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Dutch arsenal on call
By Capt Haydn Barlow
Edition 1168, June 14, 2007 |
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| Eyes on sky: Dutch and Australian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers look skywards for a Dutch Apache helicopter during a training session in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan |
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Calculating: Bdr Stanley Crabbe plots coordinates on his map during the training.
Photos by
LAC Rodney Welch |
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THE professional opportunities available to deployed soldiers can be second to none. Bdr Stanley Crabbe, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) operating with the RTF in Afghanistan, is one soldier gaining terrific experience that is simply not available in Australia.
On the range in Tarin Kowt, he described what it was like to have an operational arsenal at his call. Placing his radio down, Bdr Crabbe tried to keep a smile from breaking through as he completed a successful close air support mission with the Dutch Apaches.
“I just called in rockets from the Apache; they were all good hits,” he said.
Teamed with the Netherlands Defence Force, offensive support available to RTF includes a 155mm Panzer Howitzer, Apache helicopters and F16 aircraft.
Without the close working relationship with their European partners, Bdr Crabbe and his team would not be so fortunate.
“The Dutch are fantastic in sharing their assets with us. When they get specific weapons systems on station, whether it be the gun, Apaches, or the F16s, they let us know and ask us to come up and train with them,” he said.
“Today we got up here and fired some artillery missions from the Panzer Howitzer – it is a 155 self-propelled gun and is the best in the world right now. We have never really seen anything like it before.
“Then we got the Apaches on station, engaged with about 120 rounds from its 30mm gun, as well as 20 rockets. I would not want to have been on the receiving end.”
Bdr Crabbe and the JTAC team practise with the Dutch regularly so when they step outside the wire they know what they have at their disposal, their capabilities and how to best employ them.
“We have used the Apaches on some of our missions so far, but not in an offensive role; we usually get them to conduct surveillance and recon which improves the situational awareness of our boys on the ground. It’s a very powerful asset,” he said.
He said the experience already gained with the RTF was the highlight of his career, and hoped it would set him up for future deployments. He also saw it as an excellent opportunity to assist in the development of the Australian JTAC capability, based out of RAAF Williamtown.
“It is really good joint training working with the Dutch JTACs and their kit; we learn from each others procedures and experience, especially the NATO way of doing things.
The knowledge we will take back to JTAC Troop is incredibly valuable,” Bdr Crabbe said.
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