The 3rd Battalion carry out vicious assault at Line Creek Junction as Ex. Talisman Sabre winds down
Explosions, tech and tactical grit brought Line Creek Junction to life as soldiers put themselves to the ultimate test against a stubborn enemy. See how new tech helped decide the fight.
Townsville
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While Exercise Talisman Sabre may be drawing to a close, things at Line Creek Junction were just heating up this week as soldiers took on a determined enemy using some of the Australian Army’s most cutting-edge battlefield technology.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, explosions rocked the Townsville Field Training Area as the sun crept up.
It was mate versus mate as Battle Group Kapyong launched a surprise assault on an enemy force — both units played by soldiers from 3RAR.
Soon, soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Dan Ellis were advancing through the simulated town, clearing the pub, bakery, and corner stores that make up the mock village of Line Creek Junction.
Within hours, the defending force was either captured or counted as (simulated) casualties, bringing the exercise to a dramatic conclusion.
A total of 600 soldiers took part in their last action of the Exercise Talisman Sabre, Lt Col Ellis said.
“This was probably the toughest part of it where we finished on a high.”
Lt Col Ellis was deeply involved in the assault, especially after his vehicle lost a wheel en route to the objective. Rather than stand down, he continued on foot to lead from the front.
“You don’t ask your people to do anything you’re not willing to do,” Lt Col said.
“The best way I can get situational awareness is by being here with the call signs that are fighting.”
The final scenario featured simulated casualty events, co-ordinated armoured assaults, and the debut of several experimental technologies including unmanned and remotely operated vehicles.
“We’ve had remote-controlled armoured vehicles, we’ve had unmanned ground vehicles with miniguns and we’ve had first person view drones operating as well,” Lt Col Ellis said.
The 1st Armoured Regiment, which has recently transitioned into a combat experimentation unit, is spearheading the Army’s push into emerging tech.
Major Tom Fisher, Officer Commanding B Squadron, said partnering with ‘Old Faithful’ — 3RAR — offered valuable insights into how the new capabilities perform in combat-like conditions.
“Its really exciting,” he said.
“Obviously the capability is quite early on so there are some limitations on what it can do but looking to the future, having that kind of capability that can still bring a heavy amount of firepower to bear without putting soldiers in harm’s way, is really promising.”
Among the standout technologies was the Modular Robotic Vehicle (MRV) — an uncrewed platform capable of both manoeuvring and engaging targets without an on-board driver or gunner.
The MRV is based on the M113 armoured personnel carrier, upgraded with robotic systems that allow remote operation from a separate “mothership” vehicle 200 to 300 metres away.
Lance Corporal Declan Bowditch from the 1st Armoured Regiment said to fire and drive the vehicle they use something akin to an xbox controller.
As Talisman Sabre winds down, the message from the front lines is clear: Australia’s soldiers aren’t just training for today’s fight, they’re preparing for the battlefield of tomorrow.
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Originally published as The 3rd Battalion carry out vicious assault at Line Creek Junction as Ex. Talisman Sabre winds down
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