Operation KIRIBATI ASSIST
11 August 2008
Reconnaissance
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has deployed a small Joint Task Force to the small Pacific Island nation of Kiribati to commence Operation Kiribati Assist.
Operation Kiribati Assist is the ADF contribution to Australia’s response to a request from the Government of Kiribati to assist in the disposal of World War II unexploded ordnance (UXO) from locations throughout Kiribati.
The ADF has world-class skills, expertise and capability in conducting explosive ordnance disposal and is happy to be assisting our regional neighbour in clearing the threat posed by unexploded ordnance.
Joint Task Force (JTF) 637 will dispose of UXO identified during a 2007 reconnaissance of the islands and scope any future UXO disposal requirements and EOD training opportunities for the Kiribati Police Service during the deployment.
The JTF comprises approximately 22 people and includes a Command Group, a Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team to handle underwater UXO, Army and RAAF EOD teams who will handle land based UXO, including air delivered items and a Medical Team. The 33 islands of Kiribati are scattered across 3.5 million square kilometres of the Central Pacific and is the site where the Battle of Tarawa was fought in November 20th, 1943.
Most UXO encountered in Kiribati are remnants from this conflict and include military ordnance such as artillery projectiles, aerial bombs, rockets, mortars and mines.
| 20080808adf8239716_006 A Japanese 8 inch gun on the beach on the central island of Tarawa in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_010 A Japanese 8 inch gun at the beachon the central island of Tarawa in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_026 Australian Army Major Kevin Cuthbertson stands in a bunker used by the Japanese Army in World War II in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_032 ((Left - Right) Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer Ralph Dunn, Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Dave Dawes and Royal Australian Air Force Sergeant Justin Poole, walk past a shell left over from World War II. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_057 Japanese and American unexploded ordnance left after the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_060 Australian Army Major Graeme Andrew inspects ordnance for disposal in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_073 Lieutenant Commander Etienne Mulder, Commander of Operation Kiribati Assist, inspects a Japanese mine on a coral reef of in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_075 Unexploded ordnance on a coral reef in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_080 Unexploded ordnance on a coral reef in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_081 Members of Joint Task Force 637 are assisted by local residents in the reconnaissance for explosive ordnance around Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_083 Royal Australian Navy's Clearance Diver, Petty Officer Troy Whalley, inspects unexploded ordnance in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_092 Unexploded ordnance on a coral reef left over from World War II in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080808adf8239716_094 Unexploded ordnance on a coral reef in Kiribati. (Date taken: 08 August 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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