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| Tonnes of tanks By Lt Joseph Ternowetsky Edition 1162, March 22, 2007 |
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After days of weather related delays, the cargo ship was finally able to port and unload the new military hardware on March 4. And soldiers like Tpr Hannah, 1 Armd Regt, could not be happier. “Morale is really high right now because of these tanks,” said the 18-year-old, who was the youngest member helping unload the equipment. “I can’t describe the feeling of driving one – it just glides, it’s awesome.” The following day, the tanks were moved to their new home in Robertson Barracks as part of a plan to eventually phase out the Leopard tanks. These new M1A1 Abrams AIM tanks are part of a $530 million package that includes 59 tanks, seven Hercules M88A2 recovery vehicles, 14 heavy tank transporters, eight refuelling vehicles, and tank simulators for training purposes. Brig Craig Orme, Commander 1 Bde, said the tanks were an example of the maturing of the Hardened and Networked Army concept. “The most valuable thing in the Army is its people,” Brig Orme said. “So we need combat systems that develop high combat power with low manpower.” The Abrams are designed to do just that. They include many new systems and components to increase mission capability, crew safety and operational awareness. And they are among the fastest and most powerful tanks in the world. The arrival of the Abrams in Darwin was an historic occasion for the armoured corps. “But most importantly this represents a quantum increase in the combat power available to the land force,” Brig Orme said. CO 1 Armd Regt Lt-Col Duncan Hayward said Australian soldiers were highly skilled and the Abrams would only add to their effectiveness on the battlefield. “We are providing equipment that matches our soldiers’ standards,” Lt-Col Hayward said. “This technology will now project our regiment into an advanced state of readiness to support the Hardened and Networked Army.” Related stories |
