IN BRIEF
Volume 11, No. 58, December 14, 2006

New direction

ARMY’S fleet of M113 APCs will have a navigational system upgrade installed from 2007. The Talin 500 Inertial Navigation Unit, made by Honeywell Germany, will cost a total of $11 million to fit-out the M113 fleet. The new system integrates a GPS and inertial navigation functions.

C-17 arrives

THE arrival of the first of four C-17s in Australia on December 4 represents the start of a new era in the ADF’s airlift capability. The C-17s, which will be based at RAAF Amberley, can lift almost four times the load, over twice the distance, as the C-130 Hercules. Each C-17 can carry five Bushmasters, or three Tiger helicopters, or up to 75 tonnes of equipment and supplies.

NT memorial

1 BDE is developing a memorial to acknowledge NT-based Army personnel who have lost their lives while serving in non-operational circumstances since World War II. The memorial will feature a row of plaques adjacent to the Lone Pine Chapel at Robertson Barracks and is due for completion in early 2007. Inquiries to Maj Merv Simmons at Robertson Barracks on 1800 816767.

Vets sought

CONTRIBUTORS are being sought for a new book being written by Fay Karamanakis called A Tribute to the Silent Heroes. The author is looking for Australians who served in the military during World War II and any American personnel who were stationed in Darwin during the period. Fay Karamanakis can be contacted on fayk@iinet.net.au or (08) 8981 9702.