British Commonwealth Occupation Force

1945?52

Australia's role in BCOF

The primary objective of BCOF was to enforce the terms of the unconditional surrender that had ended the war the previous September. The task of exercising military government over Japan was the responsibility of the United States forces. BCOF was required to maintain military control and to supervise the demilitarisation and disposal of the remnants of Japan's war-making capacity. To this end, Australian Army and RAAF personnel were involved in locating and securing military stores and installations. The Intelligence Sections of the Australian battalions were given targets to investigate by BCOF Headquarters, in the form of grid references for dumps of Japanese military equipment. Warlike materials were destroyed and other equipment was either retained by BCOF or returned to the Japanese. The destruction or conversion to civilian use of military equipment was carried out by Japanese civilians under Australian supervision. Regular patrols and road reconnaissances were initiated and carried out in the Australian area of responsibility as part of BCOF's general surveillance duties.

BCOF marching to parade ground for ANZAC Day celebrations in Kure, 1946.

The RAN component of BCOF was responsible for patrolling the Inland Sea, to prevent both smuggling and the illegal immigration of Koreans to Japan. It was assisted by the RAAF whose aircraft were also involved in tracking vessels suspected of smuggling or transporting illegal immigrants. RAAF squadrons also flew surveillance patrols over each of the prefectures in the BCOF zone in order to help locate leftover weapons and ordnance.

By the end of 1946 the task of demilitarising Japan required less effort and the role of the occupying forces was changing, with guard duties and training becoming the main focus.

THE AUSTRALIAN MILITARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN, 1945?1952, Dr James Wood

Malayan Emergency

1948-60

Lasting 13 years, the Malayan Emergency was the longest continuous military commitment in Australia's history. Thirty-nine Australian servicemen were killed in Malaya, although only 15 of these deaths occurred as a result of operations, and 27 were wounded, most of whom were in the army.

Australia's involvement in the Emergency began in 1950 with the arrival of RAAF aircraft and personnel in Singapore. Dakotas from 38 Squadron were deployed on cargo runs, troop movements, and paratroop and leaflet drops in Malaya, while six Lincoln bombers of
1 Squadron provided the backbone of aril operations. As the capacity of army and police units operating against the communists improved, however, the need for air power decreased, and by 1952 Lincolns were increasingly used as part of combined air-ground assaults against the communists. One of the major military successes of the conflict was one such coordinated operation in July 1954, east of Ipoh, in Perak state. In Operation Termite, as the exercise was known, five RAAF Lincolns and six from a RAF squadron made simultaneous attacks on two communist camps, followed by paratroop drops, a ground attack, and further bombing runs ten days later. The operation destroyed 181 camps and killed 13 communists; one communist surrendered.

The RAN's contribution was to be two destroyers or frigates, an aircraft carrier on an annual visit and additional ships if an emergency arose. Subsequently, in June 1955 HMA Ships Warramunga and Arunta became the first RAN vessels to join the force. Other ships that served in Malayan waters during the Emergency were HMA Ships Anzac, Melbourne, Quadrant, Queenborough, Quiberon, Quickmatch, Sydney, Tobruk, Vampire, Vendetta and Voyager; some of which took part in shore bombardments against terrorist positions in the Johore State.

The naval contribution would amount to some 1500 personnel annually out of an Australian total of 4736, although the former figure included the 1000 men for the regular visit of the carrier and it's embarked squadrons.

Indonesian Confrontation

3 RAR board a Belvedere helicopter to search for Indonesian infiltrators.

Between 1962 and 1966 Indonesia and Malaysia fought a small, undeclared war which came to involve troops from Australia and Britain. The conflict resulted from a belief by Indonesia's President Sukarno that the creation of the Federation of Malaysia, which became official in September 1963, represented an attempt by Britain to maintain colonial rule behind the cloak of independence granted to its former colonial possessions in south-east Asia.

The term "Confrontation" was coined by Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Dr Subandrio, in January 1963, and it has come to refer to Indonesia's efforts at that time to destabilise the new federation, with a view to breaking it up. The actual war began when Indonesia launched a series of cross-border raids into Malaysian territory in early 1963.

The antagonism that gave rise to Confrontation was already apparent in December 1962, when a small party of armed insurgents, with Indonesian backing, attempted to seize power in the independent enclave of Brunei, only to be defeated by British troops from Singapore. By early 1963 military activity had increased along the Indonesian side of the border in Borneo, as small parties of armed men began infiltrating Malaysian territory on propaganda and sabotage missions. These cross-border raids, carried out by Indonesian "volunteers", continued throughout 1963; by 1964 Indonesian regular army units had also become involved.

Australian units which fought during Confrontation did so as part of a larger British and Commonwealth force under overall British command. Australia's commitment to operations against Indonesia in Borneo and West Malaysia fell within the context of its membership in the Far East Strategic Reserve.

At first the Australian government kept its troops from becoming involved in Confrontation, not least because of fears that the conflict would spread to the long - and difficult to defend - border between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Requests from both the British and Malaysian governments in 1963-64 for the deployment of Australian troops in Borneo met with refusal, though the Australian government did agree that its troops could be used for the defence of the Malay peninsula against external attack. In the event, such attacks occurred twice, in September and October 1964, when Indonesia launched paratroop and amphibious raids against Labis and Pontian, on the south-western side of the peninsula. Members of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) were used in clean-up operations against the invading troops. Although these attacks were easily repelled, they did pose a serious risk of escalating the fighting; the Australian government relented in January 1965 and agreed to the deployment of a battalion in Borneo.

The military situation in Borneo thus far had consisted of company bases located along the border between Indonesia and Malaysia to protect centres of population from enemy incursions. By 1965 the British government had given permission for more aggressive action to be taken, and the security forces now mounted cross-border operations with the purpose of obtaining intelligence and forcing the Indonesians to remain on the defensive on their own side of the border. Uncertain where the Commonwealth forces might strike next, the Indonesians increasingly devoted their resources to protecting their own positions and correspondingly less on offensive operations, although these continued on a much reduced scale.

The first Australian battalion, 3 RAR, arrived in Borneo in March 1965 and served in Sarawak until the end of July. During this time the battalion conducted extensive operations on both sides of the border, were engaged in four major contacts with Indonesian units, and twice suffered casualties from land mines. Its replacement, the 28th Brigade, 4 RAR, also served in Sarawak - from April until August 1966. Although it had a less active tour, the 28th Brigade also operated on the Indonesian side of the border and was involved in clashes with Indonesian regulars. Altogether, two squadrons of the Special Air Service, a troop of the Royal Australian Signals , several artillery batteries and parties of the Royal Australian Engineers were involved in Borneo, in addition to the two infantry battalions. Ships of the Royal Australian Navy served in the surrounding waters and several RAAF squadrons were also involved in Confrontation. Continuing negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia ended the conflict, and the two sides signed a peace treaty in Bangkok in August 1966. Twenty-three Australians were killed during Confrontation, seven of them on operations, and eight were wounded. Because of the sensitivity of the cross-border operations, which remained secret at the time, Confrontation received very little coverage in the Australian press.

First Gulf War

1990?1991

Iraq invaded its rival oil-exporting neighbour Kuwait on 2 August 1990. The invasion was widely condemned, and four days later the United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously approved a trade embargo against Iraq. A blockade of Iraq's access to the sea followed within weeks, as the United States assembled a large multinational task force in the Persian Gulf, while another was formed in Saudi Arabia. By the end of 1990 this force numbered some 40,000 troops from 30 countries, though the United States retained its high profile as the dominant partner in the coalition.

In November 1990 the UN Security Council set 15 January 1991 as the deadline for an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait. On 17 January coalition forces began an air bombardment of Iraq that continued without respite until the war ended 43 days later.

On 24 February 1991, after more than a month of air attacks, the coalition's ground forces moved against Iraqi positions in Kuwait and in Iraq itself. The magnitude and decisiveness of these strikes destroyed what was left of Iraq's capacity to resist. After two days of strikes Baghdad radio announced that Iraq's armed forces had been ordered to withdraw from Kuwait to the positions they had occupied before August 1990. Two days after this order, the coalition ceased hostilities and declared victory. Coalition losses amounted to 166, many by "friendly fire"; at least 100,000 Iraqis had been killed.

Remains of an Iraqi convoy near Kuwait city, Kuwait, during the Persian Gulf War.

Australian forces were deployed in the First Gulf War under the auspices of the UN. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) provided vessels for the multi-national naval force, which formed an interception force in the Persian Gulf to enforce the UN sanctions. The RAN presence included two frigates and the replenishment ship HMAS Success, which, having no air defences of its own, relied on the army's 16th Air Defence Regiment. In January 1991 the replenishment tanker HMAS Westralia left Fremantle, WA, to relieve Success. Four warships, HMAS Sydney (IV), HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Brisbane, and HMAS Darwin also served tours of duty in the Persian Gulf. During the operational phase of their deployment they formed part of the anti-aircraft screen for the carrier battle groups of the US Navy. A RAN clearance diving team was also dispatched for explosive ordnance and demolition tasks.

In addition to naval units, Australian personnel took part on attachment to various British and American ground formations. A small group of RAAF photo-interpreters was based in Saudi Arabia, together with a detachment from the Defence Intelligence Organisation. Four medical teams were also dispatched at the request of the US. Although the ships and their crews were in danger from mines and possible air attack, Australia's war was relatively uneventful and there were no casualties. At the war's end, 75 Australian personnel were sent to northern Iraq to assist the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone, while ships of the RAN remained on station, at US request, to maintain trade sanctions.

Catalyst

2003 - 2009

Support the Australian Government’s contribution to the stabilisation and rehabilitation of Iraq.

Azure

Commenced 2005

Contribute to the United Nations Mission in Sudan. Current 17 ADF personnel act as United Nations Headquarters staff, national support element staff or United Nations military observers.

26 August 2010
RAAF officers contribute to the United Nations Aviation Operations in Sudan

Australians have been contributing to the positive changes in Sudan since 2005. ADF members deployed on Op AZURE played an important part in the lead-up to the historic elections in 2009, and now the focus is on preparing for the referendum on the future of Southern Sudan in early 2011. Members of the ADF have been fortunate to be part of that process.

Hedgerow

Commenced 2008 Current

Contribute to the joint African Union / United Nations hybrid Mission in Darfur, (Sudan).

Two ADF personnel serve as UN Headquarters staff or specialist officers.

Kruger
Commenced 2009 Current

Support Australian Government relations with Iraq through the delivery of tailored security support to the diplomatic mission.

Approximately 80 ADF personnel serve in a security detachment. This function will gradually transition to security services provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Paladin

Commenced 1956 Current

Contribute to the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organisation in the Middle East.11 ADF personnel act as staff officers at the headquarters in Jerusalem or as military observers in the Golan Heights and South Lebanon.

Palate II
Commenced 2005 Current

Provide a Military Liaison Officer to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. One military liaison officer located in the mission headquarters, Kabul.

Mazurka
Commenced 1982 Current

Contribute to the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai.25 ADF personnel serve as specialist staff and military observers.

Riverbank
Commenced 2008 Current

Contribute to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. Two ADF personnel serve as military advisors in the United Nations Headquarters.

Slipper
Commenced 2001 Current

(L-R) Petty Officer Michael Oaklands and Sergeant Bradley Foster in the Mirabad Valley Region

Contribute to the international coalition against international terrorism across the Middle East. The ADF contributes both to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan and broader efforts in the Middle East.

The ADF currently has more than 1,200 personnel deployed including:

An Australian National Headquarters element commanded by a two star officer.
The Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, which mentors an Afghan National Army Infantry Battalion and conducts construction projects to assist the Afghan Government achieve a stable and secure future for its people. The taskforce also runs a Trade Training School that provides instruction in basic trades.
A Special Operations Task Group, which provides enhanced provincial security by disrupting Taliban extremist’s command and control and supply routes.
A Rotary Wing Group that provides helicopter support to the ADF and coalition forces deployed in Southern Afghanistan.
A Force Communications Unit that has staff deployed throughout the Middle East providing specialist communications support to deployed Australian Forces.
A Force Support Unit that is the main logistics supplier for personnel and equipment in the Middle East.
A Major Navy Fleet Unit that undertakes maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Red Sea.
An Air Component Command consisting of a Maritime Patrol Aircraft Group which provides maritime surveillance of the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea and overland surveillance of Afghanistan, and an Air Movements Group which provides air movements support to ADF and coalition aircraft.

PNG Assist II
December 2008 Completed

To support the whole-of-government assistance to the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to provide relief materials and air transport to northern PNG, New Ireland and Manus following recent flooding and tidal surges. One deployment of a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft was conducted.

Tower
Commenced 2006 Current

Contribute to the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor. Contribute to the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor. One staff officer and three military liaison officers.

Astute
Commenced 2006Current

Contribute security support to the Government Of East Timor (GOTL) and the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNMIT).

The ADF contributes approximately 660 personnel as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF). Apart from commanding the ISF, the ADF provides a Battle Group and an Aviation Group.

Anode
Commenced 2003 Current

Contribute to the DFAT-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The ADF mission is to assist in the provision of a secure and safe environment that facilitates RAMSI efforts to support and develop Solomon Islands institutions. The ADF leads the coalition military contribution to RAMSI and currently provides 143 personnel to the operation.

RAMSI

Current

Dignitaries from the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands ( RAMSI) Lieutenant Colonel David Thompson, Commander Combined Task Force, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Wayne Buchhorn, Commander Participating Police Forces and Brigadier Bill Sowry from the Reserve and Employer Support Division watch the cultural displays during the Solomon Islands 32nd Independence Anniversary

Gateway
Commenced 1981 Current

Conduct Northern Indian Ocean and South China Sea maritime surveillance patrols. One P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft for four patrols per year.