The Australian Defense Force has deployed a number of units from the Australian 
Army, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy as part of the buildup 
of coalition forces in the region.




Royal Australian Air Force

Deployed to: Persian Gulf region

Units: A squadron of 14 F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft deployed on February 8, 
2003, from RAAF base in Tindal, Northern Territory while three C-130 Hercules 
transports left from RAAF base in Richmond, New South Wales, on February 7. 
On April 17, Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said most of Australia's 
forces, including about 250 airmen and women and support crews deployed with 
the Hornet squadron, would return home in May. 

An Air Forward Command Element responsible for coordinating air operations with 
coalition partners and providing national control of RAAF assets also has deployed. 
A small air force reconnaissance team was already in the Middle East to prepare 
for the F/A-18 deployments. 

Duties: The F/A-18 Hornet fighter is designed for both air-to-air and air-to ground 
missions, including air combat, close air support of ground troops and interdiction 
of enemy supply lines, including maritime environments. The RAAF's Hornets are 
based at Williamtown, New South Wales, and Tindal, Northern Territory. 




Australian Army 

The Australian Army has deployed a Special Forces Task Group to the Persian 
Gulf region, which includes soldiers from the units listed below.
 

Australian Special Operations Forces

In December 2002, Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced the formation 
of a new Special Operations Command that has equivalent status to the Australian 
Defense Force's Maritime, Land and Air Commands. The command will provide a 
joint headquarters for Australia's various special operations units, including the 
Special Air Services Regiment, 4th Commando Battalion of the Royal Australian 
Regiment (Commando), Tactical Assault Groups (West) and (East), 1st Commando 
Regiment and the Incident Response Regiment.




Special Air Service Regiment

Based in Perth, the Special Air Service Regiment provides a long-range small group 
reconnaissance and surveillance capability. SAS elements can also conduct limited 
direct action offensive operations. The unit is based on the British Special Air Service 
unit and shares the same unit motto, "Who Dares Wins."



Incident Response Regiment

Australia's Incident Response Regiment was created to respond to chemical, biological, 
radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents domestically and overseas with Australian 
forces. 

The IRR includes intelligence, signals, medical, nursing, ordnance, transport, electrical 
and mechanical engineers, scientists and catering officers. IRR personnel are trained to 
perform searches with detection equipment and dogs, disarm and dispose of a device, 
decontaminate and treat victims and the exposed area and analyze any hazardous 
materials found. 

Australia developed significant chemical, biological and radiological capabilities as part 
of its preparation for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and improved them after the 
September 11 terrorist attacks. The IRR is designed as a defensive unit and has no 
offensive capability.



Commandos

Based at Holsworthy, Sydney, the 4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment 
(Commando) offers military commanders large-group strike, offensive and 
counterterrorism capabilities. Commandos are trained to operate ground and maritime 
environments. In the photo at left, a 4th Battalion soldier is pictured on a night patrol in 
mid-March 2003 training for possible action in Iraq.



Tactical Assault Group

The Tactical Assault Group is divided into two units, East and West. Members of the 
4th Battalion (Commando) make up the East unit and the West unit is made up of 
Special Air Service soldiers. Each unit is trained in counter-terrorism tactics, 
service-assisted or protected evacuation, entry from the air and sea, maritime point 
of entry, and combat search and rescue. Operations that TAG is trained for include 
recapturing structures, freeing hostages and supporting high-risk search teams.



16th Air Defense Regiment 

Home base: Woodside barracks, South Australia
Deployed to: Persian Gulf region
Units: An undisclosed number of gunners have been deployed from the regiment, 
which is the Australian Army's only ground-based air defense unit.

 

5th Aviation Regiment 

Home base: RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland
Units: CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters and personnel from 5th Aviation Regiment 
deployed from Townsville on February 11.
 



Australian Army

Deployed to: Persian Gulf region

Units: An advance party for the Special Forces Task Group, including a Special Air 
Service squadron, left Perth, Australia, on January 24, 2003. CH-47 transport 
helicopters and personnel from 5th Aviation Regiment deployed from Townsville on 
February 11. On April 17, Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said most of 
Australia's forces, including the Special Air Service squadron and some of the 
Combat Service Support Group that provides logistic support for the Special Forces 
Task Group, would return home in May. 

Other Special Forces support elements deployed on February 14, including troops 
from the newly established Incident Response Regiment (IRR) based at Holsworthy, 
New South Wales, and a quick reaction support force drawn from the Holsworthy, 
Sydney-based 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) unit. 

Duties: The Special Air Service squadron is capable of providing long-range, 
small-group reconnaissance capability, and can also conduct limited direct-action 
offensive operations. 

The IRR is a specialized unit for response to chemical, biological, radiological, 
nuclear or explosive incidents. It includes intelligence, signals, medical, nursing, 
ordnance, transport, electrical and mechanical engineers, scientists and catering 
officers. It has no offensive capability. 

The 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) is trained to operate in 
air, ground and maritime environments, and also has counterterrorism training.




Royal Australian Navy 
 
  

HMAS Kanimbla 

Date deployed: January 23, 2003
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Sydney, Australia
Type of vessel: Amphibious transport ship converted from ex-U.S. Navy tank 
landing ship.
Crew: 180
Aircraft: Capable of carrying up to four Sea Hawk/Black Hawk-size helicopters 
or three of the larger Sea King helicopters. Ship's hangar also can handle a 
Chinook helicopter.
Armament: One 20mm Phalanx rapid-fire close-range weapons system, .50 
caliber machine guns and SRBOC anti-missile chaff and decoy system
Maximum speed: 20 knots
Power plant: Six diesel engines
Length: 525 feet
Embarked forces: A Sea King helicopter, Army landing craft, an Army air defense 
detachment and a specialist explosives ordnance team.

 

HMAS Darwin 

Date deployed: October 28, 2002
Destination: Persian Gulf
Type of vessel: Adelaide-class guided-missile frigate
Home port: Perth, Australia
Total personnel: 186
Aircraft: Up to two Sea Hawk helicopters
Armament: One 76mm rapid-fire gun, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Standard 
surface-to-air missiles, one 20 mm Phalanx rapid-fire close-range weapons 
system, and two triple-mounted anti-submarine torpedo tubes for Mk 32 torpedoes.
Maximum speed: More than 30 knots
Power Plant: Two gas turbine engines
Length: 455 feet
 



Royal Australian Navy

Date deployed: October 28, 2002
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Sydney, Australia
Type of vessel: Anzac-class guided-missile frigate
Crew: 173
Power plant: One gas turbine and two diesel turbines
Aircraft: Capable of carrying a single Sea Hawk helicopter
Armament: One 5-inch Mk 45 rapid-fire gun, Sea Sparrow anti-air missiles, 
two Mk 32 triple-mounted anti-submarine torpedo tubes, and four 50-caliber 
machine guns.
Maximum speed: More than 28 knots
Power plant: One gas turbine and two diesel turbines
Length: 389 feet
Launched: May 18, 1996

Deployed to: Persian Gulf

Units: Sea transport ship HMAS Kanimbla left Sydney on January 23, 2003, 
carrying about 350 sailors and soldiers, a Sea King helicopter, Army landing craft, 
an Army air defense detachment and a specialist explosives ordnance team. A 
Navy clearance diver team capable of locating, rendering safe and disposing of 
mines left Sydney on February 14. On April 17, Australian Defense Minister Robert 
Hill said most of Australia's forces, including about 600 personnel on the HMAS 
Anzac and HMAS Darwin and the Navy diver team, would return home in May. 

Duties: The Kanimbla joined frigates HMAS Anzac and Darwin in the Persian 
Gulf, where they are deployed as part of the multinational force enforcing the 
U.N. sanctions against Iraq. 









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