Operation SLIPPER: Image Gallery
20 September 2006
Latest Images from Operation SLIPPER
A contingent of some 200 Australian Defence Personnel has arrived in Afghanistan as part of Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team under the NATO International Security Assistance Force’s stage III expansion into Southern Afghanistan.
Australia’s contribution, known as the Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), will be a mix of engineers and security personnel deployed to Afghanistan for up to two years and will work on reconstruction and community-based projects as part of Australia’s commitment to assisting Afghanistan achieve a stable and secure future.
The small Australian contingent is the RTF advance party and will be working in Afghanistan preparing the camp, conducting planning for RTF construction and trade training projects, and setting up the logistics supply chain for when the main body arrives later in the year.
The majority of the task force is drawn from the Darwin area and made up of personnel from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment based in Darwin which will provide combat engineers and tradesmen (carpenters, plumbers, electricians and plant operators) to undertake the majority of the RTF’s construction activities. This will include skills training for the local population to ensure the benefits of the deployment continue well after our personnel have returned home.
The Australian protective force for the RTF is provided by the Brisbane-based Motorised Infantry of the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, equipped with Bushmaster vehicles; the 5th/7th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment also with the Bushmaster; and the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment with ASLAV light armoured vehicles. Command, logistics and support elements have come from the Darwin-based 1st Brigade.
| 20060908adf8185016_0093 Warrant Officer Class 2 Helen Brown connects dish panels to the CMST satellite dish installed for communications back to Australia. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0095 Sergeant Mathew Penney (right) and Warrant Officer Class 2 Helen Brown install the dish panels to the CMST satellite dish at the Australian Reconstruction Task Force camp in Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0109 Sergeant Mathew Penney (right) and Warrant Officer Class 2 Helen Brown (left) install the CMST satellite dish at the Australian Reconstruction Task Force camp in Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0119 Corporal Liam Cooper from the 110th Signal Squadron adjusts the wave guides on the CMST satellite dish at the Australian Reconstruction Task Force camp in Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0123 Warrant Officer Class 2 Helen Brown connects cabling to the CMST satellite dish installed for communications back to Australia. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0127 Sergeant Mathew Penney and Corporal Liam Cooper install the feed horn to the CMST satellite dish at the Australian Reconstruction Task Force camp in Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0135 Sergeant Mathew Penny (below) and Warrant Officer Class 2 Helen Brown (left) assemble the CMST satellite dish at the Australian Reconstruction Task Force camp in Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0137 Corporal Liam Cooper, from the 110th Signal Squadron, assembles the lower dish panels of the CMST satellite dish for the Australian Reconstruction Task Force communications system in Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060908adf8185016_0146 Corporal Liam Cooper (centre) checks the positioning of the CMST satellite dish as Sergeant Mathew Penney (left) and Warrant Officer Class 2 Helen Brown (right) discuss satellite angles. (Date taken: 08 September 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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