Australian Special Forces Task Group - Afghanistan

[Kruglerek]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050829adf8205214_0066_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050829adf8205214_0066.jpg)

Range practice at a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan.



http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050829adf8205214_0247_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050829adf8205214_0247.jpg)

Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) members board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130 Hercules for movement to another location within Afghanistan.


http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050901adf8205214_0208_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050901adf8205214_0208.jpg)

Air Load Team members of the Australian Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) unload equipment off a United States Air Force (USAF) C-17 Globemaster at a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan.


http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050902adf8205214_0042_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050902adf8205214_0042.jpg)

Australian Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) vehicles in Afghanistan.

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050903adf8205214_0033_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050903adf8205214_0033.jpg)

An Australian soldier firing his M203 40mm grenade launcher at a heavy weapons range in Afghanistan.


http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050906adf8205214_0029_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050906adf8205214_0029.jpg)

Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) members on patrol near a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan.


http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050906adf8205214_0095_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050906adf8205214_0095.jpg)

Dusk finds Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) members on patrol near a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan.


http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050907adf8205214_0082_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050907adf8205214_0082.jpg)

Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) members firing their vehicle mounted heavy weapons at night on a range at a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan.


http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050913adf8237482_116_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050913adf8237482_116.jpg)

Under an Afghan moon an Australian soldier conducts a night patrol.


more at: http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923.cfm

[moonmonkey]

Great pics their mate

[bigjeff]

Very well done. :D

[Michael RVR]

Good find :)

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050906adf8205214_0095_lo.jpg
Don't think i've noticed the smoke grenade launchers on the front of the LRPV's before

(though i may be blind). :D

[striker]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050902adf8205214_0042_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050902adf8205214_0042.jpg)

Australian Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) vehicles in Afghanistan.



What's with the sixwheeled quad (or however you wanna call that now).
Anyone got any shareable info, who makes that?
TIA
striker

[djon]

Very well done. :D
x 2 woot

[davis411]

good pics :D

[Scout Ranger]

awesome pics!

[Beer Monster]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050902adf8205214_0042_lo.jpg
high res (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050902adf8205214_0042.jpg)

Australian Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) vehicles in Afghanistan.



What's with the sixwheeled quad (or however you wanna call that now).
Anyone got any shareable info, who makes that?
TIA
striker

Think they are made by Polaris (http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/ATV/2006Models/Sportsman/Sportsman6x6/).

[theg]

good pics :D
x2 ;)

[sjsoon]

does Australian Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) in Afghan is also known as the Aust SASR? or in that group it includes engineers, commandos etc? or purely SASR.

[ranger75bn]

good pics :D
x2 ;)

x3 ;)

[MARINO]

Nice find dude excellent pics.

[grabie_bis]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050903adf8205214_0033_lo.jpg

"An Australian soldier firing his M203 40mm grenade launcher at a heavy weapons range in Afghanistan."

I thought entire A-stan was a hvy wpns range... rofl

[He219]

<img src=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/sep/20050923/20050906adf8205214_0095_lo.jpg>
<img src=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/sep/20050923/20050917adf8237482_060_lo.jpg>
Great pix, Kruglerek!
woot


<img src=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/sep/20050923/20050901adf8205214_0166_th.jpg>
Love the dirt runway and C-17 pic too, btw. LBC all the way ...
;)

[TuNeRsHaRk]

AWSOME pics!!!!!!!

[madmike]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050916adf8237482_106_lo.jpg

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050916adf8237482_148_lo.jpg

Any info about these armoured cars? And who are driving them - SASR troopers or 4RAR commandos?

[catalyst]

it comprises SASR, 4RAR, engineers and others.....

[mack pl]

@madmike

try google ADI Bushmaster ;)

[sickofpretenders]

Bushmasters.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-equip/bushmaster.htm

[tenda]

really nice pic's..... :P :P

[Fulix]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050829adf8205214_0247_lo.jpg

Some of them seem to be RAR Commandos, right? I say that `cuse i have not seen any SASR troop wearing this kind of helmet... but dunno.

Great pic`s, thanks for sharing!

Aussie are the best!

Cheers.

[He219]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050916adf8237482_106_th.jpg

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050916adf8237482_148_th.jpg

Any info about these armoured cars? And who are driving them - SASR troopers or 4RAR commandos?

They are Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV). Do a quick search on theADF (http://www.defence.gov.au) site:

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/apr/20050415a/20050330adf8243116_020_th.jpg (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/apr/20050415a/20050330adf8243116_020_lo.jpg)
Source (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/apr/20050415a.cfm)

The Bushmaster offers commanders a means of accomplishing transportation tasks that involve moving troops, stores and equipment while providing the crew a significantly upgraded level of protection compared to the standard vehicles that make up much of the Australian Army's transport fleet.


Some of them seem to be RAR Commandos, right? I say that `cuse i have not seen any SASR troop wearing this kind of helmet... but dunno.

Great pic`s, thanks for sharing!

Aussie are the best!

Cheers.
From ADF:

The Task Group will be deployed for up to one year as part of Australia's increased commitment to the fight against terrorism. Senator Hill said the Task Group will be made up of 190 personnel comprising elements of the SAS Regiment, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commandos), Incident Response Regiment and logistics support.

Source (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/aug/20050824.cfm)

[username]

does Australian Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) in Afghan is also known as the Aust SASR? or in that group it includes engineers, commandos etc? or purely SASR.

My guess is SASR + support crews.

[sickofpretenders]

hey spock, perhaps before guessing you could read what is written directly above your post.


The Task Group will be deployed for up to one year as part of Australia's increased commitment to the fight against terrorism. Senator Hill said the Task Group will be made up of 190 personnel comprising elements of the SAS Regiment, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commandos), Incident Response Regiment and logistics support.

[bigjeff]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050829adf8205214_0247_lo.jpg

Some of them seem to be RAR Commandos, right? I say that `cuse i have not seen any SASR troop wearing this kind of helmet... but dunno.

Great pic`s, thanks for sharing!

Aussie are the best!

Cheers.

feel the same buddy. i guess the ones who put on caps are SASR.

[username]

hey spock, perhaps before guessing you could read what is written directly above your post.


The Task Group will be deployed for up to one year as part of Australia's increased commitment to the fight against terrorism. Senator Hill said the Task Group will be made up of 190 personnel comprising elements of the SAS Regiment, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commandos), Incident Response Regiment and logistics support.

Suggestion noted!

[DarkCypher]

Awesome pictures. woot

What does piss me off is there are tons of pics of Aussie SF, but **** all of our own. :(

[Corinthian]

Media Shy Aussies

their Goverment milks their SF for PR

ours doesn't admit we ave em.

Nice Photos ,Very Arty
SAS,Commandoes and Other Corps

[CQB_Operator]

Nice pics thanks for sharing :P

[madmike]

From ADF:

The Task Group will be deployed for up to one year as part of Australia's increased commitment to the fight against terrorism. Senator Hill said the Task Group will be made up of 190 personnel comprising elements of the SAS Regiment, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commandos), Incident Response Regiment and logistics support.

Thanx He219. I do know which units take part in the Aussies SFTG Afhanistan. But last time we saw new pictures of Australian SF was during OIF - Operation Bastille and Falconer; and there were no armoured cars. There were no Aussies commandos in Afganistan before - last time the only Australian SF unit taking part in the OEF was SASR.
So i wonder what was changed in their procedures and tactics, and what is the reason to use Bushmaster IMV?

[mack pl]

and what is the reason to use Bushmaster IMV?

Americans use armoured versions of HMMWV, so maybe Aussies also need some armoured vehicles for patrols.

[madmike]

Americans use armoured versions of HMMWV, so maybe Aussies also need some armoured vehicles for patrols. Of course they do. But most of US SOF like Green Berets and SEALs use SOCOM version of Hummvee, which is almost unarmoured. LR used by Aussies - 4x4 by commandos and 6x6 by SASR are unarmoured too.

[mack pl]

Americans use armoured versions of HMMWV, so maybe Aussies also need some armoured vehicles for patrols. Of course they do. But most of US SOF like Green Berets and SEALs use SOCOM version of Hummvee, which is almost unarmoured. LR used by Aussies - 4x4 by commandos and 6x6 by SASR are unarmoured too.

yeah, but sometimes you need some armoured vehicles...even Police SWAT units use them sometimes....anyway, our Aussie friends know better than us what is the reason to use them, I also wait for the answer.. ;)

pozdro

[sickofpretenders]

Mike I will attempt to answer your question but as I am not in contact with the guys this is pure speculation.

I would say almost certainly the descision is not that of the guys using them. The bushmasters are new and somewhat controversial and may be there as a kind of trial or validation. They may be being utilised as a QRF vehicle or it may be a requirement to use armour since Australias only fatality in war since 9/11 was casued by a mine. The government while supportive of the war on terror is very concearned about people at home hearing about casualties. It is also possible there is a shortage of lrpv's and the bushmaster was viewed as a better replacement than than standard rovers.

As to why Australia is sending SASR back to afghanistan and this time with 4CDO and irr? well i could only guess at the governments reasons. I hope that they finally started to listen to people who said 'if you dont send the boys back to war they will all discharge and go as contractors'

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

Awesome pictures. woot

What does piss me off is there are tons of pics of Aussie SF, but f*** all of our own. :(

Oh, there are plenty of photos of ours, its just that most if not all are never going to be published in open sources. The culture of OPSEC in that unit has to be seen to be believed.

And rightly so in my opinion.

[FREEDOM]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/Sep/20050923/20050829adf8205214_0247_lo.jpg

Some of them seem to be RAR Commandos, right? I say that `cuse i have not seen any SASR troop wearing this kind of helmet... but dunno.

Great pic`s, thanks for sharing!

Aussie are the best!

Cheers.

feel the same buddy. i guess the ones who put on caps are SASR.

I agree. woot

[sickofpretenders]

i guess the ones who put on caps are SASR.

You can analyse a photo too much. Not everything is done for some high speed SF reason. Most likely guys not wearing a helmet are doing so as they prefer to keep it in a bag or hold it unless they have to wear it. A lot of guys would rather wear it than carry it around. It does not denote a soldiers unit.

[Silverado]

Media Shy Aussies

their Goverment milks their SF for PR

ours doesn't admit we ave em.



Must make explaining what happened in Basra recently rather difficult then. I guess we'll just have to wait for the book and no doubt in due course perhaps even a TV movie, all the while the MoD will be insisting that we just imagined it all. ;)

[larryzou]

vary nice pic , i liked .

[Nrom]

Cool pictures! But that camo... never mind...

Btw. is that a modificated landrover?

[Chops]

Adding to Sickofpretenders input;

4RAR are acting as QRF for the regiment guys- much the same template as Falconer.

Bushmasters- I also have no first hand knowledge of the decision however I suspect a mix of the validation reasoning and as a (at least lightly) armoured QRF or patrols vehicle both in response to actual operational requirements and as a PR exercise in view of the mine cas suffered by SASR in 02 <cynical..>. 4RAR normally uses what used to be called an RSV- regional surveillance vehicle- which was a modified 4wd Landie also used by the regiment mobility guys.

There's a 4th Battalion guy around here sometimes- BiZ- who should know more.

@Nrom- yes modified Landie 6 wheeler called an LRPV (long range patrol vehicle) designed and used by SASR.

cheers

C

[Chops]

Media Shy Aussies

their Goverment milks their SF for PR

ours doesn't admit we ave em.

Nice Photos ,Very Arty
SAS,Commandoes and Other Corps

Corinthian,

You claim you are in the UK with some alleged knowledge of UK SF (the Barras painting in the Sergeant's Mess at Hereford for example?) however using a few new tools here and elsewhere I've just traced both of the IP addresses you've ever used here to Australia. Specifically one IP in or around Burpengary in Queensland and the other somewhere between South Yarra and Prahran in Melbourne. Thought if anything they would've pinged for Swanbourne and Holsworthy?

What gives?

C