US, NZ troops join Australian military exercises

[Ykato]

US, NZ troops join Australian military exercises

Thousands of troops from Australia, New Zealand and the United States are in Australia's northeast this week, for one of the country's biggest training programs.

More than 6,000 Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen have begun training in the north Queensland city of Townsville, Monday.

They're expected to use tonnes of live ammunition as part of 'Exercise Hamel'.

New Zealand and US war ships have docked in Townsville and will accommodate hundreds of allied forces during their stay in north Queensland.

The Defence Force says the latest military technology will be used in areas to the west and north of the city and will give troops the feeling of being in a real war scenario.

Townsville residents have been warned to prepare for heavy and possibly noisy air traffic during this week's war games.

www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201010/3028585.htm?desktop

05 October 2010
Build up of Exercise Hamel 2010

Military personnel and units from across Australia and contingents from the United States Marines and the New Zealand Army have deployed to Townsville for the build up of Exercise Hamel 2010. Exercise Hamel will be held at defence training areas Northern Queensland, these being Townsville Field Training Area and the Tully Training Area from October 10 to November 11. Hamel is the first for the newly-created Forces Command which comprises about 87 per cent of the Australian Army and will involve more than 6000 Australian personnel from Army, Navy and Air Force. Exercise Director, Brigadier John Frewen Forces Command, said that Hamel will be a highly demanding and realistic training activity that will see the 3rd Brigade well prepared to face any challenge on the modern, complex battlefield. “This exercise is a vital one for the Australian Army and in many ways is an historic event in the way we prepare troops for combat operations,” Brigadier Frewen said. “It will enhance the Army’s ability to undertake operations both in Australia and overseas. “Exercise Hamel will ensure that every soldier of the 3rd Brigade is as well prepared as they can be for any future contingencies. “It represents our commitment to world-class training and making sure that we stand ready to defend Australia and it’s national interests.”

www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Oct/20101005a/index.htm

[Ykato]

Nation's largest exercise October 4th, 2010

RESIDENTS have been warned to expect more noise from military helicopters as Townsville's 5th Aviation Regiment takes part in the country's largest Army training activity this month.

The city will play host to Exercise Hamel during this month with about 7000 personnel from around the country arriving to take part across the Army, Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.

The exercise will include about 3500 troops involved in Townsville's 3rd Brigade, while the 5th Aviation Regiment will become a central base for the largest concentration of Army aviation in a decade.

Commanding Officer of the 5th Aviation Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel James Brown, said there would be about 800 people supporting the Army, working with military helicopters such as Chinooks, Black Hawks and smaller Kiowa helicopters.

"We're going to have about 35 Army combat aircraft on the tarmac here ," he said.

"We're also going to have an extra 310 people from Townsville, Darwin, Sydney and Brisbane.

"Two Tiger helicopters arrived over the weekend with 60 personnel from the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin."

The Royal New Zealand Air Force will act as Australia's opponents for the multi-faceted exercise but for now are using the Regiment's hangars to store their vital equipment.

Lt Col Brown said preparations were under way for launch into battle between now and the end of October, while there would also be live firing training in the first two weeks of November.

"This is the pinnacle of our training year not just for 5th Aviation Regiment but for the whole of Army," he said.

"Exercises like this take a long time to get together and they take a lot of effort and they involve a lot of people.

"At the end of it what you get is the confidence that Australia's armed forces are trained, certified and ready to go on operations- that we can use all our capabilities to the maximum extent and support government in whatever they want us to do."

He thanked residents in advance for their patience for when military helicopters would be flying over the city.

"We've got an excellent relationship with the people of Townsville and we feel really part of the community," he said.

"There is going to be a bit more aircraft noise as we fly our combat aircraft to and from the exercise area pretty much every day.

"While there might be a bit more noise I'm sure that everyone will understand what it's for."

He said the Regiment's battle group would employ the Tiger's weaponry including 30mm cannon, Hellfire missiles and rockets.

The aircraft will operate across the full width of their key roles for the training exercise including attacks, reconnaissance, transporting troops and casualty evacuation.

"'Our battle group is an air mobile battle group and we enhance the tempo of land warfare by moving troops and material long distances in a short period of time," he said.

"If you were the enemy commander and you thought you were in a secure area, you would always have to have in the back of your mind the possibility of several hundred personnel who wish you ill will could appear out of helicopters and that's what we do.

"We get them on the ground, on time, anywhere."

www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2010/10/04/174621_defence.html

[Ykato]

"Two Tiger helicopters arrived over the weekend with 60 personnel from the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin."

The Royal New Zealand Air Force will act as Australia's opponents for the multi-faceted exercise but for now are using the Regiment's hangars to store their vital equipment

Do they mean UH-1 v Tiger?

[adzze]

Looks that way; the way I interpret the article NZ troops will be brought in with helicopters and it'll be the Tiger's job to shoot them before they land... maybe...?

[30sqnatc]

Yeah UH-1 against a Tiger

At least our LAVs can more than match the Aussie ones. but they sure better keep their eyes and ears open and run away from the M1's pretty darn quick And I hope the practised their Tiger shooting in the simulator before they left

[30sqnatc]

Doesn't sound like a fun voyage www.navy.mil.nz/visit-the-fleet/cant/recent/07102010.htm

[Ykato]

a little off topic - is this the same storm mentioned in as above or another one?:

Damaged French warship gets local fix


The visiting French warship Jacques Cartier received serious damage on its journey from New Caledonia, requiring repairs which may delay its return.

Lieutenant Commander Joseph Couval said their arrival in Napier was delayed due to the same storm that battered Hawke's Bay late last week.

"It was rough, we were travelling against a strong southerly wind and sea," he said. "As a consequence, our front doors are bent and the communication mast is about to fall.

"Engineers will complete some repairs to ensure the safety of the ship for the return journey."

full item located is Here:

www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/damaged-french-warship-gets-local-fix/3926801/

[Ykato]

KIWIS FIGHT AUSSIES IN DEFENCE FORCE EXERCISE

More than 300 New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) personnel are making their way back home, after taking part in one of the most complex training activities the Australian Army has ever organised.

Exercise Hamel was designed to test the war fighting skills of the Townsville-based 3rd Brigade, and to do this they invited the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to make up the opposing force utilizing the Kiwi’s Iroquois helicopters, Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV), Light Operational Vehicles (LOV) and Unimogs.

HMNZS CANTERBURY transported the Army vehicles to and from Australia for the Exercise.
Major Dougal Barker, OC Victor Company, said that although the Kiwis as the opposing force worked hard to test the Australians, they also achieved their own training objectives and improved knowledge of and interoperability with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

“By operating in an unfamiliar place such as the Townsville Field Training Area we’ve been forced to use core navigation skills, rather than just work from memory. The Air Force has been undertaking flying in tropical conditions, which affects the performance of the Iroquois.The terrain has also played a major role, providing a difficult operating environment that is, in many ways, half way between our open (such as Waiouru) and closed (bush/jungle) environments and offering a number of problems and opportunities within that.”
Improving interoperability with the Australian Defence Force is important as both nations currently work together in the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Afghanistan, and will also work together in any regional response that may be required in the event of contingencies such as natural disasters, as has already happened in Fiji and Samoa this year.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand , Air Vice Marshal Peter Stockwell, says that knowing the way that each Defence Force works is critical to ensuring a successful regional emergency response, and in this regard the exercise has been very valuable for everyone who participated.

“We are building on our ANZAC history and striving to reach a new level of co-operation between the NZDF and ADF. The ability for both Defence Forces to work closely and effectively together is vital and will benefit our region in times of need.”

www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1011/S00050/kiwis-fight-aussies-in-defence-force-exercise.htm

[Ykato]

Kelley goes to 'war' against the Aussies

www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/kelley-goes-to-war-against-the-aussies/3929329/