Mark Dodd | September 03, 2007
AN army mortar section has been put on standby in Townsville ready for deployment to Afghanistan, amid fears of a Taliban attack.
A section of 12 men - all mortar specialists - from 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment are on standby for overseas deployment to boost security at the main base in Oruzghan province in central Afghanistan.
Two 81mm mortars and crew are ready to leave for the Australian Reconstruction Task Force base at Tarin Kowt in central Afghanistan - the first overseas deployment of army mortar men since the 1999 East Timor crisis.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the government had authorised deployment of a 10-man mortar section equipped with 81mm mortars.
They will come from the Townsville-based 2RAR and will be based at the Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) at Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan province.
“During my recent visit to Australian troops serving with the Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) in Oruzgan province I was advised by tactical commanders of an in-service capability that would significantly enhance force-protection and response options for the operation,” he said.
“After consultation with defence chiefs, the government has authorised the deployment of a 10-man, 81mm mortar section to Afghanistan to support RTF operations.
“The mortars will provide accurate offensive support for RTF operations and will be employed within the existing rules of engagement applied by Australian troops in Afghanistan.”
The heightened security tensions follow a warning last week by Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson to Dutch MPs that any decision to remove their troops from Oruzghan - where they have been providing security for the Australians - could lead to an early Australian withdrawal.
"A couple of mortars have been put on standby to provide close-in support. It will add to the force protection and they would go to join the RTF in Oruzghan. At the moment it is clearly just an element of advance planning,” a senior Australian Defence Force official said.
Australia has around 970 troops serving in Afghanistan on Operation Slipper, most of who are based around a 385-strong RTF whose mission has been to assist with the rebuilding of schools, clinics and village infrastructure in the war-devastated country.
A separate 300-strong Special Operations Task Group comprising troops from the elite Perth-based Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and commandos from Sydney-based 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment is also based in Oruzghan on a secretive mission to locate, observe and hunt down Taliban insurgents.
The Dutch parliament is considering withdrawing its troops from Oruzghan following a number of combat deaths and rising concern about the country's involvement in the war.
More than two weeks ago Australian forces notched a decisive victory against the Taliban with a US air strike killing 18 Taliban leaders, including senior commanders.
Dutch-piloted Apache helicopter gunships have also played a vital role in providing support for Australian patrols patrolling around their base at Camp Holland on the lookout for Taliban fighters.
The number of clashes between the Australians and well-armed Taliban has been on a steady increase in recent weeks raising the prospect that of additional security measures to protect the Australian engineers.
Other measures being considered by the ADF include sending sophisticated Orion surveillance planes and a possible deployment of RAAF F/A-18C Hornet jets.
