Oceania OOB

[Mohoender]

Royal Australian Air Force 2004
Nick Dowling
Air Force
Commander, Royal Australian Air Force - Chief of Air Force (CAF)
Office of CAF
WOFF of RAAF
Air Force Headquarters
Air Force Executive - DCAF Division
Chaplaincy
Policy & Planning - Air Force
Directorate of Combat Capability Management
Directorate of Battlespace Management (Aerospace)
Directorate of Capability Support
Directorate of Planning and Logistics
Resource Planning - Air Force
Directorate of Budget Management
Directorate of Investment Analysis
Directorate of Resource Analysis
Directorate of Business Improvement
Directorate Civilian People Strategies & Support
Personnel - Air Force
Directorate of Personnel Airmen
Directorate of Personnel Officers
Directorate of Personnel Reserves
Directorate of People Capability Management
Co-ordination - Air Force
Reserves-Air Force
Air Force Headquarters Agencies
Directorate of Flying Safety – Australian Defence Force (ADF)
Airworthiness Coordination & Policy Agency - ADF
Directorate General of Technical Airworthiness - ADF
Aerospace Centre
RAAF Aeronautical Information Service
Directorate of Security & Policing - Air Force
Aviation Capability Improvement Team
Headquarters Air Command
Headquarters Air Command
Doctrine and Development
Operational Support
Operations
Plans
Reporting and Financial Management
Headquarters Combat Support Group (RAAF Amberley)
Headquarters No 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing (RAAF Townsville)
No 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (RAAF Willamtown)
No 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (RAAF Amberley)
No 383 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (RAAF Amberley)
No 386 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (RAAF Richmond)
No 1 Air Terminal Squadron (RAAF Richmond)
No1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Richmond
No1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Amberley
No1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Williamtown
No1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Darwin
No1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Tindal
No1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Townsville
No1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Pearce
No 1 Combat Communications Squadron (RAAF Richmond)
No 1 Combat Logistics Squadron (RAAF Townsville)
No 1 Combat Logistics Squadron Detachment A (RAAF Tindal)
No 1 Combat Logistics Squadron Detachment B (RAAF Richmond)
Explosive Ordinance Disposal Flight (Orchard Hills)
Headquarters No 396 Combat Support Wing (RAAF Darwin)
No 321 Combat Support Squadron (RAAF Darwin)
No 323 Combat Support Squadron (RAAF Townsville)
No 324 Combat Support Squadron (Butterworth, Malaysia)
Bare Base Management Flight (DAR; LMO/CTN/SGR)
Headquarters No 322 Combat Support Wing (RAAF Tindal)
No 322 Combat Support Squadron (RAAF Tindal)
Headquarters Health Services Wing (RAAF AMB)
No 1 Air Transportable Health Squadron (RAAF AMB)
No 2 Air Transportable Health Squadron (RAAF WLM)
No 3 Combat Support Hospital (RAAF Richmond)
No 3 Air Transportable Health Flight
No 4 Air Transportable Health Flight
Operational Health Support and Training Flight
Headquarters Airfield Defence Wing (RAAF Amberley)
No 1 Airfield Defence Squadron (RAAF Edinburgh)
Communications Section (RAAF Edinburgh)
No 1 Rifle Flight (RAAF Pearce)
No 2 Rifle Flight (RAAF Edinburgh)
No 3 Rifle Flight (RAAF Williams (Laverton) )
No 4 Rifle Flight (DCSC-TAS)
Reconnaissance Section (RAAF Edinburgh)
No 2 Airfield Defence Squadron (RAAF Amberley)
No 3 Airfield Defence Squadron (RAAF Amberley)
No 5 Rifle Flight (RAAF Richmond)
No 6 Rifle Flight (RAAF Richmond)
Headquarters Combat Reserve Wing (RAAF Glenbrook)
No 13 Squadron (RAAF Darwin)
No 21 Squadron (RAAF Williams (Laverton))
No 22 Squadron (RAAF Richmond)
No 23 Squadron (RAAF Amberley)
No 24 Squadron (RAAF Edinburgh)
No 25 Squadron (RAAF Pearce)
No 26 Squadron (RAAF Williamtown)
No 27 Squadron (RAAF Townsville)
No 28 Squadron (Canberra International Airport)
No 29 Squadron (Anglesea Barracks, Hobart)
Combat Support Unit Amberley
Combat Support Unit Edinburgh
Combat Support Unit Richmond
Air Command Band (RAAF Richmond)
Combat Support Unit Williamtown
Combat Support Unit Glenbrook
Headquarters Surveillance and Response Group (RAAF Williamtown)
ADGE & Air Traffic Control Support Flight
Headquarters No 44 Wing
Air Traffic Control Flight Williamtown
Air Traffic Control Flight Amberley
Air Traffic Control Flight Oakey
Air Traffic Control Flight Townsville
Air Traffic Control Flight Tindal
Air Traffic Control Flight Darwin
Air Traffic Control Flight Pearce
Air Traffic Control Flight Edinburgh
Air Traffic Control Flight East Sale
Air Traffic Control Flight Nowra
Air Traffic Control Flight Richmond
Headquarters No 41 Wing
No 1 Radar Surveillance Unit (RAAF Edinburgh)
1 RSU Detachment Alice Springs
1 RSU Detachment Laverton
1 RSU Detachment Longreach
No 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit (RAAF Darwin)
No 2 Control and Reporting Unit (RAAF Tindal )
No 3 Control and Reporting Unit
Space-Based Infrared System Mission Control Station
Surveillance and Control Training Unit
Headquarters No 92 Wing (RAAF Edinburgh)
No 10 Squadron (AP-3C Orion)
No 11 Squadron (AP-3C Orion)
No 292 Squadron (3 TAP-3B Orion)
No 92 Wing Detachment A (Butterworth, Malaysia)
No 92 Wing ELINT Detachment (RAAF Amberley?) (2 EP-3 Orion)
No. 2 Squadron (6 B737 Wedgetail AEW&C on order)
Information Operations Squadron
Headquarters Air Combat Group (RAAF Williamtown)
Headquarters No 82 Wing (RAAF Amberley)
No. 1 Squadron (F-111C, 4 RF-111C)
No. 6 Squadron (F-111C, 7 F-111G)
Forward Area Control Development Unit (RAAF Williamtown) (4 PC-9/A(F))
Headquarters No 81 Wing (RAAF Williamtown)
No 3 Squadron (14 F/A-18A/B Hornet)
No 75 Squadron (RAAF Tindal) (14 F/A-18A/B Hornet)
No 77 Squadron (14 F/A-18A/B Hornet)
Headquarters No 78 Wing (RAAF Williamtown)
No 2 Operational Conversion Unit (F/A-18B Hornet)
No 76 Squadron (Hawk 127)
Training Flight
Operations Flight
No 79 Squadron (RAAF Pearce) (Hawk 127)
Training Flight
Operations Flight
Maintenance Flight
No 278 Squadron
Headquarters Air Lift Group (RAAF Richmond)
Headquarters No 84 Wing
No 32 Squadron (RAAF East Sale) (King Air 350)
No 32 Squadron Detachment Darwin
No 33 Squadron (4 Boeing 707 tanker)
No 34 Squadron (Canberra International Airport) (2 737 BBJ,
3 Challenger CL-604)
Headquarters No 85 Wing
Air Movements Training and Development Unit
No 285 Squadron
Headquarters No 86 Wing
No 36 Squadron (11 C-130H, 1 EC-130H)
No 37 Squadron (12 C-130J-30)
No 38 Squadron (RAAF Amberley) (14 DHC4 Caribou)
No 38 Squadron Detachment A (RAAF Pearce)
No 38 Squadron Detachment B (RAAF Townsville)
Aerospace Operational Support Group (Edinburgh)
Headquarters Aerospace Operational Support Group
Headquarters Aircraft Research and Development Unit
Aerospace Systems Test Squadron
Aerospace Systems Engineering Squadron
Aircraft Stores Compatibility Engineering Agency
Electronic Warfare Squadron


Headquarters Training Command (RAAF Williams (Laverton))
Air Force Training
Headquarters Air Training Wing (RAAF East Sale)
Central Flying School (PC-9/A)
Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School (Tamworth) (CT4-B)
No 2 Flying Training School (RAAF Pearce) (PC-9/A)
School of Air Navigation
School of Air Traffic Control
Combat Survival Training School (RAAF Townsville)
RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine (RAAF Edinburgh)
Combat Support Unit East Sale
Headquarters Ground Training Wing (RAAF Wagga Wagga)
Defence International Training Centre (RAAF Williams (Laverton) )
Australian Defence Force School of Languages (RAAF Williams (Laverton))
RAAF School of Technical Training
RAAF School of Management and Training Technology
RAAF Security and Fire School (RAAF Amberley)
Combat Support Unit Wagga
Health Services Training Flight (RAAF Williams (Laverton))
RAAF College (RAAF Williams (Point Cook))
Officer Training School
School of Post-Graduate Studies
No 1 Recruit Training Unit (RAAF Edinburgh)
Combat Support Unit Pearce
Combat Support Unit Williams (Laverton)
Central Band (RAAF Williams (Laverton))
RAAF Museum (RAAF Williams (Point Cook))
Search and Rescue
The RAAF’s search and rescue (SAR) services are provided by the civilian company CHC Helicopters. SAR helicopter detachments are based at RAAF Bases East Sale, Pearce, Tindal and Williamtown. Two extra SAR helicopters are available for use at forward bases during exercises.
The Australian Army unit 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) currently has the responsibility for rescuing aircrew who have ejected behind enemy lines. This unit specialises in large scale raids behind enemy lines.
Aircraft Inventory and Budgeted Flying Hours (2004-2005 Financial Year)
Aircraft Type Number in service Budgeted Flying hours 2004-2005 Notes
Combat Aircraft
F/A-18A Hornet 55 12,500 Upgraded to F/A-18C standard
F/A-18B Hornet 16 Upgraded to F/A-18D standard
F-111C Aardvark 17 3,800 Recently upgraded
RF-111C Aardvark 4 Electronic and photo reconnaissance variant
F-111G Aardvark 14 Ex-USAF. 7 active, 5 in storage,
2 being cannibalised for spares
AP-3C Orion 17 9,000
Upgraded from P-3C. Upgrade project to be completed in 2004-05 financial year
Transport Aircraft
C-130H Hercules 11 16,000
C-130J-30 Hercules 12
DHC-4 Caribou 14 5,080 Selection of replacement has been repeatedly delayed
737-700 Boeing Business Jet 2 1,200 VIP Transport, leased
Challenger 604 3 2,400 VIP Transport, leased
Beechcraft King Air 350 0(6) N/A 6 aircraft on order. Also serve as training aircraft.
Support Aircraft
Boeing 707 tanker/transport 4 1,800 Aircraft are experiencing serviceability problems and will be retired in December 2004
EP-3 Orion 2 Unknown
EC-130H 1 Unknown
Pilatus PC-9/A(F) 4 1,030
Boeing 737-700IGW Wedgetail 0(6) N/A Will enter service in 2007-2008
A330-200 tanker/transport 0(5) N/A Will enter service from 2007
Training Aircraft
Hawk 127 33 9,000 Aircraft still experiencing some teething problems. Also serve as light attack aircraft.
Pilatus PC-9/A 61 Unknown
TAP-3B Orion 2 Unknown Ex-USN P-3B. Also serve as transport aircraft
Total Aircraft Types: 18
(+3 on order) Total Aircraft: 272 (+ 17 on order) Total Flying Hours:
over 61,810


Notes
Budget and Personnel
• The RAAF’s budget for the financial year 2004-05 is $A 4.6 Billion (about $ US 3.3 Billion) see the Australian Department of Defence Portfolio Budget Statement for a detailed break-down of how this money will be spent.
• The RAAF has a strength of 13,638 full time personnel and 2,800 reservists.
• After years of often severe pilot shortfalls, the RAAF has finally been able to fully staff all its flying units.
Procurement
• Australia is a member of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project. At the time of writing, the Australian government is planning on purchasing up to 100 F-35s. The aircraft will replace both the F/A-18 and F-111 and the F-35 is expected to initially enter service in about 2012.
• The F/A-18 fleet has recently been upgraded
• The F-111s are scheduled for retirement in 2008. However, this may change as many experts believe that the aircraft can be made airworthy well past this date and the main opposition party, the Australian Labor Party, has promised to retain the aircraft in service.
• The RAAF is planning to buy a squadron of up to six Global Hawk UAVs.
Other
• It doesn’t appear that the RAAF operates any aircraft optimised to support special operations. While C-130Hs from 36 Squadron have supported recent Special Air Service deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, this may be due to the C-130Js being introduced into service at the time rather then the C-130Hs being modified and trained to support special forces.
• The Boeing 707 Tankers are fitted with a probe and drogue refuelling system, and can only refuel the F/A-18s. The A-330s will be fitted with both hose and the boom systems, allowing them to refuel both F/A-18s and F-111s.
• The RAAF’s reserve squadrons are non-flying units, and serve as administrative headquarters only. RAAF reservists war role is to fill vacancies in permanent units and facilitate the rapid expansion of the Air Force.

Australian Special Operations Command 2004
Nick Dowling
Australia’s Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia’s Maritime, Land and Air Commands. All its’ constituent units are drawn from the Australian Army. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the United States and British militaries.
Special Operations Command was established in May 2003, and will be fully operational when a range of enhancement programs are completed in 2007.
Constituent Units
Special Operations Command Headquarters (Russell Offices, Canberra, ACT and Potts Point, Sydney, NSW)
Special Operations Combat Service Support Company (Banksmeadow, Sydney, NSW)
Special Air Service Regiment (Swanbourne Barracks, Perth, WA)
Regimental Headquarters
1 Squadron
Squadron HQ
A Troop
B Troop
C Troop
D Troop
2 Squadron
Squadron HQ
E Troop
F Troop
G Troop
H Troop
3 Squadron
Squadron HQ
I Troop
J Troop
K Troop
L Troop
152 Signals Squadron
Squadron HQ
1 Troop
2 Troop
3 Troop
4 Troop
Base Squadron
Training Squadron
Reinforcement Wing
Water Operations Wing
Air Wing
Climbing/Survival Wing
Demolition Wing
Vehicle Mounted Wing
1 Commando Regiment (Army Reserve) (Randwick Barracks, Sydney, NSW)
Regimental Headquarters (Randwick Barracks)
1 Commando Company (HMAS Penguin, Sydney, NSW)
2 Commando Company (Fort Gellibrand, Williamstown, Vic)
301 Signals Squadron (HQ Randwick Barracks, elements in both Sydney and Melbourne with the commando companies)
4 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) (Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney, NSW)
Battalion Headquarters
A Company
B Company
C Company
Tactical Assault Group (East)
126 Signals Squadron
Operations Support Company
Logistics Support Company
Incident Response Regiment (Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney, NSW)
Regimental Headquarters
Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron
A Troop
B Troop
C Troop
High Risk Search Troop
Emergency Response Squadron (Integrated) (Sydney, Townsville, Darwin
Oakey)
1 Troop (Darwin, NT)
2 Troop
3 Troop
4 Troop (Oakey, Qld)
Scientific and Technical Organisation
Associated Units
While not formally part of the Special Operations Command, these units regularly operate with and/or support the command.
Australian Army
171 Squadron (S-70A Blackhawk) (Garbut Barracks, Townsville, Qld - moving to Sydney, NSW)
A Troop (4 S-70A Blackhawk)
B Troop (4 S-70A Blackhawk)
C Troop (4 S-70A Blackhawk)
Technical Support Troop
Administration and Logistics troop
C Squadron, 5 Aviation Regiment (6 CH-47D Chinook) (Garbut Barracks, Townsville, Qld)
Special Forces Training Centre (Singleton, NSW)
Parachute Training School (HMAS Albatross, Nowra, NSW)
Royal Australian Navy
Clearance Diving Team 1 (Sydney, NSW)
Clearance Diving Team 4 (Fleet Base West, Perth, WA)
Clearance Diving Team 3 is a non-standing formation which is activated to perform special tasks. It was most recently formed for the 2003 Iraq war with a strength of 23 divers and 3 support staff.
Both the Tactical Assault Groups include a detachment of about a dozen Clearance Divers, who operate as part of the Offshore Assault Team. The Clearance diving teams consist of a Headquarters and Support Element, a Mine Counter Measures group and a Marine Tactical Operations element (this element supports amphibious operations)
The six Collins Class Submarines HMAS Collins, Farncomb, Waller, Dechaineux, Sheean and Rankin are all equipped to embark and land a small special forces detachment in addition to their regular crew. Each submarine has spare berths sufficient for a SAS Patrol.
The Fremantle Class Patrol boats have the wartime mission of carrying and supporting special forces parties.
Royal Australian Air Force
The RAAF’s three Airfield Defence Squadrons (1, 2 and 4 Airfield Defence squadrons) are anti-special forces units, and regularly exercise with the Special Operations Command units. They are, however, not considered to be special forces themselves.
A detachment of two aircraft from 36 Squadron (C-130H) based in Sydney, NSW supported the Special Forces Task force in Iraq. There have, however, been no reports to suggest that these aircraft were specially modified for the special forces role or that they specialise in this role.
Civilian
Special Operations Command’s counter terrorism units regularly train with Australia’s civilian police forces special operations units (ie, SWAT Teams) and would closely co-operate with these units in the event of a terrorist incident. All the Australian State and Territory Police forces have such special operations units.
New Zealand
1 New Zealand Special Air Service Group (Papakura Camp, New Zealand)
Headquarters Support wing
Training wing
1 Squadron
Boat Troop
Air Troop
Mountain Troop
2 Squadron
Boat Troop
Air Troop
Mountain Troop
The New Zealand SAS frequently train with Australian units, and NZ SAS units frequently deploy as part of combined Australia-New Zealand special forces squadrons. As with the Australian SAS, elements of the New Zealand SAS’s rotate between conventional and counter-terrorism roles. New Zealand is currently in the process of establishing a unit similar to the Incident Response Regiment.
Notes
Budget and Personnel
The head of Special Operations Command is currently Brigadier Mike Hindmarsh. Major-General Duncan Lewis commanded SOC from its formation in May 2003 until October 2004.
Special Operations Command’s budget for the financial year 2003-04 is A$322 million.
The number of personnel in the Command appears to be classified. This author’s best guess is that Special Operations Command has a strength of roughly 2,500 personnel (700 in the SASR, 300 in the IRR, about 200 for each of the Commando company groups and the remainder in the SOC Command HQ and Combat Service Support Company.
As women cannot serve as commandos or SAS patrolmen, it is likely that Special Operations Command has a smaller proportion of female soldiers then is the case across the rest of the Army.
Unit Roles
The two commando battalions have the role of carrying out large scale airborne, air mobile or amphibious raids behind enemy lines. Their role is a combination of those performed by American Army’s Rangers and the British Royal Marines.
In contrast, the SASR focuses on smaller scale and more covert operations.
The Incident Response Regiment (IRR) is a defensive unit with no offensive capabilities worth mentioning. Its’ role is to detect and respond to CBR weapons and terrorist attacks. It’s somewhat unclear why this unit is part of Special Operations Command. The IRR’s personnel are not require to pass the special forces selection tests or undergo special forces training.
Recent Special Forces Expansion
The establishment of Special Operations command and expansion of its constituent units increased the size of Australia’s special forces by 330 personnel,
4 RAR began converting to the Commando role in 1996. However, as a result of disruptions caused by the East Timor deployment and manpower shortages across the Army it has only recently reached full strength and become fully qualified in the Commando role. TAG (East) became operational in September 2002.
A new squadron of 12 helicopters is to be raised to specifically support Special Operations Command. These helicopters may be operated by 171 Squadron, which is currently flying UH-1s in the operational support role in 1 Aviation Regiment (171 squadron will either be attached to 5 Aviation Regiment or be made an independent squadron when 1 Aviation Regiment’s other component squadrons convert to the new Tiger attack helicopters in the near future).
There have recently been proposals to expand the SASR to four ‘sabre’ squadrons. While these proposals do not seem to have been accepted by the government, a fourth troop has been added to 152 Signals Squadron.
SASR Organisation
The SASR’s three squadrons rotate between contingency and counter terrorism configurations. Two squadrons are maintained in the contingency role and organisation with the reminder filling the counter-terrorism role. Rotations occur every 12 months, so each squadron spends one year out of three in the CT role and configuration.
During the Sydney Olympics the proportion of CT and Contingency squadrons was reversed, with two CT squadrons being available (see appendix 6). However, since the establishment of TAG (East), 4 RAR, this expedient has not been necessary (see appendix 2).
Each of the two SAS contingency squadrons consists of a Water Troop, Air Operations Troop, Mobility Troop and Signals Troop. Each troop consists of a Troop HQ and four 5 man patrols. During emergencies, extra patrols are formed from the Troop, Squadron and Regimental HQs.
The SAS counter terrorism squadron (Tactical Assault Group West) consists of Water Troop, Land Troop, Sniper Troop and Signals Troop. The Water Troop is the Offshore Assault Team, and includes attached divers from the RAN’s Clearance Diving Teams.
Commando Organisation
Commando companies in 1 Commando Regiment and 4 RAR consist of a headquarters, two commando platoons, a reconnaissance platoon, a training platoon (the training platoon may only be present in 1 Commando Regiment) and integral combat service support elements.
It’s somewhat unclear whether 4 RAR’s Tactical Assault Group (East) is a permanent standing formation or if the commando companies rotate through this role like the SASR squadrons do. It appears that when the TAG was initially established in 2002 the companies rotated through the role, but it has since become a standing unit, with the commando companies not rotating through the role.