Latest Australian Defence Force Pics 05/08/07

[AussieNick]

UH-1H Iriquois from 5th Avaition Regiment flying in formation

A digger from 1 RAR leopard crawls forwards with an F89 Minimi during an attack

The honour guard in front of the Cenotaph in Hobart to mark the commemoration of the Battle of Britain.

Army Courage Award, Australian Football League (AFL).
The winner of the inaugural AFL/Army Award was announced at a gala event in Melbourne.
Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, speaks about Army values to the audience on the awards night.

Governor Monib and Lieutenant Colonel Harry Jarvie unveil a plaque to signify the opening of the new Tarin Kowt Hospital built in Afghanistan by Australian Army Engineers

A leopard tank hits a river crossing at speed

Not an Aussie Ship but still relevent. This is the arrival of a Chinese Luhu Class Destroyer (DDG112) to Sydney Harbour, and what appears to be two pantomime Lama's taunting the crew.

A convoy from OBG-W moves through Iraq. Visible in the photo, from front to rear are a Bushmaster IMV, an ASLAV-PC, another Bushmaster IMV, a Unimog SEK, and 2 ASLAV-25

 

[AussieNick]

6th Battallion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) soldiers dismount from their Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle during their initial mission specific training for deployment to Iraq with Overwatch Battle Group (West)-4.

Cavalry from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) conduct simulation training at Shoalwater Bay. It was their first mission specific training in preparation for deployment to Iraq with Overwatch Battle Group (West)-4.

Members of Alpha Company 6th Battallion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), return from training in a command variant Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle.

Private Ed Babington, 6th Battallion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) conducts clearance drills for the section Bushmater during initial mission specific training for deployment to Iraq

Private Lucas Wooley, Alpha Company, 6th Battallion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) practises break contact drills with vehicles

Australian Light Armoured Vehicle Crew Commander Lance Corporal Christopher Diamond takes a break

Cavalry and infantry cordon off a stricken Australian Light Armoured Vehicle during an exercise improvised explosive device attack at Shoalwater Bay Training Area

 

[AussieNick]

Flanked by SAS soldiers, The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, and Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, made a brief visit to Kabul and Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan as part of a tour of the Middle East.

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18s conduct air-to-air refuelling with a RAAF Boeing 707 from No. 33 Squadron over Sydney Harbour

The weather turned sour and the sky full of colour as the AP-3Cs from No.11 Squadron prepared for their flights

An F-111 drops 2 500lb bombs over Puckapunyal range

The view from an Australian gun pit as an Illum round goes off in support of a fire fight in afghanistan

 

[AussieNick]

An Australian patrol moves through the Afghan hills

Looking north from the defensive position, nothing can compare to the towering mountains that descend to the 'green zone', a lush strip of dense vegetation feeding off the Tiri Rud.

Soldiers make way for cows

An Aussie digger fires an Afghan National Army RPG.

Brits and Aussies play rugby in Southern Afghanistan

Australian soldiers march to Menin gate in Belgium

Soldiers from the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment take post as a ceremonial guard at the Menin Gate

Major Graeme Henley looks upon a fellow Tasmanian, Sergeant L. McGee VC, one of the many fallen soldiers buried at Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium. It is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world and serves as a reminder of the battle of Passchendaele.

 

[phoenix80]

Thanks for the impressive photos!

 

[MontyB]

An excellent collection of pictures.

 

[AussieNick]

Sgt Matthew Locke MG of the SAS who was killed in action in Afghanistan yesterday. Sgt Locke MG was decorated with the medal of gallantry for actions on a previous deployment to Afghanistan in 2005.

Rest in peace mate. Don't worry about your family, they're part of the regiment as much as you are, and they are in good hands.

Troops from Bravo Company prepare to board an Amoured Personnel Carrier in the International Stabilisation Force helicopter compound, Timor Leste, prior to deploying on a task.

Members of the Royal Australian Navy Australian Clearance Diving Team Four and Solomon Island Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, with HMAS Brunei in the background.

The HMAS Cerberus Guard in formation for Ceremonial Sunset during Open Day at HMAS Cerberus.

Trooper Robert Cooper and Captain John Van Hattem of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 enjoy a cold drink during a long and hot patrol in southern Iraq.

HMS RICHMOND reunites with HMAS ANZAC near the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal in the Northern Persian Gulf.

Sniper Troy Arthur-Miller of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, as part of the 2nd Reconstruction Task Force, scans the surrounding area for threats as a local man watches on during a patrol in Afghanistan.

 

[AussieNick]

Members of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment's mortar platoon prepare ammunition for firing during a patrol in Afghanistan

A group of Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMVs) halt whilst out on patrol in Afghanistan as seen from the rear gunner's position.

Members of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment's mortar platoon wait by their mortar as a massive dust cloud engulfs their Bushmaster vehicle in the background (bloody lazy mortar platoon - bludging as usual)

Private Mathew O'Hehir greets some local Timorese children during a routine patrol around Dili.

Rear Admiral Nigel Coates (right) presents the 2007 Admiral Lord Nelson Sword of Excellence to Commander David McDonald

The casket containing the body of Trooper David Pearce (killed in Afghanistan 17 days ago by an IED whilst driving an ASLAV) is carried into the Cathedral of St Stephen by the Bearer Party.

A ceremonial sunset and cocktail party was conducted on the flight deck of HMAS Perth whilst alongside in Shanghai.

 

[AussieNick]

Members of Mortar Platoon 2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment, as part of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force, stand next to their mortar tubes ready to fire during a patrol in Afghanistan.

A soldier from the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force covers the lower ground of an Afghan National Police checkpoint during a meeting between members of the Australian, Dutch, United States and Afghan forces.

Specialist Richard Reed of the 1st/263rd ARVN Armoured Battalion compares rations with Corporal Hagar Quirke of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment during a joint United States, Dutch and Australian patrol in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan.

A returning ASLAV drives past a mortar section from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment in the early hours of the morning whilst out on a patrol in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan.

The coffin of SAS Sgt Matthew Locke MG is loaded for home in Afghanistan

A rifleman from Battle Group Timor Leste 3 moves forward along a drain during a routine patrol around Dili.

 

[AussieNick]

Members of the Special Air Service Regiment carry the casket of their colleague Sergeant Matthew Locke to his family for a short ceremony, after his arrival under escort from Afghanistan.

Private Cameron Gulliford from Alpha Company, Battle Group Samichon, moves forward during a relatively safe patrol in the streets of Baucau.

Australian members of Battle Group Samichon repell from a Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois helicopter in Dili.

A combined Australian and Japanese Orion patrol

An Australian sniper on the roof of a bushmaster IMV watching events unfold at Al Rumaid

A bushmaster gunner on the road to Al Rumaid

A combined Royal Australian Navy and Australian Customs boarding party prepares to go aboard in Tokyo Bay, Japan.

A Royal New Zealand Airforce UH-1 gives cover overhead while a Australian Army Blackhawk takes off during an aero-medical evacuation in Timor

 

[AussieNick]

Sgt Michael Lyddiard, an EOD expert who was severely wounded in Afghanistan a couple of days ago. He has lost an eye and most of one arm as well as severe shrapnel wounds to the face and body. He was inspecting a roadside bomb in order to decide how best to tackle disarming it when it detonated. A damn shame to lose somebody of this level of knowledge. I'm seeing a nasty trend happening here, we seem to be losing a lot of Sergeants and Warrant Officers.

A member of the caterfalque party at Sgt Matthew Locke MG funeral. Sgt Locke was a member of the Australian SAS.

A Navy Meteorologist... In Pink..... I say again... Navy.... Pink. Enough said.

I hope he cries himself to sleep tonight.

The Governor of Queensland Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC inspects the soldiers of the Battle Group

HMAS Perth arrives at Fleet Base West after a 5 month deployment to North Eastern Asian waters.

 

[Fox]

Pink means someone that are supporting the people who have the cancers. But pink ribbon should be enough, not the whole shirt. I feel bad for you. heh...Anyway, some impressive pictures, you have

 

[AussieNick]

Pink means someone that are supporting the people who have the cancers. But pink ribbon should be enough, not the whole shirt. I feel bad for you. heh...Anyway, some impressive pictures, you have

Oh I know what the pink ribbon means. I'm a big supporter. But the whole shirt, c'mon!

 

[AussieNick]

Sergerant John Smallacombe of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-Three directs Iraqi sioldiers during a building clearance rehearsal.

Australian Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles, a Unites States Army HUMVEE and a Royal Netherlands Army Mercedes jeep park out the front of the newly opened checkpoint at Nyazi during Operation Spin Ghar.

Soldiers of Reconstruction Task Force Three wait to head out on patrol in the early hours of the morning in the 'Green Zone' of the Chora Valley region during Operation Spin Ghar.

Major Paul Foura from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment discusses a patrol route with Captain Mark McCall of the United States Police Mentoring Team and Major Marcel Veeke of the Royal Netherlands Army whilst on a patrol in the 'Green Zone' of Chora Valley during Operation Spin Ghar.

Corporal Graham Ellis and 'Digger' the explosives detection dog from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment pose for a photo at the Kalla Kalla checkpoint construction site in the Chora region of Afghanistan during Operation Spin Ghar.

British and Australian soldiers load into a British CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Chora whilst out on Operation Spin Ghar.

Regimental Sergeant Major of Reconstruction Task Force Three Warrant Officer Class 1 Terry Mckeown props by a collection of firewood whilst out on a local patrol in the Chora Valley, Afghanistan.

 

[AussieNick]

Leading Seaman Stores Naval Jason Quirk farewells his partner Darlene as he departs for the Gulf onboard HMAS Arunta

Commanding Officer of frigate HMAS Arunta Commander Tim Brown, with son Archie saying goodbye as they leave for the Persian Gulf

One of the lads from my Battalion. Lance Corporal David Horbenko, from the 10th/27th Battalion Royal South Australia Regiment, at the Honiara airport on operation Anode

Private Joss Dobrzynski, of Maylands (SA) with the 10th/27th Battalion Royal South Australia Regiment, patrols near a house abandoned during civil unrest near Red Beach on Guadalcanal.

The new M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier on the Puckapunyal driver training area. The AS4 is basically your normal M113 but it has a new motor driven stabilised turret, a quick change barrel .50 cal, spall liners, applique armour, an additional road wheel and extended length, track shrouds, water cooling for troops inside, a newly developed powerplant, new interior fit out and wheel brakes as opposed to just using the skid steer to stop. The new M113AS4 (which stands for Australian model 4) is being put into use with the 5th and 7th battalions of the royal australian regiment. These have essentially revolutionised the M113 for the Australian Army and given these beasts that we've had since Vietnam a new lease on life. To make these fully deployable all that is required is the attachment of bar armour.

The new M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier on the Puckapunyal driver training area.

The new M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier on the Puckapunyal driver training area.

Flying Officer Sarah Clark helps to trim Warrant Officer Air Force Warrant Officer Ray Woolnough's 15-year-old moustache in the name of the charity event, Movember which raises money and awareness of prostate cancer.

 

[AussieNick]

A newly delivered MRH-90 troop lift helicopter that is replacing the Australian fleet of Blackhawks.

The first four MRH90 aircraft were assembled at the Eurocopter facility in Marignane, France. The rest are being built in Brisbane Australia

The MRH-90 will also replace the Navy's fleet of Seahawks.

The MRH-90 is proving to be a far superior platform to the Blackhawks, which barring use by the SAS and Commandos will be retired from service.

Leading Seaman Boatswains Mate Ashley Darvill, 31, of Brisbane makes a report to HMAS Anzac's bridge during a patrol in the Middle East Area of Operations.

S-70 Sea Hawk "Christine" hovers above HMAS Anzac in the Persian Gulf

Driver Private Ben Walters (left) and Crew Commander Lance Corporal Terry Flaherty are among some of the first soldiers from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at Robertson Barracks to be upgrading from the older model (right) to the new M113AS4.

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd meets members of the C-130H detachment on operations in the Middle East

 

[AussieNick]

Private Michael Bottalico maintains a secure watch as troops from the 1st Reconstruction Task Force patrol through Tarin Kowt during a visit to the Tarin Kowt Hospital in southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers from the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment provide a security screen during a visit to a village. The 1st Reconstruction Task Force is visiting the area to conduct repairs and maintenance on one of the many mosques in this part of southern Afghanistan.

An Australian Bushmaster prepares to move out in southern Afghanistan.

A combat medic in Afghanistan while a local watches

Captain Clare O’Neil (left) updates Commander of Task Force Oruzgan, Colonel Theo Vleugels (centre) and 1st Reconstruction Task Force Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mick Ryan (right) on the current situation on reconstruction work at the Tarin Kowt Hospital and Boys' High School.

After a cold night amongst the elements, members of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force prepare for the day's mission with a hot brew a smoko

Sapper Beau Best stands guard as Australian, Dutch and Afghan forces conduct a 'shurah' or meeting with local leaders. The meeting is to discuss the needs of the village and what the Reconstruction Task Force can do to improve their lives.

Soldiers from the 1st Reconstruction Task Force maintain a secure watch as reconstruction work continues at the Tarin Kowt Hospital in southern Afghanistan.

 

[AussieNick]

A rather unhappy looking digger deals with the extreme heat and humidity of Queensland during pre-deployment training for Afghanistan.

Private Andrew Sharples from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, as part of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force, provides a security screen during a patrol to visit the Tarin Kowt boys and girls school in southern Afghanistan

Corporal Adam White from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, patrolling in southern afghanistan.

Australian bushmasters roll through Tarin Kowt

A view of Afghanistan from an Australian CH-47

Soldiers and officers of the 5th/7th battalion RAR unload from a US Chinook at a FOB in Southern Afghanistan

Sappers unload Australian equipment from a US C-17

An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle Crew Commander listens intently for commands as he mans the Mag 58 machine gun as he watches over the safety of his crew in the village of Baluchi, based in Wide Bay Training Area, for Exercise Afghan Dusk as part of some pre-deployment training for Afghanistan. On average an Australian soldier will be on pre-deployment training, exercises and mission rehearsals for as long or longer than they are actually deployed in country.

 

[AussieNick]

1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Lance Corporal Toby Stoll (left) waits for the order to move out during a mission to conduct village assessments and quick impact projects in the Oruzgan Province

Diggers from 7 RAR is Southern Afghanistan during the cooler months

Part of an infantry section patrols through a village in Afghanistan

Lieutenant Levon Lambert (right) from the Darwin-based 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment updates headquarters, as radio operator Private Stuart Steele (left) maintains a secure watch during a patrol to conduct village assessments and quick impact projects in the Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.

An Aussie digger questioning Afghan nationals

Aussie Infantry patrols another Afghan village

Lieutenant Tim Mogridge and his cavalry troops take a few moments of well-earned rest while on patrol in southern Afghanistan.

The sun rises over Afghanistan as the Reconstruction Task Force pushes out on another mission to help rebuild the country.

 

[AussieNick]

On a rainy morning in Afghanistan, the armoured trucks and plant of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force roll out on their first mission "outside the wire".

Prime Minister John Howard shakes a troopers hand during a visit to them in Afghanistan

7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Sergeant McLeay as part of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in southern Afghanistan 2007

Warrant Officer Class 2 Hervey 'Jock' Douglas celebrated 35 years service whilst on deployment in southern Afghanistan. He is pictured with Captain Alastair Harbison from the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, on exchange with the Dutch Air Mobile Brigade.

On the way home, another mission complete as part of 1st Reconstruction Task Force's Cavalry element returns to base

Private Brendan Ashleigh of 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, inspects some of the damage caused to a Russian vehicle after they hit it with a Javelin ATGM for some practice

Members of the newly-reformed 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment proudly fly their "new" flag.

Sappers prepare to destroy a soviet armoured vehicle