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Galloping to a range of firsts
Edition 1172, August 9, 2007 |
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Loaded: Gunners from 8/12 Mdm Regt load a 155mm howitzer at the Mount Bundy Training Area.
Photo by AB Bradley Darvill |
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EXERCISE Predators Gallop 07 featured a first on Australian soil with the integration of F-111s, UAVs, Kiowas and live artillery fire to support a brigade advance and battle group attack.
More than 200 members of 8/12 Mdm Regt took to the range on a 12-day live-fire and manoeuvre exercise at Mount Bundy Training Area (MBTA) last month.
The regiment was supported during 1Bde’s annual exercise by 1 Armd Regt, 1CER, 7RAR and 1 Avn Regt as well as the RAAF and DSTO.
CO 8/12 Mdm Regt Lt-Col Craig Furini said he was impressed by the cooperation between each component.
“The successful coming together of Army, RAAF and DSTO elements proved the strength of the joint combined arms team and the adaptability of the soldiers of 1 Bde to meet new challenges and integrate new capabilities with minimal fuss,” he said.
“This exercise provided a diverse training experience from which many lessons can be drawn and applied to the future.”
This year’s exercise included the ongoing development of the joint effects group concept that was trialled during the 1 Bde’s CPX in March.
The integration of F-111s, DSTO UAVs, Kiowas and live artillery fire involved the successful use of existing airspace control and offensive support procedures to synchronise all the assets. In particular, the UAV was used to pass tactical information to the Joint Offensive Support Coordination Centre and to engage targets with artillery, including the conduct of missions for close air support, as well as the conduct of bomb damage assessment.
In a raft of other firsts, the regiment held its first successful open day at Mount Bundy Training Area, where families and friends were able to experience the noise, dust and heat of serving the guns in the Top End.
One of the wives, Sally Smith, said: “What a great day. It was hard enough being here for a few hours watching in this heat and dust, let alone doing what you guys do.”
Also noteworthy was the use of a prototype disposable pop-up target. The expense of pop-up targets had previously prevented artillery from engaging them. However, a little innovation from the regiment’s Technical Support Troop and 1CER enabled the new target to be trialled and the reactions of the joint offensive support teams to be fully tested.
The first deployment of the Bushmaster IMV as an artillery command post also occurred during Predators Gallop. Lt Nick Cooper, the Gun Position Officer of 103 Mdm Bty, said the Bushmaster “made an excellent CP; the improvement in our ability to communicate, move and conduct all the drills required of an artillery CP was massive”. |
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