The Royal Australian Artillery LIAISON LETTER Spring 2015 The Official Journal of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery Incorporating the Australian Gunner Magazine First Published in 1948 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition CONTENTS Editor’s Comment 1 Letters to the Editor 5 Regimental 9 Professional Papers 21 Around the Regiment 59 RAA Rest 67 Capability 81 LIAISON Personnel & Training 93 Associations & Organisations 95 LETTER Spring Edition NEXT EDITION CONTRIBUTION DEADLINE Contributions for the Liaison Letter 2016 – Autumn 2015 Edition should be forwarded to the Editor by no later than Friday 12th February 2016. LIAISON LETTER ON-LINE Incorporating the The Liaison Letter is on the Regimental DRN web-site – Australian Gunner Magazine http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/RRAA/. Content managers are requested to add this to their links. Publication Information Front Cover: An Australian M777A2 from 8th/12th Regiment, RAA at Bradshaw Field Training Area, Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015. The Talisman Sabre series of exercises is the principle Australian and US military training activity focused on the planning and conduct of mid-intensity ‘High End’ warfighting. Front Cover Theme 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 Dave Edwards, Deputy Head of Regiment Desktop Publishing: Michelle Ray, Army Knowledge Group, Puckapunyal, Victoria 3662 Front Cover & Graphic Design: Felicity Smith, Army Knowledge Group, 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 2015 - Spring Edition 1 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition 2 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition 3 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition 4 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition CDF AUSTRALIA SIGNAL 240351Z APR 15 SUBJ: MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE ADF ON ANZAC DAY 2105 1. THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO THE ADF IS FROM THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, THE HONORABLE TONY ABBOTT, MP. THE SIGNED VERSION IS AVAILABLE AS A PDF VIA THE CDF'S DRN INTRANET SITE (DIRECTIVES AND SPEECHES). 2. TODAY WE MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE LANDING AT GALLIPOLI. IN THE EARLY DAWN OF 25 APRIL 1915, AUSTRALIAN TROOPS CAME ASHORE AT ANZAC COVE. IT WAS A SUNDAY AND, BACK IN AUSTRALIA, PEOPLE ATTENDED CHURCH, CHILDREN PLAYED BACKYARD SPORT AND FAMILIES CAME TOGETHER TO SHARE A MEAL. THAT DAY AND THROUGHOUT THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, OUR FOREBEARS FACED TRIALS SCARCELY IMAGINABLE TO THOSE THEY HAD LEFT BEHIND. 3. ON THE DAY OF THE LANDING, SOME 750 AUSTRALIANS WERE KILLED. MORE THAN 8,700 AUSTRALIANS WOULD LOSE THEIR LIVES BEFORE THE EVACUATION EIGHT MONTHS LATER. MANY OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT AT GALLIPOLI WENT ON TO SERVE ON THE WESTERN FRONT. THERE, LED BY SIR JOHN MONASH, PERHAPS THE FINEST ALLIED GENERAL, AND INSPIRED BY THE ANZAC SPIRIT, OUR SOLDIERS HELPED TO TURN THE TIDE OF THE WAR. IT WAS A WAR IN WHICH OUR NATION'S IDENTITY WAS FORGED - IN THE MAGNIFICENT DEFEAT AT GALLIPOLI, IN THE TERRIBLE VICTORY ON THE WESTERN FRONT AND IN THE SUCCESSFUL ADVANCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 4. WHEREVER THEY FOUGHT, OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN EMBODIED THE COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM, THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE AND THE BONDS OF MATESHIP THAT WE HOLD DEAR TO THIS DAY. THEIR EXAMPLE IS EMULATED BY THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY SINCE AND WHO ARE NOW ON ACTIVE DUTY AROUND THE WORLD. 5. WHENEVER OUR SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE CALLED UPON TO DEFEND OUR VALUES, YOU DO SO WITH DISTINCTION. YOU ARE WORTHY HEIRS TO THE ANZAC LEGACY. 6. TODAY, AS THE LAST POST ECHOES ACROSS MEMORIALS AND PARKS, BEACHES AND MILITARY BASES, WE HONOUR THOSE WHO FOUNDED THE ANZAC LEGEND AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED IN THEIR PATH. 7. LEST WE FORGET.BT 5 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition 6 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition ‘Big Sky Publishing’ Incentive Prizes BIG SKY PUBLISHING provides incentive prizes to encourage individuals to contribute to the Liaison Letter. The prizes are awarded by the Liaison Letter Editor. I am pleased to announce the incentive prizes for this edition are awarded to Captain Richard Lever and Lieutenant Anthony Lewis from 4th Regiment RAA; and Bombardier Alex Carless from 8th/12th Regiment RAA. Captain Richard Lever will receive a copy of ‘Our Friend the Enemy: A detailed account of Anzac from both sides of the wire’ by David W. Cameron for his professional paper on ‘Affirmative Action in Defence’. Lieutenant Anthony Lewis will receive a copy of ‘Fire Support Bases Vietnam: Australian and Allied Fire Support Base Locations and Main Support Units’ by Bruce Picken for his professional paper on ‘Mental and Emotional Resilience Training Re-Examined’. Bombardier Alex Carless receive copies of ‘Sudan 1885’ by Michael Tyquin and ‘Shot Down: A secret diary of one POW's long march to freedom’ by Alex Kerr for his contribution as a result of his visit to Gallipoli this year for the Battle of Lone Pine commemoration entitled ‘My Family in World War One’. Congratulations to everyone. I look forward to receiving even more quality contributions from across the Regiment for the Liaison Letter 2016 – Autumn Edition. I would like to acknowledge and thank Big Sky Publishing for their continuing support of the Liaison Letter and encourage all our readers and especially those interested in Australian military history to visit www.bigskypublishing.com.au or the military section of your local book shop. 7 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition 8 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition 9 RAA Liaison Letter 2015 - Spring Edition Lever's on ‘Affirmative Action in Defence’ and Lieutenant Anthony Lewis's on ‘Mental and Editor's Comment Emotional Resilience Training Re-Examined’.I encourageeveryonetomaketimetoreadallthese Welcome to the Liaison papers. Letter 2015 – Spring Edition. I have been The ‘Around the Regiment Section’ contains a cross extremely impressed by section of articles from all three gun regiments. On the level and quality of a poignant note there is a very well written article submissions. Lieutenant by Captain Matthew Manning from 8th/12th Colonel Dave Edwards in Regiment on the GLTD coordination of a Hellfire his Deputy Head of engagement from ARH. Sadly Captain Manning died Regiment section makes recently and there is a contribution celebrating his reference to the life in the ‘Vale Section’ of the Cannonball Journal. continuing improvement in the content size and The ‘Rest Section’ has an unusually high and diverse quality of the Liaison Letter during his tenure. I number of contributions and topics ranging from wholeheartedly support his comment and would RMC Sandhurst via ceremonial swords to dedicated like to acknowledge his very positive support and contractor support for AFTADS. I congratulate the enthusiasm towards the publication. He has actively members of 105th Battery whose service in taken every opportunity to promote the Liaison 1965-1966 in South Vietnam was recognised by the Letter to anyone who would listen especially as to Republic of Vietnam in 1970 with the award of the the merits for taking the time to contribute. Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation but has only recently been recognised The professional papers section by the Australian honours system. The well written of this edition stands as a final article by Colonel Arthur Burke OAM (Retd) entitled testament to the support provided ‘ALong Time Coming’ explains the background to this by members of his Regiment. well deserved award. Albeit late but a most welcome inclusion is an article by Bombardier Alex He observed to me the other day that he was hoping Carless from 8th/12th Regiment as a consequence to make the last issue under his stewardship a of his visit to Gallipoli for the Battle of Lone Pine ‘massive’edition.WellIthinkyouwillallagreewith commemoration this year. The thrust of his article me after reviewing the content of this edition that focuses on the service of two relatives who served he has achieved his aim. I would also like to in the campaign. particularly acknowledge the support I have received from Lieutenant Colonel Damian Hill, I will leave readers to draw their during his tenure as Commanding Officer of 4th own conclusion and / or express Regiment RAA. The quantity and quality of their opinion. contributions from both himself and members of his Regiment has been of a sustained high level. The The ‘Capability and Training Section’ further extends professional papers section of this edition stands as the range and depth of subject areas addressed by a final testament to the support provided by contributors. I think everyone will find the ‘Soldier members of his Regiment. Combat System’ update by Lieutenant Colonel I strongly commend the efforts of those who have Benjamin McLennan informative, while others will contributed to the ‘Professional Papers Section’.Apart enjoy reading about the ‘simulation’ innovations in from Major Tom Drew's paper entitled ‘Indirect Fires training for local defence in the contribution from and the Reinforced Combat Brigade’ the remaining Captain Pat Benson from 1st Regiment.