FutureTank
Banned Member
as 8/9, 8 or 9?
as 8/9RAR at this stage. A CO and RSM have been appointed. Baa Baa!
battlensign
New Member
PM revives battle group
Greg Roberts | October 03, 2007
JOHN Howard has resurrected an army unit killed off 10 years ago in the second stage of a $4.1 billion program to increase the number of regular battalions from six to eight.
John Howard, visiting the Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, has resurrected an army unit killed off 10 years ago. Pic: Lyndon Mechielsen
The Prime Minister yesterday formally re-established the Royal Australian Regiment's 8th/9th Battalion - with 1200 troops to be based in Brisbane.
The move implements the second stage of the Enhanced Land Force initiative after the raising and deployment of the 7th Battalion to Darwin.
The 8th/9th, the youngest battalion of the Australian army when it was formed in a post-Vietnam War merger in 1973, was disbanded in 1997 and its regimental colours confined to the Infantry Corps museum in Singleton.
However, the 8th/9th - which as separate regiments raised during the Vietman War won two Distinguished Service Orders, five Military Crosses and nine Military Medals between them - will return to its old home at Gallipoli Barracks in the Brisbane suburb of Enogerra.
"The nation should never scrimp and save when providing for its defence," Mr Howard said at the barracks yesterday.
He said the $10 billion initiative would increase to eight the number of regular army battalions from five in 1996.
"This success has been made possible by the Government's significant investment in defence recruitment and retention, which this year has produced one of the best recruitment results in 30 years," he said.
"Today's announcement marks a further down-payment on our commitment to a larger, more versatile and more capable army suited to an uncertain strategic environment." Mr Howard also announced an $80 million redevelopment of facilities at the Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane's northwest suburbs.
While the barracks are in the safe ALP seat of Brisbane, many military personnel live nearby in the more marginal seat of Dickson, held by Assistant Treasurer Peter Dutton.
Queensland has several marginal seats up for grabs in the election, and as well as Mr Howard and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, the Opposition were out in force, with Kevin Rudd and Labor deputy Julia Gillard both in Queensland yesterday.
Ms Gillard acknowledged Labor's need to snare a swag of seats in Queensland, where all but six of the 28 lower house seats are held by the Coalition: "If we don't do well in Queensland, we won't win government."
Ms Gillard complained that as part of its increasingly personal attacks on the Opposition front bench, the Government had begun portraying her as a "hard-edged shrew" - the dictionary definition of which is a "nagging, bad-tempered woman", or a small mammal with a long snout.
"I actually think women and men have moved beyond that and if anything, there's a sense of 'Go girl' rather than anything else," she said.
Dr Nelson was unmoved by her complaint. "I don't know about shrew, but plenty of Australians would be unnerved by the idea of her being acting prime minister while Kevin Rudd is overseas," he said.
Mr Howard's visit to the Gallipoli Barracks was carefully stage-managed. Soldiers were told by officers to "chat to him about the football". He was greeted by heavily armed 6th Battalion soldiers, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, in full battle gear.
Well its not quite to the standard of your high-quality rumour, but I did think that there was a possibility when the PM said it was going to be the case.....
(Motorised Battalion though?)Brett.
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
Medium artillery replacement ammunition project.Thanks for the responses guys.......much appreciated, and informative as always......
BTW, AD, what the hell is MARAP?
(Damn, being unable to access DT was annoying there for a bit....!
Brett.
A project designed to replace our current range of 155mm artillery munitions, with modern enhanced ranged, accuracy and lethal ammunition natures.
So far Excalibur, SMART 55 and base-bleed range enhancement kits have been ordered.
Additional rounds (V-LAP perhaps for the new SPG's) will also be acquired to "out-range" or at least match our likely regional opponents.
Here's the SMART 55 announcement:
DEFENCE PURCHASES NEW ANTI-TANK ARTILLERY ROUND
The Department of Defence has finalised the acquisition of a new anti-tank artillery round.
This new artillery round will ensure that ADF troops can be protected against attack from modern armoured vehicles. It replaces an existing but obsolescent capability, the Copperhead laser-guided 155mm artillery shell, which is at the end of its service life.
The ‘SMArt 155’ artillery round is a sensor-fused precision munition that has been developed by the German firm, Gesellschaft für Intelligente Wirksysteme mbH (GIWS) for use against tanks and other armoured vehicles in all weather and terrain environments. Each SMArt 155 artillery shell delivers two sensor-fused projectiles.
The SMArt 155’s capacity for autonomous target detection makes it very accurate against specific targets. It uses a range of sensors to detect a target and is designed to be effective against heavily armoured vehicles rather than personnel. As a result, it poses little risk to non-combatant civilians.
Independent, reliable and redundant self-destruction mechanisms are incorporated into the SMArt 155. If a target is not detected, the SMArt 155 has redundant mechanisms that will cause it to self-destruct, thus eliminating the threat to civilians from explosive remnants of war. In the unlikely event of the redundant self-destruct mechanisms not functioning as intended, a self neutralisation mechanism will render the projectile inert.
The acquisition of SMArt 155 is consistent with Australia’s obligations under international humanitarian law, and takes into account the Government’s commitment to avoid humanitarian hazards.
The cost of acquisition is approximately A$14m. The items being acquired include the SMArt155 projectile and the associated propelling charge, fuze, and inductive fuze setter. Delivery is expected to commence in late 2007.
The SMArt 155 represents an important capability for Defence, and its acquisition is in keeping with the Government’s goal of maintaining a modern, technologically advanced Defence Force.
There is more information contained the Q&A and Fact Sheet, located here: http://www.defence.gov.au/media/index.cfm
battlensign
New Member
Hmm. I do actually remember reading that myself from the defence website. Okay, that makes alot more sense.....(MARAP) Thanks
Brett.
FutureTank
Banned Member
yes Brett,have been holding off on the "high quality rumor" for some time. same source told me months ago,the same time i was told that 3RAR will maintain coy para group a-la D-Coy 6RAR all those years ago...
battlensign
New Member
Does 6RAR still have a Coy Para group? (would be nice to have two.... or even a Para Battalion
)?Do you have any idea whether 8/9 RAR was going to be motorised or standard light role infantry? (I vaguely remember something said about gaining an extra motorised Battalion but cannot remember if that was 8/9 or not)
Brett.
no Delta Coy 6RAR lost its para role @ 1983 when 3RAR took over. bn capability was reached by 3 in about 1985.
i cant say for sure about 8/9,s role, but i suspect it will be motorised. I also suspect that 6 and 8/9 may train with the navy,s new toys.6RAR conducted exercises with the US Marines in california in the early 1990,s .and often deployed on the Tobruk for exercises at SWB training area...as did 8/9 in the past. the BPE,s will be able to deploy 2 inf Bn groups, so i wouldnt be surprised if a couple of bns trained regularly with the navy.
the baa baa comment was refering to 8/9,s old mascot, a RAM. 5/7 had a tiger and a pig...and 3RAR,well we had 5/7RAR as our mascot!
i cant say for sure about 8/9,s role, but i suspect it will be motorised. I also suspect that 6 and 8/9 may train with the navy,s new toys.6RAR conducted exercises with the US Marines in california in the early 1990,s .and often deployed on the Tobruk for exercises at SWB training area...as did 8/9 in the past. the BPE,s will be able to deploy 2 inf Bn groups, so i wouldnt be surprised if a couple of bns trained regularly with the navy.
the baa baa comment was refering to 8/9,s old mascot, a RAM. 5/7 had a tiger and a pig...and 3RAR,well we had 5/7RAR as our mascot!
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
Yep, 8/8RAR will be motorised, as will 6RAR and the 7th Brigade will finally become a motorised Brigade as it was intended SO long ago...Does 6RAR still have a Coy Para group? (would be nice to have two.... or even a Para Battalion
Do you have any idea whether 8/9 RAR was going to be motorised or standard light role infantry? (I vaguely remember something said about gaining an extra motorised Battalion but cannot remember if that was 8/9 or not)
Brett.
The structure will be a bit different, but 7 Brigade will finally provide a strong deployment or rotational capability for Army...
The Enoggera redevelopment money, the battalion's raising and the HNA and additional Bushmaster acquisition is all it has taken to build to 8x battalions...
MARKMILES77
Active Member
Winners of Project Overlander announced:
Australia has selected the G Wagon for its new light vehicles and the FMTV family for its medium to heavy vehicles.
Note the G Wagons will only be purchase in unprotected form while a new phase of the project has been announced.
Phase 4 will provide funding of $1.2 billion to purchase protected light weight vehicles. Eagle IV, LMV perhaps?
Australia has selected the G Wagon for its new light vehicles and the FMTV family for its medium to heavy vehicles.
Note the G Wagons will only be purchase in unprotected form while a new phase of the project has been announced.
Phase 4 will provide funding of $1.2 billion to purchase protected light weight vehicles. Eagle IV, LMV perhaps?
The news about $1.2 billion for a subsequent Phase 4 for the purchase of light weight protected vehicles is pleasing.
Presumably the new vehicles will be mainly for use within Australia or for disaster relief although mention was made of the ability to enhance protection when deployed on operation.
Tas
Hi All,
Was watching the news last night when they showed the remains of some Australian diggers from WW1 being buried in Belgium. The Australian troops taking part in the burial appeared to be wearing a slightly different uniform. The rank and other adornments were matt black and the overall uniform appeared to be more tan. Can anyone tell me if Army has issued a new ceremonial uniform or am I on drugs? BTW I thought it looked good.
Hooroo
Was watching the news last night when they showed the remains of some Australian diggers from WW1 being buried in Belgium. The Australian troops taking part in the burial appeared to be wearing a slightly different uniform. The rank and other adornments were matt black and the overall uniform appeared to be more tan. Can anyone tell me if Army has issued a new ceremonial uniform or am I on drugs? BTW I thought it looked good.
Hooroo
Are you talking about the guard of honour? if so half the party were kiwi's wearing the old ww1 "scouts" type hats,,,,,
FutureTank
Banned Member
Capability development in multigenerational scenario forecasting
Would anyone know which part of ADF does development of more future scenario forecasting these days? I'm working on a c.2050 time frame.
I keep coming up with different answers to what I have read in mostly American and European (well Brit mostly) capability development needs, so was wondering if maybe there was something published that is open to the public which I haven't seen.
Thank you in advance...
Would anyone know which part of ADF does development of more future scenario forecasting these days? I'm working on a c.2050 time frame.
I keep coming up with different answers to what I have read in mostly American and European (well Brit mostly) capability development needs, so was wondering if maybe there was something published that is open to the public which I haven't seen.
Thank you in advance...
There is an image gallery of the ceremony on the ADF website (see attached image of firing party). The Oz uniforms look 'normal' to me. However, the Kiwi uniform liiks darker than the Oz uniform.
http://www.defence.gov.au/Passchedaele/gallery/20071005/index.htm
Tas
I'm talking about the 4 guards around the centrepiece/flame. 2 of the guards were kiwis wearing their ww1 scout hats.
maybe the abc were mixing footage??