Australian Amphibious Force Trains Ahead of Regional Deployment to SE Asia

The Australian Amphibious Force recently undertook a series of amphibious rehearsals involving with elements from the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) 3rd Brigade, 5th Aviation Regiment, 17 Sustainment Brigade and Marine Rotational Force – Darwin embarked on HMAS Adelaide for the training at Cowley Beach.

While landing craft ferried soldiers and vehicles ashore, M777 howitzers were airlifted by CH-47F Chinooks and over the course of the wet-and-dry environment rehearsal, there was also a simulated mass casualty event with injured personnel returned to HMAS Adelaide by landing craft and helicopter.

Commander Landing Forces Colonel Judd Finger said the training ensured that the force was integrated and ready for contingencies. “We have been doing continuous work to train to an effective level where we can safely employ Navy and Army elements, whether that’s helicopters, landing craft, or personnel ashore,” he said.

An M1A1 Abrams MBT was also recovered by an M88 Hercules recovery vehicle onto a Mexeflote anchored to the shore by two LARC-V (lighter, amphibious, resupply, cargo vehicle) marking a shore-to-ship tank recovery serial for the first time.

The training ranged from simple activities such as safely embarking and disembarking, to transporting vehicles and artillery by landing craft and full mission profiles. The training culminated in a full mission profile, which involved amphibious and helicopter-borne troops capturing targets ashore at Cowley Beach and Townsville Field Training Area.