Rainbow Beach, Queensland, transformed from a quiet coastal town into a hub of activity at the beginning of the month, as soldiers carried out their littoral training exercise along its shores.

Personnel from 10th Force Support Battalion conducted Exercise Surfing Penguin, an advanced watercraft exercise, operating lighter amphibious resupply cargo 5-tonne (LARC-V) and F470 Zodiac small boats, near the Wide Bay Training Area.

At the completion of their training, more than 50 soldiers will be certified in operating Defence watercraft vehicles in arduous sea conditions – preparing them for the high-risk weather season. 

The training also prepares soldiers to respond to local and international humanitarian aid and disaster relief, which the ADF may be called upon to support. 

'Our soldiers are refining their skills in navigation, beach approaches and rapid deployment.'

Major Brenton Chapman said the activity was an important opportunity to train the integration of different watercraft in a realistic setting.

“Our soldiers are refining their skills in navigation, beach approaches and rapid deployment,” Major Chapman said.

“Operating in the littoral zone is complex. We need to be able to move people and equipment quickly, whether it’s for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, or combat operations.” 

The annual exercise has always been a local community attraction, turning the town’s favourite beach into a viewing gallery. Instead of the usual joggers and early surfers, locals gathered along the coast to watch their beach turn into a training ground. 

“It’s great to see after years of conducting the exercise here, the locals are still interested and curious,” Major Chapman said.

“For many, it was their first time seeing the LARC-Vs in action, as well as the fast-moving Zodiacs cutting across the surf.”

Each day, as the sun set, the exercise wrapped up with the vehicles retreating from the coast. For the residents of Rainbow Beach, it was a familiar glimpse of military amphibious vehicles – for the soldiers, it was another step towards readiness.