RUSI SA ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE OF SOUTH INC

Promoting National Security and Defence April/May 2011 Issue No. 432 RUSI of SA Building 160, Keswick Barracks Keswick, SA 5035 PRESIDENTʼS REPORT Tel/Fax: +61 (8) 8305 6378 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Just when we thought search and rescue dog Monday and Friday handlers from Queensland. 10.00am to 4.00pm that the world had During its deployment the Task Library also opens on Wednesday experienced the full ______Force will be focused on Urban gamut of natural Search and Rescue (USAR) Patron disasters, all on the His Excellency, and emergency medical support RADM Kevin Scarce AC, CSC, RANR Australian continent, we in the vicinity of Minami Governor of South Australia have been further shaken Sanriku, , ______(literally) by news of the about 200 kilometres north-east Council Members 2010/2011 devastating earthquakes of Tokyo. President: BRIG T. Hanna AM ADC in New Zealand and The ADF provided strategic air Vice Presidents: Japan, the latter with lift of the Task Force to Yokota COL C.Burns CSC potentially significant Airbase, Japan by Royal Dr J.Bruni follow on implications. Australian Air Force (RAAF) Past President: C-17A Globemaster. The COL D. Stoba RFD ED (Retd) The damage caused to C-17A Globemaster and RAAF Councillors: three nuclear reactors aircrew remain in Japan to Dr G.Griffin C/Insp F.J.Leditschke has once more caused assist the Japanese authorities CAPT M.J.Orchard RFD ED (Retd) the world to ponder the with heavy airlift capability as WGCDR M.Ryan (Retd) debate about the merits part of the international disaster MAJ R.Marlin relief effort. Mr M.J.Gorroick of nuclear power. Hon Treasurer: Operation PACIFIC ASSIST is The web site at COL L.Thompson AM RFD ED(Retd) the www.defence.gov.au/op/ Representing: pacificassist/index.htm RAN (ADF) component of a joint CMDR M.Doherty ADC RAN effort between the ADF and contains more information, Army Emergency Management images and videos relating to COL M.Burgess Australia (EMA). Their mission Operation PACIFIC ASSIST. RAAF is to provide an Emergency WGCDR B.Tonkin On the operational front, the Services Task Force in the Department of Defence reports ______wake of the earthquake in Hon Auditor: that the ADF’s Counter-Rocket Mrs L.Larkin BA (Acc) Japan and the subsequent Artillery and Mortar System (C- Chartered Accountant devastating tsunami. RAM) continues to prove its Librarian/Hon Editor The Task Force arrived in the usefulness since beginning CAPT M.Orchard RFD ED (Retd) early hours of Monday,14 operations in Tarin Kot in ______Secretary/Public Officer March and comprised: NSW Afghanistan on 28 December Ms E. Atkinson Police, Fire and Ambulance 2010. ______services, ACT fire fighters and (Continued on the next page) Views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the RUSI of SA Inc.

PRESIDENT”S REPORT (Continued) RUSI-SA COUNCIL At the last meeting of the RUSI-SA Council on Monday, 21 February 2011, Dr John Bruni was appointed to the position of the second Vice President of the Council.

The Officer Commanding C- So far C-RAM has detected RAM 1, MAJ Corey Shillabeer every indirect fire attack that from Woodside, South has occurred and, on each Australia, said the system was occasion, has been able to successfully enhancing force provide adequate warning. Dr Bruni is Director of SAGE protection to the troops The C-RAM capability will soon International, an Adelaide-based providing 24 hour, 360 degree be implemented across other defence consultancy. protection at the multi-national patrol bases in Uruzgan base. The Australian C-RAM Province to provide better You can access International works in conjunction with other protection for soldiers and the Insights at Intelligence Surveillance and personnel who work within the www.sageinternational.com.au Reconnaissance (ISR) assets bases. such as the American tethered Since the implementation of C- Registration and downloads are aerostat surveillance system RAM, MAJ Shillabeer and his free. and Australia’s Scaneagle team of 31 soldiers have Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, worked to counter the threat of John’s wife gave birth to a baby allowing coalition forces to indirect fire at bases. It is girl (Gabriella) at the Women’s respond to any insurgent reported that anywhere and Children’s Hospital on 7 threat. between five and twenty February 2011. Mother and seconds worth of warning daughter are doing well. C-RAM comprises two different provides soldiers enough time Congratulations! types of radars all looking for to react and be able to take objects which are moving cover from fire. quickly through the sky. When Dr Gillian (Gill) Griffin has an incoming projectile has Our guest speaker in May will be the Commanding Officer of been appointed as a been detected information member of the RUSI-SA about where it has been 16th Air Defence Regiment, launched from is passed to LTCOL John McLean. I look council at the meeting of other force elements in order to forward to hearing more about Council on 21 February enable them, to respond this new and valuable 2011. quickly and appropriately. capability from LTCOL McLean who commands the C-RAM Gill is a long-term member of the assets in Australia. RUSI in Adelaide and has written articles both for the newsletter Tim Hanna, AM and for SAGE. Brigadier Monthly Luncheons KNOW YOUR DEFENCE SCIENCE COUNCILLORS Monday 4 April 2011 Speaker: WGCDR ‘Max’ Dr Gillian (Gill) Griffin Heinrich Topic: Electronic Warfare The Defence Science Capabilities in the Australian and Technology Defence Force. Organisation (DSTO) is ******************************** part of Australia's Monday 2 May 2011 Department of Defence. Speaker: LTCOL John McLean Topic: Changes for 16th Air DSTO's role is to ensure Defence Regiment and for 6th the expert, impartial and Brigade. innovative application of ******************************** science and technology All members are invited to attend our to the defence of luncheons. Indeed you are encouraged to invite partners, Australia and its friends and colleagues to join us national interests. and, if they like what they see and hear, to nominate them for membership. Please book in Dr. Griffin is a Research advance. If you are unsure whether Associate at Flinders or not your name is on the booking list, please check! University, South Australia.

The dress code for the luncheon is She was formerly a teacher in the neat casual, taking into UK before being appointed consideration weather conditions. We usually assemble in Business/Education Liaison Building 34A, Keswick Barracks, Manager for the Education Keswick, at approximately 11.30 am Authority. Her role was to initiate for drinks and good fellowship. and develop curriculum based Members are asked to be seated by projects whereby members of the As Australia’s F-111 fleet retires, 12 noon when our President business community and UK the Minister for Defence Science welcomes members and guests and & Personnel, Warren Snowdon, lunch is served. The cost of the School/colleges could work together. During the seven years praised the significant buffet is $22 for members and first contribution made by the DSTO. time guests and $25 for non- that she held this post, she wrote members. We also conduct a raffle and published resources for to help cover expenses. Our caterer companies and schools. You may read more of the has agreed to provide vegetarian contributions made to the meals and sweets for diabetics, but support of the operation and these must be ordered before Dr Griffin has published widely in scholarly journals. She holds a maintenance of the Australian midday on the Thursday before the F-111s at the DSTO website: lunch. BA Honours degree and an MA from UK Universities. Her For those who do not have time to doctoral thesis was on Military enjoy lunch, but wish to hear the Ethics in Asymmetric warfare. www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/ lecture, chairs are provided around the perimeter of the hall. Please be This was a critical analysis of the changes in military operations seated before 12.55 pm. The There you will find many other address is of about 30 to 35 minutes and the ethical implications for duration with 15 minutes for the modern soldier. articles on what the DSTO is questions, after which coffee or tea currently doing in support of is available. We aim to complete the At present Dr Griffin is finalising a Australiaʼs Defence Force. program by 2.00 pm. chapter to be published in an Cancellations must be advised to the American book on teaching ethics RUSI-SA Office by midday of the to Business students. Her area of Friday before the lunch. Subsequent interest is on Australian War cancellations will attract a fee of $22. Literature and its influence in The caterers must be notified of the shaping our national identity. number attending by then and that number must be paid for. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSERTION INTO AFGHANISTAN

Southern Afghanistan is an extremely dry, hot On Monday, 7 February, 2011, and desolate place during the summer months LTCOL David Edmonds addressed where temperatures have, and do, reach into the the RUSI-SA luncheon to describe high forties and fifties. Large areas of desert, or 'Dasht', and rugged yet beautiful mountain his operational deployment to ranges are punctuated by irrigated green river Afghanistan as Staff Officer Grade valleys which support the main centres of rural One, Science and Technology and village populations, rich in culture and traditions. Apart from the odd vehicle and road, Insertion. life in the countryside has not changed very much for hundreds of years.

The country‐side, and increasingly, the towns and cities, are also the focus for Taliban insurgency driven violence and Coalition counter‐ insurgency military operations. In simple terms, this counter insurgency conflict is characterised by Coalition forces under NATO leadership (ISAF ‐ International Security Assistance Force) focussing on rebuilding Afghanistan's leadership, society and economy after decades of warfare and life under the previous Taliban regime. This rebuilding is balanced with necessary military activities to counter a Taliban-led insurgency hell‐ bent on violent destabilisation and a return to a fundamentalist and insular Muslim society.

Australia's role as an ISAF Coalition partner is to Between May and September 2010 I had the assist with mentoring and training part of opportunity to represent the DSTO (Defence Afghanistan's national security forces (ANSF) so Science and Technology Organisation) on an that they can become more self sufficient in operational deployment with the Army to providing a safe and secure Afghanistan. While Afghanistan. Based at Kandahar Airfield (KAF), Australian defence members can be found all I kept a frenetic pace with barely time to breathe, over Afghanistan, we are centred mainly in but enjoyed my role immensely. I found it Uruzgan Province and its river valleys, providing professionally rewarding and felt that I delivered protection for the local populations and working great outcomes for DSTO and the Australian with the ANSF and other ISAF coalition partners. Defence Force, albeit in a challenging environment. My main responsibilities involved working with Australian task groups to identify capability needs Life on operations was exciting to say the least. and other opportunities for technological KAF, accommodating some 33,000 coalition enhancements to the way that business is done. troops and support personnel, was constantly It was then my responsibility to identify and drive abuzz with all sorts of military aircraft and existing initiatives in DSTO to help address these vehicles, with a strong local insurgency keeping needs. I also worked closely with representatives everyone alert. The whole country in general of our major coalition partners' scientific and was, and is, an extraordinarily dangerous place technological teams in Afghanistan to share new with coalition combat fatalities and serious knowledge, initiatives and expertise. This was injuries tragically being almost a daily done to inform Australian forces and DSTO of occurrence. At KAF we had had more than our leading edge developments and new equipment fair share of indirect fire (IDF) attacks, however implementations. systems in place give ample warning to incoming IDFs making them only slightly more than a (Continued on the next page:) nuisance.

(Continued from previous page) AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY HISTORY Part of my role saw me take possession of new equipment from either DSTO or coalition partners, or conducting our own evaluations or demonstrations in‐theatre. Some of these initiatives required me to manage the participation of DSTO scientists and other technological experts who deployed to Afghanistan to conduct specialised investigations, testing and trials. My role involved working with some very impressive and technically advanced equipment involving new and enhanced weaponry systems, radio/digital communications, ISR platforms (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), CIED (Counter Improvised Explosive Devices) and other force protection measures. It is this aspect of my role which I found to be most interesting and rewarding. Coming from an Armoured Corps and technology project management background I have always found it rewarding to work with impressive kit, but I am always cognisant of the seriousness of my role with DSTO and Australia's need to remain technologically ahead of an adaptive and capable insurgent who uses rat‐cunning to bring the fight to us every day. The December 2010 issue of “Australian While I was there I had the opportunity Railway History” Volume 61 No. 878 work with some fantastic people and to travel to other parts of the country to contains a special 33 page article on work with Australian task groups and Australia’s contribution to the railway coalition partners. My work took me up systems operating in Europe during WWI. to Uruzgan Province (Tarin Kot) several times and across to Helmand Province Australia provided six railway operating to work with the US Marines (1MEF) and companies for service in France and British S&T teams, as well as out to a Belgium during the Great War. number of Australian and Coalition Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Kandahar and Zabul Provinces. The whole experience was truly eye opening and life changing. I was certainly glad The article is very detailed and is well illustrated with that I paid attention during the many photographs, maps and diagrams. It covers the training courses that I have been on over the years, and will always look back on companies involved, types of engines used, a history this experience as one of the pinnacles of activities and incidents and the personnel involved. of my military career. There is no substitute to live operations to place all Copies of this sophisticated publication, a Bulletin of training and previous experience into a the Australian Railway Historical Society, are available real context, and to focus one’s attention to anybody. The cost, including postage, is $11-00 and onto the things that really matter. It has also reaffirmed my belief that life in the can be made by Cheque or Money Order to ARHS military offers a fulfilling and exciting full- and sent to 67 Renwick Street, Redfern NSW 2016. time or part-time career where an individual is able to make a real difference. RESERVE FORCES RSL

The main event in South Australia this year for If you have been Reserve Forces Day, which recognises and disappointed by not celebrates the service to our Nation of Australia’s winning an RSL bear Reservists since Federation, will be held in Mount during one of our recent Gambier on Saturday, 2 July 2011, commencing raffles, they are available with a March through the streets of Mount for sale in the RUSI-SA Gambier at 11 am and culminating with a Parade office at a cost of $65 at Cave Gardens. each.

The March and Parade, A n u m b e r o f k i n d r e d which will comprise past and organisations from Adelaide current Reservists, Cadets, will take the opportunity of members of the Royal South visiting Mount Gambier on Australia Regiment that weekend and will Association and the Returned participate in these Reserve & Services League from Forces Day activities. Mount Gambier and surrounding districts, will be In Adelaide, in conjunction reviewed by His Excellency with Reserve Forces Day, the Governor of South the July monthly luncheon Australia, Rear Admiral Kevin of the RUSI-SA will be held These bears are sold on behalf Scarce AC, CSC, RANR, on Sunday, 3 July (in lieu of of the RSL as a fundraiser and who will take the salute and the normal Monday are available in Army, Navy and give a short Address. luncheon) in support of Air Force uniforms as well as and recognising Reserve the nurse shown below. Immediately after the Parade Forces Day 2011. a commemorative service Please see Elaine in the office and wreath laying ceremony It is anticipated that members should you wish to purchase will be conducted in Cave of South Australian Unit and one. Gardens. Corps Associations will join RUSI members at this In the evening a Reunion luncheon at Building 34A, Dinner will be held at Keswick Barracks at the Cassadio Park at 6.30 pm for usual time of 12 noon on 7.30 pm for past Reservists Sunday, 3 July 2011. and ex members of 10, 27, 43 and 48 Battalions and Bookings to RUSI-SA Office their families and friends. (08) 8305 6378. Bookings for the Dinner, to cost $30 per head, are to be Captain Barrie Newman made to Ian Summers, PO Chairman Box 3246, Mount Gambier Reserve Forces Day Council – 5290, Telephone 8723 1714 SA by 17 June 2011. Anzac biscuits in attractive tins are also available for sale in the office WWII DIARY LIBRARY

“Crumps and Camouflets” by Damien Finlayson

Below the shattered ground that separated the British and German infantry on the Western Front during WWI, an unseen and largely unknown war was raging, fought by miners, ‘tunnelers’ as they were known. They knew that, at any moment, their lives could be extinguished without warning by hundreds of tonnes of collapsed earth and debris. “Thirty Three Thousand” by FLTLT William Henry Thompson Crumps and Camouflets DFC is the reproduction of a diary tells the story of the by Chris Thompson’s father. It tunnelers who fought a covers a journey undertaken at daily duel with the the end of WWII with Lord enemy over the wire Alanbrook, then Chief of the and the enemy within - Imperial General Staff, and his the gnawing, entourage, on a tour of Army paralysing fear of a bases under his command in the sudden and violent Middle and Far East. death. RUSI OF NSW JOURNAL Copies of the Diary are available at a cost of $25.00 each. Please The NSW Branch of the RUSI contact Chris Thompson on publishes quarterly a 0407781960. comprehensive and highly respected journal, “United Service” which is available to WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AFGHANISTAN? read on the web.

It is aimed at a diverse readership drawn from the Australian Defence Afghanistan is a war-ravaged country that faces Force, the federal and state police immense development challenges. While the and customs services, the challenges are huge, progress is being made. intelligence community, the public Australia is helping. service, academia, defence science, defence industry (including logistics and transport), the merchant marine Fact Sheet 6, published by the Department of Defence, and the wider Australian community. describes comprehensively Australia’s contribution to the Given this breadth, United Service war in Afghanistan and the progress that is being made. avoids the use of abbreviations, acronyms and jargon wherever The Fact Sheet can be found at practicable. http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/articles/1017/files/ Please go to www.rusinsw.org.au/ 6_Progress%20in%20Afghanistan%20since and select “Journal” to access the %202001%20Fact%20Sheet%206.pdf journal. Operation PACIFIC ASSIST

A Japanese Ground Self Defence Force vehicle in Okinawa is loaded onto a RAAF C-17 Globemaster III for transportation to the mainland as part of the disaster relief effort.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is working around the clock to help ferry personnel and supplies from Okinawa to the Japanese disaster zone as part of Operation PACIFIC ASSIST – the ADF component of the Australian Government’s response to the earthquake and tsunami relief effort in Japan. Two RAAF air crews from Amberley’s 36 Squadron are working in alternate shifts to fly their C-17 Globemaster III to in Okinawa, pick up members of the 15th Brigade of the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF), their vehicles and equipment, and fly them to the Japanese mainland to assist the disaster relief effort. The RAAF has also provided an eight-person Mobile Air Load Team (MALT) that specialises in preparing and arranging difficult or unfamiliar loads inside the C-17’s cavernous interior. Image by Corporal Raymond Vance. Exercise TRITON STORM 2 Two Royal Australian Navy ships and submarines and Royal New Zealand Navy ships with over 1300 sailors and officers are participating in a comprehensive maritime training exercise called Exercise TRITON STORM 2 off the coast of Western Australia. The six Frigates, one replenishment ship and three submarines participating in the exercise will conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations including live firings, seamanship evolutions, boarding training as well as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine training for the next five weeks. During the exercise, HMA Ships PERTH, TOOWOOMBA, BALLARAT, PARRAMATTA and SIRIUS and HMNZ Ships TE MANA and TE KAHA will also operate with Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft including Hawks, F/A 18s, AP-3C and P3K Orions and Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft during maritime warfare serials. Collins Class Submarines HMAS WALLER, FARNCOMB and DECHAINEUX will also progress submarine warfare proficiency whilst testing the The above two images are taken from the Australian and New Zealand surface fleet in anti- Australian Defence Image Library, to be submarine warfare. Collectively all units will be tested on their preparedness for various warfare found at serials whilst operating within the strict http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/ environmental and safety guidelines used within Navy.