Operation Astute
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Operation Astute is a United Nations-authorised, Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. The operation is headed by Brigadier Michael Slater, commander of the Australian Army's 3rd Brigade (and commander, Task Force 631), and commenced on 25 May 2006. Other countries deploying soldiers to East Timor are Malaysia, New Zealand and East Timor's former colonial power Portugal.
Tasks
The immediate tasks of the operation are:
- Allow for the evacuation of Australians and other foreigners
- Restore stability and confine conflict to secured areas
- Assess and locate the weapons possessed by conflicting groups
- Establish a safe environment for dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Deployment
A forward deployment of approximately 200, including a commando company from the 4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, secured an entry point for follow-on forces centred on Dili Airport.
The full deployment will consist of a battalion group of about 1,800 personnel drawn from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. Evacuations are being carried out by C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, using RAAF Base Darwin as a forward operating base.[Troops pour into Dili], ABC News Online, 26 May 2006
Initial assets deployed included the guided-missile frigate HMAS Adelaide, the replenishment vessel HMAS Success and the amphibious landing/hospital ship HMAS Kanimbla. Landing ships HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Manoora are also being sent to East Timor with follow-on forces.[Dili calmer but still dangerous, Houston says], ABC News Online 26 May 2006
Operation Astute comes under the authority of the United Nations Office in Timor Leste (UNOTIL), whose mandate was established under the authority of United Nations Security Council resolution 1599 through 20 May 2006 but has been extended by resolution 1677 through 20 June 2006. Troops from former INTERFET nations including mostly from Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal are augmenting the Australian force.
Malaysian Army forces began arriving on 26 May, by air.[Troops pour into Dili], ABC News Online, 26 May 2006
Timeline
May 2006
- 24 May
- 21:59 (Canberra) Acting Prime Minister of Australia, Peter Costello, announced in a press conference that East Timor had requested Australia "send defence forces to East Timor to help in maintaining and re-establishing public order". Australia would send an advance party including the Vice Chief of Defence force to negotiate conditions of the deployment the following morning.[East Timor - Press Conference, Parliament House], The Commonwealth Treasurer, 24 May 2006
- 07:00 (Canberra) Prime Minister of Australia John Howard arrives back in Canberra from Dublin early, though not officially because of the East Timor crisis.
- 12:30 (Darwin) A RAAF 34SQN Challenger 604 (VIP jet) was tasked to fly the Australian Vice Chief of Defence Force from Canberra to Dili via Darwin, to negotiate the rules of engagement of the Australian operation, and other conditions of deployment. However on arrival in Darwin the Chief of the Defence Force ordered the aircraft to remain in Darwin, due to a dramatic increase in violence in Dili.
- (Dili) RAAF 37SQN C130J Hercules aircraft arrive at Dili from Darwin with 130 commandos on board, together with 4 Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters. The Vice Chief of Defence Force was also on board the C130, after being unable to fly to Dili on the RAAF VIP jet. Dili Airport is now under Australian military control. However the VCDF is unable to leave the airport due to security concerns.
- (Dili) HMAS Adelaide arrives in Dili Harbour.
- 18:43 (Canberra) Prime Minister John Howard announces in a press conference that the deployment will "go ahead without any conditionality" and that 1300 troops would be in place "in a very short order", despite a failure to negotiate conditions of the deployment with the East Timorese Government. He explains waiting for signatures could lead to significant further bloodshed and the East Timorese Government is desperate for Australian troops to arrive. [John Howard holds press conference on East Timor engagement], ABC News Online, 25 May 2006
- (Darwin) The Royal Australian Air Force commence transporting troops to Dili. A 33SQN Boeing 707 ferries troops between Townsville and Darwin, whilst 36SQN C-130Hs and 37SQN C-130Js transport troops and supplies between Darwin and Dili. The flights also commence evacuations of civilians on the return legs. The flights continue throughout the night and the following day to form an air bridge between Darwin and Dili.
- (Dili) Malaysian Army soldiers begin arrive in Dili. RAAF aircraft continue to transport troops and equipment.
- United States Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team platoon arrives in Dili to protect the US Embassy.
- 13:30 (Darwin) A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H arrives in Darwin from Townsville, ready to deploy New Zealand soldiers to East Timor.
- The inital deployment of Australian soldiers is completed.
- A platoon of 42 New Zealand soldiers arrives in Dili to secure the New Zealand embassy.
- A rifle company of 123 New Zealand soldiers arrives in Dili.
June 2006
- 2 June
- 8 New Zealand military police arrive in Dili.
- USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft complete their task of ferrying Australian troops and equipment between Townsville and Darwin.
- Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff and Defence Sectretary Graham Fortune visit Dili.
- Rebel Timorese soldiers begin handing their weapons over to Australian troops.[E Timorese rebels surrender weapons] ABC News Online. June 16, 2006.
- It is announced that a New Zealander soldier fired a warning shot during the week of 18 June-24 June. This is aparently the first short fired during the intervention.[Warning Shot Fired in Timor-Leste] New Zealand Minister for Defence press release. June 27, 2006.
July 2006
- 1 July
- 50 soldiers from 2/1 RNZIR and other units fly to Timor Leste to replace members of the initial New Zealand force.[''More New Zealand Troops for Timor'] New Zealand Defence Force press release. June 29, 2006.
Military units involved
Operation Astute is an Australian military operation. While the Malaysian and New Zealand contingents operate under overall Australian command, the Portuguese contingent will operate under Portuguese national command.[Portugal refuses Australian command in E Timor]. ABC News Online. June 3, 2006. The Australian units deployed as part of the operation fall under the operational command of Brigadier Michael Slater, the commander of the Australian 3rd Brigade. The major unit involved in land operations is the 3rd Battalion under its commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mumford.
Australia
Australian Army
- Headquarters elements, 3rd Brigade
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) battle group ('Battlegroup Faithful'). This battle group includes rifle companies from 1 RAR and 2 RAR, a field squadron from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment and a battery from the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.
- Company group, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (equipped with 33 M-113 armoured personnel carriers)
- 3rd Combat Service Support Group (based around the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion)[Delivering the goods]. Army News. July 13 2006.
- Eight S-70A Blackhawk transport helicopters, 5th Aviation Regiment
- Four Kiwoa light observation helicopters, 1st Aviation Regiment[Restoring calm and stability]. Defence Magazine. June 2006.
Royal Australian Navy
- HMAS Adelaide (until 28 May)
- * One S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter, 816 Squadron RAN (until 28 May)
- HMAS Kanimbla
- HMAS Manoora
- HMAS Tobruk (until approximately 8 June)
- HMAS Balikpapan
- HMAS Tarakan
- HMAS Success (until 28 May)
- Two Sea King helicopters, 817 Squadron RAN
Royal Australian Air Force
- Elements, No. 33 Squadron RAAF (Boeing 707) - Domestic support only
- Elements, No. 36 Squadron RAAF (C-130H)
- Elements, No. 37 Squadron RAAF (C-130J)
- Airfield Defence Guard detachment at Dili airport.
- RAAF Airload Team at Dili airport.
Malaysia
- 209 soldiers from the 10th Paratrooper Brigade[Malaysia Sends 209 Soldiers To Help Quell Unrest In Timor Leste]. Bernama. May 26, 2006.
- Transport aircraft
- Two warships; KD Mahawangsa and KD Inderasakti
- Elements, 19th Battalion, Royal Malay Regt (Mechanised)
- Elements from Grup Gerakhas (Army Commandos) and PASKAL (Navy Special Force)[Malcon bantu perdamaian Timor Leste] Utusan Online.
New Zealand
- Delta Company (reinforced), 2/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment[Timor-Leste]. New Zealand Defence Force. May 29, 2006.
- Military police section, 2nd Military Police Platoon
- One Boeing 757-200, No. 40 Squadron RNZAF
- One C-130H, No. 40 Squadron RNZAF
Portugal
While the Portuguese forces deployed to East Timor are not operating under Australian command, they are acting in cooperation with the Australian, Malaysian and New Zealand forces which are under Australian command.[Portugal refuses Australian command in E Timor]. ABC News Online. June 3, 2006.
- 120 soldiers from the Republican National Guard (GNR)
- 16 officers from the Special Operations Group (GOE) of the Public Security Police
United States
- Two C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft from the 15th Airlift Wing
- 6 person Combat Mobility Element from the 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron
In addition, a platoon of the United States Marine Corps Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team was deployed on 26 May to secure the United States embassy in Dili.[FAST Platoon to Provide Security at U.S. Embassy Dili]. United States Pacific Command. 26 May, 2006. This platoon does not appear to be under Australian command as part of Operation Astute.
See also
External link
References
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