2RAR land ashore for amphibious assault

Townsville soldiers will invade a North Queensland beach as part of Australia’s largest bilateral military training exercise with the US.

An amphibious landing for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 at Langham Beach in Stanage Bay, Queensland.

TOWNSVILLE soldiers will invade a North Queensland beach as part of Australia’s largest bilateral military training exercise with the US.

Exercise Talisman Sabre involves more than 34,000 defence force personnel from six nations.

Personnel from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and British Royal Marine Commandos will land on King’s Beach in Bowen as part of the amphibious assault, at the same time as US Marines and Japanese forces.

Australian Army Private Thomas Braybon, who serves with 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, patrols in formation near Stanage Bay, Queensland, Australia, July 17, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Whitney C. Houston)

Soldiers will be brought ashore by the HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide.

A Department of Defence spokeswoman said 2RAR’s primary role included beach reconnaissance to ensure the landing forces were not impacted by the enemy, and to identify enemy locations.

“On top of the pre-landing force tasks, 2RAR has also formed an additional light Infantry Battalion Group consisting of 2RAR soldiers, US Marines and Royal Marines,” she said.

“This organisation is highly mobile and responsive and can be rapidly inserted anywhere in the battle field using a range of different insertion platforms.

“This ability provides the higher headquarters command with greater flexibility, as the Battalion can rapidly deploy to conduct a range of tasks from humanitarian assistance through to complex warfighting.”

An example of the amphibious assault craft that will land on the beach at Bowen on Monday.

The spokeswoman said more than 350 members from Townsville’s 3rd Brigade including a large contingent from the 3rd Combat Signals Regiment were supporting the exercise.

“The Combat Training Centre have provided a number of members as Observer Trainers, who play a key role in assessing and reporting on all troops within Exercise Talisman Sabre,” she said.

“And providing a unique opposing force to the exercise through its Contemporary Operating Environment Force (COEFOR) which is highly skilled at providing hybrid warfare focused opposing forces for large scale activities.”

The exercise which ends on Wednesday, is designed to test combat readiness and interoperability between the Australian and US militaries.

Originally published as 2RAR land ashore for amphibious assault