North Queensland Warfighter Exercises: Australian Army deploy M1A2 Abrams tank

The Australian Army’s new tank has received a glowing review during their first deployments outside Townsville during North Queensland military exercises.

Australian Army M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks move into position during the North Queensland Warfighter Exercise in Ingham, Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

The Australian Army’s shiny new M1A2 Abrams tank has received glowing reviews during their first deployments outside of the garrison city of Townsville during the North Queensland Warfighter Exercise in Hinchinbrook.

Trooper Harrison Barrett said the recently acquired American-made main battle tanks were a major upgrade to the M1A1 Abrams.

The gunner said the A1s were more “old school” with analogue technology from the 90s.

“Now, with these new ones, there’s more electronics, up-to-date tech inside, just a bit more advanced with the way that we operate now – more lethal on the battlefield, we can do a lot more than we can with the A1s.”

A United States Marine Corps V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft landing at Ingham Aerodrome during the North Queensland Warfighter Exercise in Hinchinbrook, North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) bought a total of 75 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tanks, 46 of which have been delivered to either Townsville or the Army’s School of Armour in Puckapunyal.

The Army considers the tanks more “lethal, survivable, networked and manoeuvrable”, and can be sent into action from medium- and heavy landing craft as well as from a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 transport.

An Australian Army soldier on patrol near Ingham State High School during the North Queensland Warfighter Exercise in Hinchinbrook, North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

The old A1s have been gifted to Ukraine as the country battles invading Russian forces.

There are concerns about the battle effectiveness of the 49 M1A1s, including disquiet about the strength of the armour roof against drone munitions.

Colonel Judd Finger said Military Exercise Sea Raider involving the Australian Amphibious Force was tied with North Queensland Warfighter conducted by the Australian Army together with forces from the United States Marine Corps based in Darwin, Japanese Ground Self Defence Force, Malaysian Army and Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

Australian Army soldiers during the North Queensland Warfighter Exercise in Ingham, Hinchinbrook Shire, North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

An Australian Army soldier from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment conducts reconnaissance during the North Queensland Warfighter Exercise in Ingham, Queensland. Picture: CPL Johnny Huang-ADF

He said around 1500 to 2000 troops was well as military hardware were deployed in and around Ingham, an area that was popular with Australian and foreign service members.

“The locals are fantastic, North Queensland has always had a strong relationship with the Army, in particular the Third Brigade, we’ve been in this location for decades and out of all the places I’ve been to in Australia, North Queenslanders have always been the most welcoming.”

Infantry soldiers are currently on patrol around Ingham’s streets, and have periodically been involved in simulated warfighting roles, including involving explosions in the early hours of the morning.

Photos from Warfighter Exercise in North Queensland

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Col Finger said they tried to keep noise to a minimum to provide as little disruption as possible to the local civilians.

“What the locals will see in the coming days is helicopters … dozens if not hundreds of military vehicles … they’ll see troops from Australia, the US Marine Corps and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force, which will be pretty novel for this area,” he said.

“You’ll see a plethora of army elements over the coming days.”

Originally published as North Queensland Warfighter Exercises: Australian Army deploy M1A2 Abrams tank