SEQUENCE OF EVENTS - PERSIAN GULF 1998

7 Feb 98 PM Howard confirms that the United States is seeking assistance from Australia in the event of renewed conflict with Iraq.

8 Feb 98 Mr Howard and Opposition Leader Beazley '…hope diplomatic solution is found before military action is necessary in Iraq,' but 'back use of force in Iraq.'

9 Feb 98 Mr Howard consults with Canadian PM Chretian and New Zealand PM Shipley in respect of US request for support in Iraq.

10 Feb 98 Cabinet meeting followed by Mr Howard's announcement that Australia will commit 250 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in support of US forces in the Gulf - includes about 110 Special Air Service (SAS) troops, two B707 tanker/transport aircraft and 80 RAAF personnel

16 Feb 98 RAAF and other miscellaneous elements of ADF contingent undergo pre-deployment training at RAAF Base Richmond.

Two B707 and two C130 aircraft depart RAAF Richmond to pre-position in Western Australia.

17 Feb 98 09:15 (local time ) two C130 Hercules aircraft depart RAAF Base Pearce carrying stores/equipment to the Gulf.

Mr Howard, Defence Minister McLachlan and Opposition Leader Beazley farewell ADF personnel in Perth.

10:40 (local time) First B707 aircraft carrying about 80 RAAF personnel departs Perth International Airport.

18:00 (local time) Second RAAF B707 departs Perth International Airport carrying 110 Special Air Services Regiment personnel.

18 Feb 98 C130 and B707 aircraft bound for Kuwait on ground at Diego Garcia departing for Kuwait.

19 Feb 98 One C130 landed at Kuwait and discharged SAS equipment. Remaining aircraft waiting at Diego Garcia to be called forward. NZ PM Shipley visits PM Howard in Australia.

20 Feb 98 One B707 landed at Kuwait at about 07:00 (Canberra time) and SAS contingent of 110 disembarked. C130 Hercules aircraft which discharged cargo in Kuwait returns to Australia via Diego Garcia.

23 Feb 98 Second RAAF B707 arrived in Kuwait about 13:00 (Canberra time) carrying RAAF contingent. SecondRAAF C130 arrived in Kuwait around 16:30 (Canberra time) carrying stores. Total Australian contingent to date of 190 is on the ground in the Middle East.

Air Commodore Alan Titheridge was announced as the Commander of the Australian Contingent.

UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, announces he has struck a deal with Iraq on agreement to UN inspections of all sites. This is to be considered by the UN Security Council.

24 Feb 98 US President Clinton announces his support for the agreement, but will maintain troops in the area at this stage. Australian personnel will also remain in the area for the time being.

FACT SHEET -
AUSTRALIA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE PERSIAN GULF 1998

THE AUSTRALIAN CONTRIBUTION

· Australia is providing about 110 Special Air Service Regiment personnel, two 707 aircraft for air to air refuelling and some specialist personnel including intelligence personnel and medics. The initial deployment will be about 190 Australian personnel. The maximum size of the Australian contingent will be 250.

· Other nations supporting the coalition force include: Argentina, UK, Canada, NZ, Poland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark Portugal & Norway

· It is expected that the SAS Squadron will be involved in a range of tasks, principally search and rescue.

· Preliminary indications are that the aerial tanker/transport aircraft will be involved in long range transport tasks with possible aerial refuelling operations.

· Initial planning is based on a deployment for up to three months.

· The Australian contingent will remain under Australian national command and under operational control of the Coalition commander for agreed tasks.

WHY AUSTRALIA IS INVOLVED

· Australia's security interests go well beyond Australian shores, and global issues can have significant security implications for Australia too. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one such significant threat.

· Australia supports the United Nations efforts and resolutions to eliminate Iraq's ability to make and use weapons of mass destruction and UNSCOM inspections are central to this effort.

· Australia has therefore decided to help enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution which aims to limit Iraq's chemical and biological arsenal and to ensure they are not used.

PREPARATORY TRAINING

· Training for personnel deploying in support of possible coalition operations against Iraq has been undertaken by the Australian Defence Force's Deployed Forces Support Unit from Randwick Barracks.

· Preparations included such things as medical checks, inoculations, first aid refresher, a comprehensive background briefing on the region and culture, and, health and hygiene, and biological and chemical defence training.

· Our personnel will be taking DPCUs (Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform), field equipment, packs and weapons with them, however their ongoing supplies, such as food, will be met by the coalition force.

WELFARE AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

· A wide range of services are available to support families of deployed service personnel so that military members can concentrate on the job at hand, by minimising family problems caused by their absence.

· The SASR has a well organised internal system of support for families including Unit Welfare Officers, Unit Liaison Officers, a psychologist and a chaplain. The Western Australian regional office of the Defence Community Organisation maintains close liaison with the SASR and is available to supplement the internal Regiment's services.

· The Deployed Forces Support Unit's Welfare Coordination cell in the Defence Community Organisation, is responsible for welfare coordination of deployed personnel.. This unit, located in Sydney, will provide welfare services for 33 Squadron and other non SASR personnel who are deploying. The Defence Community Organisation has 180 staff around Australia who are available to liaise with local families.

· Pre deployment briefings have been held for SASR families as well as families of 33 Squadron and other ADF personnel deploying. Next of kin are advised of the support and services available.

· A toll free hotline number will provide general information for families.

· Families will be contacted to determine the kind of assistance they would like. This often includes establishing a support network among other families. The Defence Community will then monitor their needs throughout the deployment.

· Welfare services provide assistance for everything from marital problems or child care to mowing the lawn. Services provided include: social worker support, military, family and education liaison, Defence family networking, crisis assistance, counselling for personal, marital, financial and family problems, advocacy, information on local organisations and referrals to local community services and activities.

THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT (SASR)

· Australia's Special Forces, first formed during WWII, proved their worth during special operations which included intelligence gathering missions, raids, guerilla warfare and recovery operations throughout the South East Asia Command and the South West Pacific Area.

· SASR soldiers have served with distinction in Borneo and South Vietnam.

· SASR is one of three Special Forces combat units in the Australian Army. SASR operations can be conducted by individuals and small units from patrol to squadron size.

· Based in Perth at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, elements of the SASR provide the counter terrorist capability which remains on short notice within Australia. Other roles include special reconnaissance, offensive operations, special recovery operations, and support operations.

· Individual and team skills include: advanced first aid, languages, demolitions, advanced weapon skills and advanced insertion skills.

· Special Forces soldiers are selected to perform under arduous physical and mental conditions as part of a coalition in the most adverse conditions. The SASR prides itself on its adaptability and flexibility in tasks with constantly changing challenges.

707 AIRCRAFT REFUELLING

· The 707 has a maximum range of 4.5 thousand nautical miles (8220 km). It has a maximum fuel load of 158 000 pounds (98 750 litres).

· The 707 does not have weapons systems nor counter detection devices. Aircraft protection would normally be provided by a fighter escort.

· The 707 contingent would have three components: aircrew, ground crew and support crew.

· The 707 has the capability to refuel two aircraft at a time.

· The 707 deploys a fuel line from a fuel pod located on each wing. The fuel line has a drogue on the end (looks like a shuttlecock) which connect with a probe on the aircraft being refuelled.

· The aircrew for a standard air to air refuelling mission is two pilots, one flight engineer, one loadmaster and one mission coordinator.

· The ground crew would comprise approximately 25 technical airmen for a two aircraft deployment.

· The support crew would comprise approximately 10 - 12 personnel. This element is likely to be the only component with female members.

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

· Based on reports of UNSCOM activities, Iraq is known to have possessed nerve agents including sarin and VX and sulphur mustard gas.

· Iraq has stated that it produced several biological agents. The most dangerous of these are botulinum toxin and anthrax.

· UNSCOM has destroyed large amounts of chemical weapons and chemical agents and their production facilities, but inspections have been denied free access to all facilities, and that has sparked the possibility of military action.

· Nerve agents: Nerve agents may enter the body through the skin or lungs and exert their effects on the nervous system. The effects are similar to those produced by organophosphorus insecticides. At high doses death may occur within a few minutes through paralysis of the respiratory system.

· Mustard: Sulphur Mustard causes severe burns to the eyes, skin and the upper airway. Symptoms may take hours to appear depending on dose. Exposure to vapour affects eyes, airways and skin. The effects include conjunctivitis-like irritation of the eyes, reddening and blistering of the skin and inflammation, blistering and ulceration of the airways. Exposure to the liquid produces similar but more severe effects. High doses may produce damage to internal tissues such as bone marrow. The burns may take several days to develop and several weeks to heal. Although the burns are painful and incapacitating they are seldom fatal.

· Botulinum Toxin is one of the most potent biological toxins. The lethal dose is minute. The toxin acts by preventing the passage of nerve impulses to the muscles and death occurs by respiratory arrest.

· Anthrax is an animal disease and humans normally become infected by contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. A biological warfare attack with anthrax spores would cause inhalational anthrax. Anthrax produces a toxin that depresses the central nervous system and interferes with its ability to send out respiratory impulses. Respiratory distress occurs followed by cessation of breathing and cardiac arrest. The incubation period is one to five days.

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

· The ADF will provide the best possible protection currently available against the threat of chemical and biological weapons for its personnel going to the Gulf. This includes a range of vaccinations and medications with activity against a number of specific disease threats.

· All vaccines have a small failure rate and they also require a lead time from first vaccinations to maximum effectiveness.

· The risk of inadequate protection against NBC agents is greater than the risk of complications associated with the use of vaccines.

· Personnel will be appropriately briefed on the risks, complications, advantages and disadvantages of any medications they will be administered prior to deploying to the Gulf.

· Nuclear, biological and chemical protective exposure masks and suits will be issued to those ADF personnel deploying to the Gulf who are at risk of exposure to NBC threats. They will be trained in the use of these ensembles.