Go Army.-

Army and Air Force members load the Eurocopter Tiger helicopter into the back of the C-17 Globemaster at RAAF Base Darwin. The Tiger's will be airlifted to the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, central Queensland to be involved in Exercise Predator's Strike and Exercise HAMEL.

A C-17 Globemaster on the military hard stand awaits departure after being loaded with two A38 Eurocopter Tiger helicopters which will be airlifted to the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, central Queensland, to be involved in Exercise Predator's Strike and Exercise HAMEL.

1st Brigade group photo during Exercise Predator’s Strike. Exercise PREDATOR’S STRIKE, held from the 11th to the 19th of June 2012 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, is the final brigade level exercise for the Darwin based 1st Brigade, prior to Exercise Hamel 12. The exercise provided an opportunity for 1st Brigade Battlegroups to focus on Combat Team level combined arms integration around a series of demanding force on force and live fire activities, testing all aspects of fighting against a near peer enemy in a complex environment. The exercise marked the first night operations conducted by the new Army Reconnaissance Helicopter or ARH Tiger. 1st Brigade will changeover to Exercise Hamel 12 where they will achieve certification to Army Training Level/S 7, ready to commence operations.

Hundreds of vehicles and hardware from Darwin's 1st Brigade move into position for a Brigade photograph during Exercise Predator's Strike. On Monday 18th June 2012 the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade had a rare opportunity to demonstrate the Brigade’s capabilities to the Brigades soldiers deployed on Exercise PREDATOR’S STRIKE at the Brigade Firepower display. 5th Battalion (Mechanised) the Royal Australian Regiment, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 1st Armoured Regiment displayed capabilities from a 7.72 and 50 Cal bolt action sniper rifle, through to the MAG-58 Machine Gun, Javelin man portable anti tank missile, up to the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV-25) and the M1AI Abrams tank.

L-R Signalman (SIG) Alexis Donoso and SIG James Harmer work on the Compact Transmit Receiver Suite at Brigade Support Group at Williamson Airfield, during Exercise Predator's Strike.

An Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tiger prepares to land at Williamson Airfield after conducting flying operations at Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Predator's Strike.

1st Aviation Regiment from 16th Aviation Brigade deployed on Exercise PREDATOR’S STRIKE to Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland in support of 1st Brigade ground elements. Comprising of 161 Recon Squadron, 5 Aviation Regiment’s elements of B Squadron, and Logistics Support Squadron; the Regiment formed as Task Group GRIFFIN deployed with eight Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH Tiger) and two attached S70 BLACK HAWK to provide air movement, reconnaissance, escort, and fire power effects in a combined arms environment . In the lead up to Exercise HAMEL, the combined training in both day and night conditions was invaluable in providing the experience necessary for the Regiment to operate in conjunction with other air assets and ground manoeuvre elements.

Transport driver and Combat First Aider Private Mason Wright from 1st Aviation Regiment stands ready as emergency response at Williamson Airfield, while providing support during Exercise Predator's Strike.

Number Two- Bravo a 155mm Howitzer from the 8th/12th Medium Regiment fire for effect during Exercise Predator’s Strike. Darwin and Adelaide based 102nd and 103rd Batteries from 8th/12th Medium Regiment participated in combined arms team training activities. The activities on the exercise involved the utilisation of Joint Fires Teams that were on the ground to determine targets for the artillery guns to fire upon. The 8th/12th MED REGT elements have performed approximately 15 fire missions per day as part of the Combined Arms Training on the 1st Brigade exercise and have utilised these practices to prepare for the upcoming Exercise HAMEL 12 which will see these fire missions put to the test in a simulated operation designed to certify 1st Brigade’s.

Soldiers from the Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP) prepare to refuel an Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tiger before conducting flying operations at Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Predator's Strike.

1st Armoured Regiment conduct an orders brief with a mud model for the approaching combined arms training activity at Exercise Predator's Strike.

Operations Warrant Officer 1st Brigade, Warrant Officer Carl Boeck, observes the Shoalwater Bay Training Area from a A25 Blackhawk.

Private Marissa Veitch checks off the serial numbers from the F88 AUSTEYR Rifle as Private Michael Miller makes a physical verification during a muster of 5th Aviation Regiment's Armoury during Exercise Predator’s Strike.

Craftsman Connal Maskell from Technical Support Troop for 161 Reconnaissance Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment checks the tail section of an Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tiger while conducting maintenance at Williamson Airfield during Exercise Predator's Strike. 1st Aviation Regiment from 16th Aviation Brigade deployed on Exercise PREDATOR’S STRIKE to Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland in support of 1st Brigade ground elements.

Craftsman Kurt James, 1st Aviation Regiment from 16th Aviation Brigade removes the 30mm cannon from the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tiger during maintenance on Exercise Predator’s Strike.

 

Bombardier Geoff Clark a Section Commander from 8th /12th Medium Regiment supervisors a firing as a part of a combined arms team during Exercise Predator’s Strike.

Artillery soldiers fire a continuous barrage of rounds from an M777 Howitzer during Exercise Predator's Strike.

Lieutenant James Flawith from 1st Aviation Regiment, Darwin is the youngest pilot on exercise at 25, conducting flying operations at Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Predator's Strike.

Lance Corporal Ardee Del Moro from 1 Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Darwin cooks a batch of beef curry for 100 personnel at the tactical field kitchen at Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Predator's Strike. 1st Catering Company, part of 1st Combat Service Support Battalion have deployed their tactical field kitchen capability into the field for the first time as part of Exercise PREDATOR’S STRIKE. Formed in October 2011 as a way of consolidating the previously separated catering capabilities, 1st Catering Company form a deployable kitchen that has the ability to feed a larger scale force hot meals in the field. 1st Catering Company currently provides up to 7500 meals daily for Exercise PREDATOR’S STRIKE; however this will increase to approximately 12,000 as the 1st Brigade transitions into Exercise HAMEL 12.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) from 7th Battalion (Mechanised), Royal Australian Regiment, moves forward during an attack lane practice as part of Exercise Predator’s Strike.

7th Battalion (Mechanised), Royal Australian Regiment, Regiment Technical Adjutant Captain Darrin Tyson conducts a debrief to the safety team in preparation of a night attack lane practice for Exercise Predator’s Strike.

Lance Corporal Nick Boye from the 1st Armoured Regiment, Darwin scans the horizon from his M1A1 Abrams tank during Exercise Predator's Strike.

A Solider from the 7th Battalion (Mechanised), Royal Australian Regiment, reads his book during his dinner break on Exercise Predator’s Strike.

Corporal Ryan Avery from the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment controls the dart mechanism for a Combined Arms Team training activity during Exercise Predator's Strike.

Private Blake Lister from 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, loads blank ammunition after a day of training at Shoalwater Bay during Exercise Predator's Strike.

L-R Corporal Mark Shaw and Craftsman Kyle Stephenson conduct fault diagnosis of the roof mounted sight on the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tiger during Exercise Predator’s Strike.

*** PHOTOS By David Cotton, Andrew Dakin and Lee-Anne Mack.