smooth bore gun after proofing their skills during live-fire exercises with the USMC.

The training conducted with the USMC in 29 Palms, California, involved manoeuvre operations and live-fire exercises – including tracking moving targets while driving at 60km/h cross-country, which gunners considered child’s play after leaving the Leopard tank behind in Darwin.

The soldiers of B Sqn said they now understand better than anyone why the M1A1 had earned a fearsome reputation around the world.

The 62-ton M1A1, powered by a 1500 bhp gas turbine engine, has so much power it is governed to approximately 65km/h to stop it tearing the track off. During Gold Eagle the soldiers were astounded by the quietness of the engine.

This allowed tank crewmen to get closer than ever to their enemy, earning the M1A1 the tag of “whispering death”.

Exercise Gold Eagle is an annual reciprocal exercise between the USMC and the Australian Army.

The aim this year was to improve Australia’s overall tank capability through the use of coalition/allied interoperability training on the Abrams. This was assisted by utilising the USMC’s 14 years of experience with the Abrams Tank – especially their recent operational experience.

While 1TB hosted the B Sqn tank crewmen and supporting assets in 29 Palms, California, A Sqn 1 Armd Regt reciprocated by hosting a USMC Tk Pl at 1 Bde, Darwin.

The USMC platoon were trained on the Leopard AS1 and conducted live-fire and tactical battle runs at MBTA, and the Australian tank soldiers were introduced to the M1A1 ahead of the Abram’s introduction to 1 Armd Regt in 2007.

During a time when 1TB was significantly depleted of personnel due to its operational demands, the Marines were able to coordinate a training package that included theoretical and practical instruction, realistic simulation, driver training and an introduction to maintenance before facilitating a four-day exercise in the deserts of California.

B Sqn got the opportunity to live-fire the M1A1 and conduct manoeuvre training in the desert valleys of California, proving their skills as tankers with their USMC counterparts.

OC B Sqn Maj Glenn Ryan said each crew was trained on the platform in just three weeks to a standard that impressed all present.

“Seeing our soldiers live-fire the M1A1, which is the best tank in service, reinforces in my mind that the soldiers of 1 Armd Regt are some of the best in the world,” he said.

2 Troop leader Lt David Cowan said excellent results were achieved and were a testament to the professionalism of the Australian tank soldier.

“The ability for Australian tank crewman to get steel on target is greatly enhanced by the accuracy and reliability of the weapon systems of the M1A1,” he said.

The opportunity to work with another nation’s tank soldiers provided the soldiers of B Sqn the chance to learn how the tanks they will soon receive are maintained and operated.

Crewman Tpr Samuel Bovington said operating the M1A1 will be quite different to the Leopard.

“The M1A1 will be a challenge due to the level of technology involved,” he said

Tpr Bovington and fellow crewman Tpr Anthony Fisher agreed that Ex Gold Eagle and the opportunity to train on M1A1s with USMC tankers was an awesome experience.

They said they gained a great deal from the USMC’s operational knowledge using the M1A1 and their mission-focus.

While interoperability with the USMC was the main focus of the exercise, the RAEME personnel of B Sqn performed admirably, demonstrating to the USMC mechanics their detailed knowledge of their trades, and their ability to pick up new skills at frenetic pace.

Squadron ASM WO2 David Bernat said that the maintenance requirements of the M1A1 would be no problem for RAEME tradesmen.

“As our maintenance personnel are qualified tradesmen trained to a high standard, the M1A1 will not impede 1 Armd Regt’s commitments,” he said.

“The majority of the systems employed on the M1A1 are similar to those of the Leopard AS1 and are in most cases simplified.”

The opportunity to strengthen the strong cultural ties that are shared by the USMC and the Australian Army was taken, with B Sqn sharing in the celebration of 1TB’s 65th birthday.

As a major milestone for their unit, it was a privilege to commemorate the service and sacrifice 1TB had made in the interests of their nation.

CO 1TB, Lt-Col James Stopa USMC was thoroughly impressed by the men of 1 Armd Regt.

In his address to his battalion on its birthday, he said “there are two types of infantry; those that haven’t gone into battle with tanks and those that have. The former said they will never do so again”.

Maj Ryan thanked Lt-Col Stopa for hosting them during the exercise and said it had been a privilege to train with 1TB on the Abrams Tank.

“The knowledge and experience we have gained in California provides us with the starting point to enhance our training cycles,” he said.