Proud to take a turn
Proud C-130Js deploy to Mid-East

By Leesha Furse

A member of No. 37 Squadron receives a parting hug after the official ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond to farewell Squadron members deploying to the Middle East.

Photo by LAC Mike Lucas

NO. 37 Squadron has flown two modified C-130Js to the Middle East for the aircraft’s first overseas deployment in a threat area.

The Hercs and about 40 maintenance, aircrew and support personnel were farewelled from RAAF Base Richmond on September 1.

They have joined the rest of the Hercules detachment, which totals about 150 personnel. Expected to stay in the Middle East for about nine months, they replace two C-130Hs and personnel from No. 36 Squadron.

37SQN CO Wing Commander Gary Martin said the detachment was excited to be deployed to the Middle East to serve in Op Catalyst in the airlift role. “They’re proud as all heck. It’s the culmination for any flying squadron – everything is for real,” he said.

“This is the culmination of the airborne operations phase because although we’ve been in supporting roles in the MEAO, both before starting Iraqi Freedom and after, we haven’t gone into Iraqi airspace and that now is the changed part.”

The Air Lift Group Commander, Air Commodore Greg Evans, said the two C-130Js had been modified with infrared counter measures – as would all the C-130J fleet in the future – to provide defence against shoulder-launched missile attacks.

AIRCDRE Evans said the shoulderlaunch missiles were a “general threat across Iraq” but were mostly found around airports. He paid tribute to the Air Lift System Program Office, Defence Materiel Organisation and the project team for the quick turn-around in preparing the C-130Js for deployment.

“There were a lot of issues that stood out as there always are with a new capability. There are always things to fix and do but we have got to the point where we are very satisfied that the aircraft are ready to go and the support mechanisms will be in place to keep them sustained in the AO,” AIRCDRE Evans said.

WGCDR Martin said his Squadron had been working very closely with 36SQN on both the aviation and technical aspects to ensure a smooth transition.

“We’re definitely not out to reinvent the wheel,” he said.

“We’ve worked out what will be the best base for operating the J model there and have also liaised with the RAF, who have had C-130Js there for the past 12 months.”

“Minor deficiencies” discovered in an “in-depth exercise” between Woomera and Edinburgh in late August have been fixed.

AIRCDRE Evans said although the Js were capable of carrying two more pallets than the Hs, the cargo loads carried in the aircraft in the Middle East were expected to remain about the same as when 36SQN was deployed.

“We know the spare parts requirement will be a bit less and we’re expecting them to be very reliable,” AIRCDRE Evans said.

During the 18 months that the C- 130Hs were deployed in the MEAO, the C-130Js have been involved in humanitarian assistance operations and have done a lot of support to routine Army exercises and the rest of the ADF as well as a lot of the resupply work to various deployments around the world, including supporting regular flights to the Middle East.

 

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