Australian Army Discussions and Updates

[t68]

It’s a good idea Aussie Digger but is Copperhead being taken up by defence or it still to be approved?
That’s my reasoning for M113AS4-ALV it’s in production now but in what number’s, i don’t know if there is any spare capacity.
Agreed its use will be for high end target’s of opportunity in limited number’s and could be put together in a similar way to 16th Air Defence Regiment.

 

[rossfrb_1]

Some interesting new photos have been released by ADF in relation to current replacement/addition equipment projects.

First, the first unclassified photo of the new "Nary" SASR long range patrol vehicle (Supacat based).

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/faulkner/gallery/20100122/20100121adf8262658_112.jpg

snip

Is that pop rivets I can see, in this day & age?
That's a rough looking front end - looks like it was designed in the 1930s.
The look on Faulkner's face "& we pay how much for these things?"
I'm sure they might be great vehicles, but that is a very unflattering angle

The photographer must have been in a shitty mood, to compose & take such a photo.

rb

 

[Aussie Digger]

It’s a good idea Aussie Digger but is Copperhead being taken up by defence or it still to be approved?
That’s my reasoning for M113AS4-ALV it’s in production now but in what number’s, i don’t know if there is any spare capacity.
Agreed its use will be for high end target’s of opportunity in limited number’s and could be put together in a similar way to 16th Air Defence Regiment.

It has been proposed for Project Overlander, but no, it hasn't been ordered for Army yet as I understand it. It's a mere formality though as I understand it...

The problem with the M113AS3/4 is our best hulls are being used for the existing upgrade and the whole fleet's hulls have been cannibalised to provide the metal for the upgrade. There is not much left to upgrade... What would be better would be the M113 TLC's (tracked load carriers) but we haven't got many of them and I don't know if they are to be upgraded under Land 106.

In any case the Bushmaster is going to be far cheaper to operate,train on etc, so I don't see much of a future for a tracked vehicle in this role...

 

[Todjaeger]

Is that pop rivets I can see, in this day & age?
That's a rough looking front end - looks like it was designed in the 1930s.
The look on Faulkner's face "& we pay how much for these things?"
I'm sure they might be great vehicles, but that is a very unflattering angle

The photographer must have been in a shitty mood, to compose & take such a photo.

rb

It does indeed look like rivets, which make me wonder just how well it would deal with (or survive) a near miss from something like a mortar or an IED. I remember stories about the early production US WWII M2/M3 tanks with riveted hulls being somewhat less than complimentary. OTOH depending on the level or protection (or lack thereof) loose rivets might be the last thing the vehicle's crew/passengers are concerned with.

-Cheers

 

[Aussie Digger]

It does indeed look like rivets, which make me wonder just how well it would deal with (or survive) a near miss from something like a mortar or an IED. I remember stories about the early production US WWII M2/M3 tanks with riveted hulls being somewhat less than complimentary. OTOH depending on the level or protection (or lack thereof) loose rivets might be the last thing the vehicle's crew/passengers are concerned with.

-Cheers

They look like bolt heads for an allen key type tool to me. In any case they are only holding down cover plating, not structurally significant parts of the vehicles...

 

[gf0012-aust]

Is that pop rivets I can see, in this day & age?

They're allen keyed bolts. I've seen the stretched version up close and although it was the prototype, it was pretty ordinary at the time. (it was a Kiwi SAS truck)

I would assume that the latter rebuilds are better

 

[Artyengineer]

They're allen keyed bolts. I've seen the stretched version up close and although it was the prototype, it was pretty ordinary at the time. (it was a Kiwi SAS truck)

I would assume that the latter rebuilds are better

These fasteners are indeed Hex, Socket Button Head Screws. Very commonly used for external surfaces.

http://www.allproducts.com/metal/fengyi/head_cap_screw_bss-l.jpg

 

[riksavage]

They look like bolt heads for an allen key type tool to me. In any case they are only holding down cover plating, not structurally significant parts of the vehicles...

Supacat range of SF vehicles are able to carry a substantially larger payload then their LandRover based predecessors without suffering too much performance deterioration. The UK government has just issued a revised tender for a parachute delivery system, which will permit the Supacat's plus load to be airdropped from a C130/C17. One assumes the Aussie/Kiwis's will look at a similar application. The driver being the ability to para-drop SF/Pathfinders + Supacat into remote Afghan areas. To withstand a palletised drop the vehicles will have to be pretty robust!

Gov Quote:

"The Supacat 4x4 weighs around 7,000 kg but has the capacity to carry an additional 3,000 kg payload, including fuel, water, ammunition and weapons for operations in Afghanistan. The Medium Stressed Platform can only carry an all-up weight of around 8,000 kg so the MoD wants to replace or modify it with a system capable of carrying up to 10,000 kg."

 

[t68]

Is the latest design for the F88 metal storm.

Looks like a pain in the A$%.


Modern Firearms - Assault Rifle - AICW Advanced Infantry Combat Weapon

 

[icelord]

Is the latest design for the F88 metal storm.

Looks like a pain in the A$%.


Modern Firearms - Assault Rifle - AICW Advanced Infantry Combat Weapon

nothing new really. AICW has been planned for quite a while, very similar to the US OICW.the US had something similar with 203 inbuilt and you beaut gizmos that stopped it from stopping people. The F-88 A2 looks like the first without the "keypad?". Its shorter barrell, picitinny rail sight, attachments for NAD etc. the A3 is similar in appearence by the looks of early release pics.
http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opastute/images/gallery/2009/1110/20091029adf8114832_150.jpg
New F88 A2 issued to deployed units and being spread across the Army At large, RAN is not expecting new version as it doesnt matter much if we "bling" our weapons.
New Optical sight, and its tan in colour...oooo Shiny!

 

[Aussie Digger]

Is the latest design for the F88 metal storm.

Looks like a pain in the A$%.


Modern Firearms - Assault Rifle - AICW Advanced Infantry Combat Weapon

Given Metalstorm is having some difficulty trading, I wouldn't expect this any time soon....

Btw, the A2 is known as the "poo rifle" around the traps. Because of the colour I understand, as opposed to it's effectiveness and reliability...

:smoker

 

[hairyman]

Is a Private First Class the same as a Lance Corporal, and if so, when did Australia change its rank terminology? Was it done to suit the septics?

 

[dorge]

Joining the ADF

Im waiting on joining the Australian Defence force either doing Combat Engineer or Telecommunications Technician. I should be contacted by the by the recruitment office in march. Im still deciding which 1 i should do.
Ive also been informed that i should have had my interview in January which they put off and told me it would be in march now there not contacting me til march which .
Can anyone help me out here which job i should choose?

 

[Marc 1]

Is a Private First Class the same as a Lance Corporal, and if so, when did Australia change its rank terminology? Was it done to suit the septics?

Didn't think we had that rank classification?. During recruit training the rank is logically, "Recruit" (lowest rank in the army), the soldier on finishing recruit training is know as a Private, when he has done his corps specific training (IET's) and met certain performance standards (physical etc) he is known by the system as "Private Proficient" which means additional pay. The address title is still "Private". The next step as you have pointed out is Lance jack - has there been a change to designations that I'm unaware of?

 

[Marc 1]

Im waiting on joining the Australian Defence force either doing Combat Engineer or Telecommunications Technician. I should be contacted by the by the recruitment office in march. Im still deciding which 1 i should do.
Ive also been informed that i should have had my interview in January which they put off and told me it would be in march now there not contacting me til march which .
Can anyone help me out here which job i should choose?

You've checked the job descriptions on the defence website?

Bit of a generalisation here as I was a grunt and had little to do with gingerbeers or muppets but the Engineers used to spend the most time out bush of any corps - they'd be in months or weeks ahead of major exercises and the last ones out. They do practical hands on things and are busy physical hard drinking buggers (well, used to be anyway). Sigs tended to be probably the second most deployed (without comms the military stops) and tended to be more techo rather than digging holes and blowing things up (or building things if you become a construction engineer).

Either is a good choice for skills that you can use when you move on from the green machine. Both offer excellent variety of roles within the same corps so if you find one area boring, you could always look at transferring...

The final point is if you think you have made a wrong choice once in either corps, it is possible to corps transfer to another that you may be better suited to. Be aware doing that that you may lose some seniority and or rank.

Good luck - keep us informed of how you go, and where you've gone.

 

[dorge]

You've checked the job descriptions on the defence website?

Bit of a generalisation here as I was a grunt and had little to do with gingerbeers or muppets but the Engineers used to spend the most time out bush of any corps - they'd be in months or weeks ahead of major exercises and the last ones out. They do practical hands on things and are busy physical hard drinking buggers (well, used to be anyway). Sigs tended to be probably the second most deployed (without comms the military stops) and tended to be more techo rather than digging holes and blowing things up (or building things if you become a construction engineer).

Either is a good choice for skills that you can use when you move on from the green machine. Both offer excellent variety of roles within the same corps so if you find one area boring, you could always look at transferring...

The final point is if you think you have made a wrong choice once in either corps, it is possible to corps transfer to another that you may be better suited to. Be aware doing that that you may lose some seniority and or rank.

Good luck - keep us informed of how you go, and where you've gone.

Thanks heaps for the reply Marc 1,

Yeah i have my heart set on Telecommunications tech, ive read over the jobs on the defence force site and i like what it has to offer and the civil qualifications i get from it if i was to leave after the 6years of enlistment, i would like to do a tour or 2 also, be a good life changing experience, i have a brother who has already done 1 and enjoyed it.

 

[hairyman]

has there been a change to designations that I'm unaware of?
Dont know. I am only talking about the rank structure of this forum, which I thought must be based on the Australian Army.

 

[Marc 1]

has there been a change to designations that I'm unaware of?
Dont know. I am only talking about the rank structure of this forum, which I thought must be based on the Australian Army.

Nope, American I'd say. Clues are there are others listed as Master Sgt - we don't have them in our mob.

 

[hairyman]

So is this site managed by Americans? If managed by Aussies, how about using Aussie rank structure?

 

[Marc 1]

So is this site managed by Americans? If managed by Aussies, how about using Aussie rank structure?

I've picked that the Mods are poms, septics, germans, aussies, singaporeans and an ex russki. The Forum address ends in ".com" which suggests registered in the USA. There are contributors here from Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa etc. The World Wide Web in this case is truly world wide (unless you live somewhere that blocks access).

Does it matter if we have an unfamiliar 'rank' structure? If it were managed by the poms we'd see ranks like "Colour Sgt". If by the German's we'd see something like "Oberstandartennfureurundcoporalleiutantantink" and we'd all need widescreen monitors. I'm not worried by what 'ranks' we are given - they could be pink blue red and green for all I care - what I do care about is the quality of the content posted.