 |
|
Beach landing: Soldiers from 3 Bde come ashore at Cowley Beach during Exercise Sea Lion 2, an amphibious training mission.
Photo by Capt Al Green |
|
SOLDIERS from 3RAR left their parachutes unpacked and instead landed by ship during an important training activity for Army and Navy units to maintain the close cooperation necessary to execute amphibious missions.
During the week-long Exercise Sea Lion, conducted in north Queensland in late March, 3RAR soldiers were joined by elements from 2RAR, 10FSB, 17CSSB, 3CER and 3CSR.
The culmination of the exercise was a landing at Cowley Beach.
Training began when members of 3RAR, their vehicles and equipment embarked on HMAS Manoora in Sydney on March 22.
As Manoora sailed toward the warmer waters and more humid weather of Townsville, 3RAR headquarters staff conducted a staff planning exercise with members of the ship and Commander Australian Amphibious Task Group staff.
When Manoora arrived in the Cowley Beach Training Area, she joined HMAS Tarakan. The two ships and two LCM8s from 10FSB honed their skills for stern door marriages and beach landings throughout the week in preparation for the amphibious raid.
Not all forces and equipment arrive ashore via landing craft. Black Hawks from 5 Avn Regt transferred some 3RAR infantrymen from Manoora to an objective ashore. And Manoora’s Sea King transported a Land Rover from the ship to the shore.
Sea Lion was one of the exercises being held in the lead up to Exercise Talisman Sabre which will occur off northern Queensland later this year.
Related story
Termites clear way for beach invasion |
