Edition 1285, July 05, 2012 - Department of Defence

4 PREDATOR’S STRIKE
SPECIAL LIFTOUT
Aim and
fire: 8/12
Regt section
commander
Bdr Geoff
Clark, top,
supervises a
firing as a part
of a combined
arms team.
Photo by
AB Lee-Anne Mack
Capt Kris Gardiner
NO MATTER how far apart they were,
very combat team in 1 Bde knew the
ocations and circumstances of all othrs
during Exercise Predator’s Strike at
hoalwater Bay.
Soldiers were kept up to speed
ith real-time feedback from the batlespace
thanks to 1CSR’s support
ith the battle management system
BMS) – a data radio network with
n automated command and control,
ollaborative planning and situational
wareness tool, capable of providing
real-time battlefield information to all
users.
From battle group down to platoon
level, the BMS enabled immediate
feedback on courses of action,
so manoeuvre units could maintain
tempo.
CO 1CSR Lt-Col Gregory Novak
said the BMS was extended to 1 Bde
thanks to groundwork by 7 Bde’s dismounted
units and Bushmasters during
xercise Talisman Sabre last year.
Bring out
the big guns
Armed with new guns and a high-tech fire control system, the
gunners of 8/12 Regt RAA have been lighting up Shoalwater Bay,
Flg-Off Michael Moroney reports.
For Exercise Predator’s Strike,
APCs, Abrams tanks and ASLAVs
were equipped with the BMS.
“By mounting BMS into this range
of the brigade vehicles we are giving
the commanders the opportunity to
remain in their A-vehicle at the battle
group or combat team and still access
the services of the system, resulting
in an increase in situational awareness
and tempo for the brigade,” Lt-Col
Novak said.
A focus for the regiment was to
initiate junior soldiers to deploying in
support of a brigade in the field and
re-acquaint senior soldiers who may
not have deployed with such a large
formation for some years.
“We began training six months ago
up from the detachments, through to
squadron and regimental levels, focusing
on foundation war-fighting skills,
field communications and information
systems and field command service
support for the deployed brigade headquarters,”
Lt-Col Novak said.
THE HE gunners of 8/12 Regt
RAA have shown off their
new toys, the M777-A2,
with explosive results dur-
ing Exercise Exercis Predator’s Strike at
Shoalwater BBay.
The unit’s long-range firepower and
forward observation obse capabilities were
highly valued during the exercise, with
the guns softening softe up target areas with
bombardments bombardmen before the infantry and
armoured veh vehicles rolled in.
The Joint Fires Team (JFT) is one
of the key elements of the capability,
deploying in support of combat teams
on the ground.
Lt Nicolas Barletta, of 103 Bty,
said the JFT was responsible for calling
in fire, both from artillery and
other offensive support assets, in support
of combat teams.
Before the M777-A2, 8/12 Regt
used the M198, which relied on a manual
and verbal system for relaying mission
data to the guns.
The new artillery operates on a
Army July 5, 2012
fully digital system, which is a significant
step forward for coordinating fire
support.
“With this new system there’s no
requirement for voice anymore, which
speeds up missions and ultimately
speeds up the response for the troops
on the ground,” Lt Barletta said.
The unit has been operating in the
Shoalwater Bay Training Area since
April, honing gunners’ abilities to perform
in the combined arms setting for
Exercise Hamel.
Ready, set,
go: Gunners
from 8/12
Regt fire a
continuous
barrage of
rounds from
an M777-A2
Howitzer.
Photos by
LS Andrew Dakin
eeping a watchful eye on our battlefields
We can see you: Sig Alexis Donoso and Sig James Harmer work on the compact transmit receiver suite at
Williamson Airfield. Photo by AB Lee-Anne Mack