French connection
Operation Croix du Sud means more to the Navy than croissants and vin rouge...

Volume 49, No. 8, May 18, 2006

By SBLT Matt Minehan-Ryan

More than 2000 ADF personnel have joined colleagues from countries as far afield as Tonga and French Polynesia in Exercise Croix du Sud 2006 (CDS06) in New Caledonia.

Conducted from April 24 to May 6, the exercise included a host of Australian military assets, including HMA Ships Manoora and Tobruk, one Sea King from 817 Squadron (embarked in Manoora), LCM8s and ABT from 10 Field Support Battalion, 108 Battery 4 Field Regiment and a detachment of three Caribous from 38 Squadron RAAF.

Exercise Maritime Component Commander (MCC) and Commander Australian Contingent (COMASC), CAPT Stuart Mayer, said their inclusion in the exercise yielded invaluable lessons in operating in a multi-national and multi-lingual environment.

“The exercise was a combined force Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO), and with language and equipment compatibility difficulties aside, it was considered a great success,” he said.

Hosted by the Forces Armees en Nouvelle Caledonie, CDS06, the ADF members interacted with exercise participants from New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and French Polynesia.

Set within a fictitious NEO scenario (in a permissive environment within an island nation), MCC commanded the insertion of military forces until the Land Component Commander (LCC) had sufficient combat power ashore to assume command.
The LCC then assumed command of the operation and coordinated the evacuation of personnel, before the MCC again assumed command as forces ashore thinned-out and withdrew.

The execution of the operation involved a joint amphibious plan developed by MCC staff and LCC staff, who supported the land scheme of manoeuvre.

A surface task unit led by FNS Vendemiaire established surveillance of maritime approaches and sea lines of communications, and when land reconnaissance assets were in place and communicating to CJTF HQ/LCC, the conditions were established for the NEO to commence.

The next phase of the deployment involved the establishment of the landing force ashore at Canala. French and Australian Amphibious Beach Teams guided the landing craft, which included both Australian and French watercraft.

When the main landings were complete, command was transitioned from MCC to LCC, and MCC assumed responsibilities as the supporting commander.

MCC planning staff also developed follow-on plans to support the land scheme of manoeuvre, and planned and executed a second amphibious NEO from another coastal port named Behouailou, which involved the insertion of 108 Battery of 4 Field Regiment and attached French elements from Tobruk.

CAPT Mayer said that in all, the amphibious operations in support of the NEO saw some 810 coalition troops and 124 vehicle movements across all three amphibious platforms, and 10 tonnes of cargo deployed by air in support of the LCC and ACC ashore using Manoora’s Sea King helicopters.

“The exercise was universally declared a success in all respects and enhanced relations between all countries participating. Most importantly it proved the force capability multiplier inherent in the ADF amphibious capability,” he said

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