The Royal Australian Artillery LIAISON LETTER Autumn Edition 2012 The Official Journal of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery Incorporating the Australian Gunner Magazine First Published in 1948 Contents Editors Comment 1 Letters to the Editor 3 Regimental 7 Operations 33 Professional Papers 39 Around the Regiment 55 RAA Personnel 63 Capability & Training 83 LIAISON Take Post 93 Heritage 99 LETTER Associations & Organisations 103 Next Edition Contribution Deadline Contributions for the Liaison Letter 2012 – Spring Autumn Edition Edition should be forwarded to the editor by no later 2012 than Friday 24th August 2012. LiaisonLetterinColourOn-line The Liaison Letter is in colour on the Regimental defence Incorporating the restricted network web-site found at: Australian Gunner Magazine http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/RRAA/. Content managers are requested to add this site to their links. Publication Information Front Cover: Centre Main: Captain Bryce Duffy in Afghanistan. Clockwise Starting Top Left: 1 - Caskets of Captain Bryce Duffy, Corporal Ashley Birt and Lance Corporal Luke Gavin inside a RAAF C-17 at Al Minhad Air Base, UAE; 2 - Casket of Captain Bryce Duffy in Morris Hall at the Anglican Church Grammar School, Brisbane; 3 - Lieutenant Colonel Charles Weller CSC, salutes Captain Bryce Duffy's casket after laying a wreath; 4 - Chief of Army Lieutenant General David Morrison, AO places the medals on Captain Bryce Duffy's casket at RAAF Base Amberley; 5 – Captain Duffy’s casket escorted through a guard of honour formed by students from the Anglican Church Grammar School; 6 - Catafalque Party rests on arms during the Memorial Service at Multi National Base Tarin Kot, Afghanistan; and 7 - Captain Bryce Duffy's pallbearers place his casket on a gun carriage at the conclusion of his funeral service. Front Cover Designed by: Major D.T. (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer to Head of Regiment Compiled and Edited by: Major D.T. (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer to Head of Regiment Published by: Lieutenant Colonel M.R.C. (Mitch) Kennedy, Deputy Head of Regiment Desktop Publishing by: Michelle Ray, Combined Arms Doctrine and Development Section, Puckapunyal, Victoria 3662 Printed by: Defence Publishing Service – Victoria Distribution: For issues relating to content or distribution contact the Editor on email [email protected] or [email protected] Contributors are urged to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in their articles; the Royal Australian Artillery, Deputy Head of Regiment and the RAA Liaison Letter editor accept no responsibility for errors of fact. The views expressed in the Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter are the contributors and not necessarily those of the Royal Australian Artillery, Australian Army or Department of Defence. The Commonwealth of Australia will not be legally responsible in contract, tort or otherwise for any statement made in this publication. RAA Liaison Letter 2012 - Autumn Edition RAA Liaison Letter 2012 - Autumn Edition Colonel Commandant Royal Canadian Artillery Dear Tim Thank you very much for your letter of best wishes concerning the 140th Anniversary of the formation of A and B Batteries. I have passed this on to our new Colonel Commandant, Senior Serving Gunner, Director of Artillery and Regimental Colonel. They in turn will pass it on to the RCA Family. Thanks very much for your kind wishes. I have recently (1 October 2011) handed over Colonel Commandant to Lieutenant General (Retired) Mike Jeffery, CMM, CD. Thanks for keeping in touch throughout my tenure. For info, I have recorded many of my activities on our website at: http://www.artillery.net/beta/benoeb/ Good Shooting! UBIQUE! Ernest B. Beno, OMM, CD Brigadier-General, Retired RAA Liaison Letter 2012 - Autumn Edition Army hopes to be out of Afghanistan by next year Ian McPhedran THE BULK OF AUSTRALIAN FORCES ARE According to American reports, Mr Panetta said LIKELY TO BE HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN that the mid-2013 time frame was an "orderly BY THE END OF 2013, AFTER THE US step" in a long-planned withdrawal process. YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED ITS REMAINING COMBAT FORCES WOULD START LEAVING He said no decision had been taken regarding the IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. number of American troops to be withdrawn in 2013. The US has about 90,000 troops in Defence Minister Stephen Smith and senior Afghanistan, and 22,000 of them deployed generals have been hinting at a late 2013 during the "surge" are due to leave this year. withdrawal date for some weeks, but US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta made it official. Mr Panetta did not provide details of the new role for US troops as they moved away from "It doesn't mean that we're not going to be combat. In Iraq, the Americans withdrew to combat-ready; we will be, because we always large bases and left most of the fighting to local have to be in order to defend ourselves," Mr troops before departing altogether. Panetta said. Once the Americans leave, Australian forces in Oruzgan province would be exposed without the crucial air and fire support provided by US Herald Sun, February 03, 2012 helicopters, jets and artillery. France has already announced it will bring its troops home by 2013 and other NATO nations in the International Security Assistance Force are expected to follow suit after a NATO meeting in Brussels this week. Mr Smith arrived in Brussels yesterday for the meeting on Afghanistan, where the timetable for withdrawal was high on the agenda. "Australia continues to believe that we are on track in Oruzgan province to transfer responsibility for security to the Afghan National Security Forces by 2014, perhaps earlier," he said before he left. Late last year the Commander of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Ash Power, said he expected an 18-month time line for transition to Afghan army control in Oruzgan from early this year. "My assessment is that some time early next year Oruzgan may well be announced as being very close, if not ready, for transition. "That will then take six to 18 months for transition," Lt-Gen Power said. RAA Liaison Letter 2012 - Autumn Edition 1st Ground Liaison Group has a proud history that Editors Comment extends back to both theatres of the Second World War and has included all subsequent military operations to the current day. The role of the Unit has been an Welcome to the latest enduring feature of Army capability since World War edition of the Liaison Two in providing close inter-service cooperation for the Letter. Despite it being delivery of air support to Army. Although rarely early in the year I have understood or visible within wider Army circles … received a range of interesting submissions The statement above describes the situation . which is most maybe those involved just simply did not know the appreciated. 'Digitisation' historical significance of the 1st Ground Liaison is on the lips of everyone. Group. I have received significant In the last edition I included a section entitled 'Five feedback on the last edition including the paper on minutes with Commander Joint Operations'. I have AFATDS by Captain James Casey. This paper has received very positive feedback therefore I decided generated letters to the editor along with to make it a permanent feature. In this edition contributing to the catalyst for the professional Brigadier Greg Bilton, recently appointed paper by Major Mike Hartas on the ballistic kernel Commander 7th Brigade, has agreed to answer my in this edition. There is also a report on the last questions. Given his busy schedule I appreciate him Regimental Conference whose theme was doing so at relatively short notice. 'Digitisation'. In this edition Brigadier Greg … marks the death of Captain Bilton, recently appointed Bryce Duffy from 4th Regiment, Commander 7th Brigade, has RAA who was killed in action on agreed to answer my questions. operations in Afghanistan … In addition to the traditional personnel lists, there On a very sad and sombre note this edition also are a diverse range of articles and papers covering marks the death of Captain Bryce Duffy from 4th everything from operations to heritage. I would Regiment,RAAwhowaskilledinactionon draw you attention to the article written by operations in Afghanistan late last year. Christopher Jobson, our regular Liaison Letter There is an article recording the formation of 16th contributor on Customs and Traditions, which Air Land Regiment through the amalgamation of proposes the awarding of the Victoria Cross for 16th Air Defence Regiment and 1st Ground Liaison Australia to the Australian Unknown Soldier. Chris Group, along with a copy of the speech delivered by submitted the same proposal to the panel Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, reviewing the possible retrospective awarding of at the parade to mark the raising of the new the Victoria Cross for Australia to individuals from Regiment. past conflicts. I believe this approach is a much As a former member of the 1st Ground Liaison more sensible and fair solution. Group my only comment is I am disappointed with Over the years many regular readers of the the loss of the history and heritage of this very old 'Autumn' edition have looked forward to reviewing unit by Australian Regular Army standards given it the personnel lists that are published annually. An was raised during World War Two. I am prepared to interesting aspect of this was the grouping of the be corrected but if I understand the allocated officers into their cohorts. Last year for the first designators and descriptors for the new Regiment time this did not happen due to a computer data correctly the only heritage aspect of 1st Ground base issue encountered at DOCM-A. I assured Liaison Group that has been retained by the new readers that I would address the problem this year unit is the designator '1st' for the new battery - 1st unfortunately I will not be able to deliver on my Air Ground Operations Battery.