4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
(Commando)
In October 1996, an Australian
Army study identified the need for a full time commando capacity within
the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to complement and argument the Australian
SAS ability to conduct special operations. In 1997 the 4th Battalion, The
Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) [4 RAR (Cdo)] was re-raised (this
battalion had last seen action in Vietnam as an infantry battalion) and
designated a full time commando role. In November 1999 4 RAR (Cdo) become
operational and was warned out for peace making operations in East Timor.
Between April to October 2001 4 RAR (Cdo) was deployed to East Timor, which
in turn redefined the unit as a conventional light infantry battalion for
this deployment. Upon return to Australia, the battalion recommenced its
Special Operations capability.
Role and Organisation
The role of 4 RAR (Cdo) is to "be
prepared to undertake large scale offensive operations beyond the range
and capability of other ADF units in support of Australia's national interests." Likely
tasks, similar to those conducted solely by the Australian SAS include
-
- Evacuation operations
- Entry from Air and Sea
- Protection Operations
- Support Operations
- Training Assistance
- Domestic Counter Terrorism
- Advanced Force Operations
- Point of Entry Seizure
- Strike Operations
- Support to Special Recovery Operations
- Combat Search and Rescue
- Target Acquisition
|
Members of 4 RAR conducting
airborne
rappelling insertion in East Timor |
Water Operations |
In order to conduct these tasks
4 RAR (Cdo) utilises a variety of insertion methods by air, sea and land.
Specialist parachute techniques used by 4 RAR (Cdo) include parachute load
follow (PLF), parachute/ship rendezvous and beach parallel.
The organisation of 4 RAR (Cdo)
is as follows -
Domestic Counter Terrorism
In reaction to the terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Centre Twin Towers in New York on the 11th of September
2001, the Australian Government directed the ADF to embed a Tactical Assault
Group (TAG) within 4 RAR (Cdo), capable of responding to domestic terrorist
incidents on the east coast of Australia. The ADF nevertheless has been
quietly increasing its Counter Terrorist (CT) capability for more than
5 years prior to September 11, and TAG (E) (E - East) was formed and become
operational on September 2002 to complement the SAS in its responsibility
for domestic counter terrorism. The SAS have been maintaining this CT role
for the past 20 years but because of the location of their home base in
Perth being on the west coast of Australia, there was a need to establish
another TAG on the east coast. TAG (E) also contains an attachment of 13
RAN Clearance Divers to argument the group's maritime CT capabilities.
In light of the added role of domestic
CT, the government has increased funding to 4 RAR (Cdo) to provide equipment,
facilities and operating costs to the battalion. Part of this includes
the construction of training facilities, such as a MOUT complex,
aircraft mock up range, 360 degree range (Killing House) and water operations
training centre on the East Coast .
|
TAG (E) conducting building
clearance training |
TAG (E) conducting method
of entry training |
TAG (E) conducting building
clearance training |
Equipment
Because of 4 RAR (Cdo) role being
both conventional and unconventional (CT), the unit uses a large variety
of equipment to meet the demands of both tasks. Although standard issued
F88 Austeyr assault rifles and F89 Minmi Light Support Weapons are in the
unit's armoury, much of it is being replaced by the latest generation of
M4A5 Carbines and shortened ParaSAW variants of the Minimi. For its CT
role the venerable H&K MP-5 family of machine pistols are used along
with latest generation 9 mm pistols and Remington 870 shotguns. In terms
of sniping capabilities, the unit use the current issued SR-98 and Accuracy
International's X-18, with the AW50 12.7 mm (.50 cal) Anti Material Rifle
(AMR) being introduced in 2003.
Conclusion
Since its evolution in 1997, 4
RAR (Cdo) has provided the ADF with a range of unique special operations
capabilities to complement those provided by the SAS. Currently those capabilities
are being put to use in the War in Iraq where the Australian Government
has sent a special forces task force consisting a squadron of SAS and 4
RAR commandos to conduct joint operations with the coalition. In light
of this deployment, it shows that 4 RAR (Cdo) continues to provide a highly
relevant and flexible capability to the ADF.
|
Members of 4 RAR conducting
Live Fire
training in the Middle East |
Members of 4 RAR conducting
a night patrol in the Middle East.
Note the beams from the NAD (night aiming device) |
Related links
All photos taken from Dept of Defence Image
Gallery.
Bibliography
