Picture Gallery

FTS Picture Gallery

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2nd Cavalry Regiment Task Force (Advisory Task Force-2)

1 Field Squadron personnel deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment Task Force from May-Dec 2013. This rotation was the final Australian deployment to Uruzgan Province during Operation SLIPPER, the Australian contribution to the International Campaign Against Terrorism.

SPR Brendan Anthony, 6 Section, 2 Troop on patrol in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan in 2013

5 Section, 2 Troop board a US CH-47 Chinook after a task in Afghanistan in 2013.

5 Section, 2 Troop and an EDD Team from 23 Support Squadron board a US CH-47 Chinook after a task in Afghanistan in 2013.

SPR Reece Kennedy, 5 Section, 2 Troop on patrol in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan in 2013.

6 Section, 2 Troop and SPR Rob Muraru with EDD Shuba from 23 Support Squadron during a Ground Defence Area Patrol in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan in 2013.

6 Section, 2 Troop conducting Route Search in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan in 2013.

4 Section, 2 Troop and SPR Rob Muraru with EDD Shuba from 23 Support Squadron supporting a reconstruction site visit in Afghanistan, 2013.

SPR Damien Gower, 5 Section, 2 Troop exploiting a detection in Uruzgan Province in 2013.

5 Section, 2 Troop on patrol in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan in 2013.

PMV from 5 Section, 2 Troop during a 107mm Rocket point of origin exploitation in Afghanistan, 2013.

5 Section, 2 Troop and LT Matthew Scott (2 TP COMD) during a 107mm Rocket point of origin exploitation in Afghanistan, 2013.

6 Section, 2 Troop on patrol in Uruzgan Province in 2013.

SPR Cassidy Burger and SPR Lindsey Albion during a search task in Uruzgan Province, 2013.

4 Section, 2 Troop conduct search within Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan in 2013.

A member of 6 Section, 2 Troop during a search task in Uruzgan Province, 2013.

The majority of deployed Sappers were drawn from 2 Troop and operated in support of B Company, 7 RAR. Other Squadron members were tasked with advising the Afghan National Army through the Brigade Advisory Team. The majority of Engineer tasks focused on High Risk Search to counter the ongoing Improvised Explosive Device threat. Sappers supported security patrolling, enabled reconstruction site visits, protected Key Leadership Engagement meetings, and contributed to the Quick Reaction Force. The majority of tasks were conducted mounted in Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, however a number of Airmobile operations were also conducted.

The 2013 rotation was a fitting close to the chapter opened when the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment first deployed to Uruzgan Province leading the 1st Reconstruction Task Force.

Task Group Taji -3

1 CER (primarily 1 Fd Sqn with support from 23 Spt Sqn) contributed a number of trainers to Task Group Taji III (TGT-3) as part of the ADF’s mission to support Iraq in its battle against ISIS. The members of 1 CER were integrated into several training teams built from core of 7 RAR, and were designed to instruct Iraqi soldiers on all-corps soldier skills, from marksmanship, to first aid, to convoy movement, to Counter-IED activities.

CAPT Josh Watson from 1 Fd Sqn instructs basic marksmanship principles to an Iraqi Army soldier on Range 4 at Taji Military Complex.

CPL Lindsay Albion from 1 Fd Sqn instructing members of the Iraqi Army’s Bridging Battalion in weapons handling.

Members from 1 CER deployed with Task Group Taji III pose for a photo marking the 101st Anniversary of the Waterloo Dinner.

Members of Task Group Taji III, supported by sappers from 1 FD Sqn, prepare to conduct a live-fire range for the Iraqi Army at Camp Taji Range 7.

CPL Lindsay Albion observes his Iraqi Rangers during a marksmanship range at Camp Taji, Iraq.

CAPT Josh Watson conducts a brief for members of an Iraqi Army Air Defence Battalion at Camp Taji, Iraq.

CPL Jack Dugan (centre) poses with his Iraqi Army trainees at the Urban Training Area on Camp Taji, Iraq.

TGT-3 arrived in Iraq in early May 2016, just as the Iraqi offensive against ISIS began in Ramadi and Fallujah. The Task Group immediately found itself playing a pivotal role in preparing the Iraqi Army to successfully defeat its adversary. TGT-3 trained a variety of Iraqi elements, such as Combat Brigades who had been withdrawn after many weeks of prolonged fighting, to newly-formed Special Forces units preparing to deploy for the first time. TGT-3’s rotation also coincided with the Iraqi advance to Mosul, and the beginning of the prolonged battle for that city. That the operation was eventually successful is due – in part – to the hard work of the Task Group’s trainers over the course of the six-month deployment (although we did learn afterwards that some of our trainers were killed liberating the city from ISIS).

TGT-3 returned from Iraq in December of 2016, having trained as many as three times as many Iraqi soldiers than either of the earlier rotations. And, after enduring 50+ degree heat on many days in the Iraqi Summer, returning to the build-up in Darwin felt absolutely amazing.

INTERFET

Members of 1 Field Squadron deployed as part of the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment contribution to INTERFET and UNTAET in East Timor from Oct 99 - May 00. This rotation was the first major deployment of an Engineer element since the Vietnam War and was a multinational non-United Nations peacemaking task-force organised and led by Australia to address the humanitarian and security crisis that took place in East Timor.

SGT Adam Moss navigating his Land Rover 110 during a monsoonal down pour.

Members of 2 Tp taking a break during the repair of road due to a wash out.

SPR Lee Doyle prepping charges to dispose of grenades after a search.

SPR Daniel Wilshaw (L) and SSGT Greg Fish contemplating what to do next.

The majority of deployed Sappers were drawn from 2 Troop, 1 Field Squadron and from Resource Section, 23 Support Squadron. Engineers operated in support of 5/7 RAR and conducted the majority of tasks mounted in M113A1 APCs, Land Rovers, and Mack Truck Variants. Specific tasks included road and drainage repair (mainly from our Armoured vehicles and heavy B vehicles), water purification (due to the lack of potable water in East Timor and in support of the whole of INTERFET), EOD (dealing with random and old munitions found during searches or by local personnel), search (predominately at the border with our EDD/H in support), horizontal construction (due to poor infrastructure which required repair or rebuilding), and security patrolling.

Derek Smith Collection

Here is a selection of images from our FTS Editor. Let each image tell its own story. Click on each image to see the descriptions below the enlarged view.

1 FD SQN convoy at gates to Horseshoe 1969

A very bogged 40 ton low loader at Phu My 1969. This vehicle would transport our heavy plant (D8 dozers) to wherever they were needed. It is a 1 FD SQN vehicle.

A centurion tank pulling the low loader out of the bog 1969.

CPL Bill Maher (dec 2020) who was the transport CPL in 1 FD SQN in 1969. He was a member of HQ Troop of which I was TP SGT.

At the scene of a mine incident. An M16 mine that had been lifted from the Barrier Minefield and placed on the track near the minefield has detonated when a D6 bull dozer ran over it. Dat Do 1969.

An Iroquois helicopter participating in practice of medical evacuation (Dustoff). This happened on the SQN helipad.

Sappers of 1 FD SQN GP repairing perimeter wire at Nui Dat 1971.

A patrol group from 21 EST led by SGT Smith 1969.

Sapper Blue Lynn of HQ TP 1 FD SQN GP, a driver. Taken at Xuyen Moc Night Defensive Position 1969.

Sapper Dennis Stallard of 21 EST with local kids at Dat Do 1969.

This is my tent at Nui Dat in 1969. The cat belongs to the SGT cook, SGT Heinze Zinke.

This pic shows a very low flying helicopter. We are on an APC convoy. Year is 1969 but can’t recall just where. Somewhere in Phuoc Tuy Province

This is a school class room near Hoa Long. A VC tunnel was discovered just outside the class room.

Members of 1 FD SQN GP practicing medical evacuation. Rowes Lagoon in background – 1971.

Sector HQ Duc Than 1969. This place would have been manned by Regional Forces (Vietnamese) and US and/or Australian advisers.

This is the 1971 HQ Group with me as Troop SGT on the left. John Pritchard who was Admin Officer LT is squatting.

This picture shows ‘safe passes’ that were distributed about the country, mainly tossed from helicopters. The intention was for Viet Cong to present one to our side – surrender if you will – and come over to the South Vietnam side. It was meant to assure the holder of safe passage. Not sure that always worked.