LOCREP Surveillance and Target Acquisition

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1 Highlights Inside New feature Locator in Profile Association Incorporates 20 th STA Regiment Latest Information RAA National Museum Sydney 2005 Re-union Post-Nominals Let us Know LOCREP Surveillance and Target Acquisition The Newsletter of the Locating Artillery Association Inc December Sydney 2005 Re-union parties on under a rain -lashed marquee at North Fort

2 The Eyes and Ears of the Battlefield OFFICE BEARERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Patrons Mr Rusty Priest A M COLONEL Steve Goltz (Commander, Land Command Artillery) President Allan Harrison Vice President/Museum Liaison Officer Joe Kaplun Secretary/Merchandise Officer Diane Wood Treasurer/Membership Officer John Salt well Minutes Secretary Tony Foster Historian Keith Ayliffe Web Master John Posener Social Secretary W a y n e N a s h Newsletter Editor Allan Harrison Committee Members Ross Baker, Jim Bushel, Ron Hartmann, Graham Johnson, Bob Morrison Bob Owens, Phil Paton, Bob Smith Postal Address: PO Box 1042 MANLY NSW 1655 Web Site: info@locatingartillery.org COMMITTEE MEETINGS Committee meetings are held regularly and members a r e c o r dially invited to attend. General enquiries may be directed to the Vice President (02) or mobile (6 Apex Ave, Picnic Point, 2213). In 2006, meetings will be held on 12 Feb and 2 Apr, with the AGM re-scheduled for 9 July. All will be held at Paddington RSL commencing at 1000 hrs. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE The Association s intention to incorporate has been widely reported and I am happy to inform members that the process is complete. A full report appears later. With pleasure, I announce a new member of the Committee in the person of former 133 Bty Sound Ranging Tp Comd, Bob Morrison. Travelling from his home in Bowral, Bob is a hard working regular at North Fort working bees and is a welcome addition to the group. Speaking of North Fort, the new Manager has been appointed to replace Mike Laurence and on behalf of the Association I bid welcome to MAJ John Gallagher RACT. I attended a recent Museum Advisory Committee meeting chaired by MAJ Gallagher and report that the Fort is in good hands. The Sydney 2005 Re-union has come and gone. Notwithstanding a foul weather day at North Fort, more than 50 turned up had a great time under the big marquee (see cover photo and report) The Committee has commenced work on a Strategic Plan aimed at giving us a clear focus for future activities and planning for further development. This is a long term activity and we will present the final document in due course. Members are warmly encouraged to submit thoughts for consideration, to the Secretary. A further innovation is the inclusion of a Locator(s) in Profile segment in each issue of Locrep. One or

3 two people will be profiled each issue, from the ranks of serving members and Locators of the past. The first is LT COL Phil Swinsburg, C O -elect of 20 t h STA Regt. I hope you enjoy this new feature. Finally, as this is the last issue of Locrep for 2005, may I take the opportunity to wish all members, their families and loved ones a joyous Christmas season and every success in Ubique Allan Harrison President LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Key Rings ( 2-sided, Assn & Dragon Logos) $ 5.00 for 30 $10.00 for 65 $15.00 For 100 $ 6.00 For further information, postage costs and orders for current items, please call Diane Wood on (H) or (W) or visit the website. We are always pleased to publish (brief) reports from Locators far and wide. Your mates are happy to hear about what others are up to and this newsletter is an ideal forum for your short stories and anecdotes. CONTACT LIST The General and Regional contact list can be found on our website on the Membership page. To get yourself onto this list, please give written or (preferably) permission to the Association at PO Box 1042 Manly NSW 1655 or info@ locatingartillery.org This contact list is now posted onto our website and updated as members give permission. MERCHANDISE The following items are available: Stubby Holders $ 6.00 e a $11.00 for two $20.00 for four Car Badges $20.00 Baseball Caps $15.00 (two types) Lapel Badges $ 6.00 Polo Shirts $30.00 (three colours) Door Mats $60.00 Plaques $25.00 Woven Pocket $10.00 Patch Logos B a r C o a s t e r s $ 2.00 for 10 HISTORY OF LOCATING The book "Tracks of the Dragon - A History of Locating Artillery in Australia " is now freely available. An order form is available on our website at or by contacting Keith Ayliffe (07) or John Posener (02) RAA NATIONAL MUSEUM Locating Artillery Display working bee dates for the first half of 2006 are as follows: 26 Feb 26 Mar 23 Apr 28 May 25 Jun Working Bees will commence at 0900 hrs and will conclude with an Association-funded BBQ at 1400 hrs at the North Fort Mess. Association volunteers will return to the restoration of the second AN/KPQ-1 Mortar Locating Radar for external display purposes., once the main display areas a r e r e -instated. As indicated in the June 05 edition of LOCREP, plans provide for an historic chronology of Artillery in one hangar, and a series of technical displays in the other. LOCREP 3

4 The chronology will feature Locating equipments as appropriate to each period and the Tech display will feature specific Loc items in a dedicated display. Projects such as these require considerable effort by volunteers and we would greatly appreciate the assistance of anyone available to work on Locating Artillery projects. The Museum is open to the public on weekends, Wednesdays and Public Holidays from 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs. Guided tours are provided. Members wishing to become Tour Guides should ring Cliff Dodds (02) , and mention the Association. MIDWEEK MUSEUM WORKING PARTY At the Sydney re-union held at North Fort on Sunday 27 t h November, former 133 Bty Radar Sgt Barry Miles, who lives on the Northern Beaches, indicated an interest in doing midweek voluntary work on the Association s projects. If you are interested in joining Barry, please contact Joe Kaplun on (02) NORTH FORT MEMORIAL WALK DRIVE FOR LOCATOR PAVERS The drive for a Locators area in the Memorial Walk at North Fort continues. The Association s corporate - sized paver is in place depicting the Association s name and Logo. Individual pavers surround the large paver and to this end, the appeal launched in the June 04 LOCREP remains open and we encourage members to get on board with pavers not only for themselves but for family members as well. Pavers already in place in other parts of the Memorial Walk may be relocated, and members so affected should contact North Fort direct by telephone on A paver order form can be obtained from North Fort or from the Association website INCORPORATION OF THE ASSOCIATION The Incorporation of the Association is now complete and we are officially The Locating Artillery Association Inc. John Saltwell has engineered the process for us in his usual efficient manner. All current financial members are automatically members of the new organisation and our rules have been modified to meet the requirements of Incorporation. A minor modification has been made to our application for membership which now requires a proposer and a seconder. The Committee will look after this formality if interested parties in remote locations need support in lodging applications. The Committee has also decided to align our end of year with the traditional Financial Year, ending 30 t h June annually. With this in mind, the AGM has been deferred until early July 2006 and additional committee meetings scheduled in the interim. 20 th STA REGIMENT PROGRESS REPORT P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f J o e E l k u s c h The 2nd rotation of the Australian Multinational Task Group (AMTG) deployed in late Oct 05. This included another Target Acquisition Detachment and a small STA Cell (formerly BAIO). The AN/TPQ 36 Weapon Locating Radars remain in location with only the crews rotating out. The second rotation is being led by Capt Daimien Carroll, with the rotation already seeing action, locating incoming projectiles within a few days of arrival. So far the radars have a 100% success rate. LOCREP 4

5 The first rotation has now arrived back home in Australia for a well deserved rest. This group, led by Capt Danny McGinley, completed an outstanding tour, conducting crater analysis, artillery intelligence and target acquisition. The Commander of AMTG 1 has stated that the STA capability was an excellent capability with which he would deploy again. The second rotation from 131 STA Bty will soon be supplemented with 4 Mini-U A V systems. The Mini UAV (see picture) called 'Skylark', is electrically powered and carries a day or night camera, duration up to 2 hours, and can travel up to 10 km. Phil Swinsburg LTCOL TROPHIES AND PRIZES The refurbishment of the Walker Trophy is well advanced. All that remains is to have a pair of handles fabricated to copy the originals, one of which is missing. The trophy will be presented in a glass case or on a presentation plinth, identifying the Association s role in its refurbishment. LT COL Swinsburg has indicated in his report that the inter-battery competition envisaged by LT Walker in his 1957 donation will be re-introduced. In the light of this information, the Association will additionally provide a polished wood presentation board to record the winners year by year. Skylark UAV Launch The UAVs will be allocated in direct support of Company or Platoon operations or in support of base security. Command and Control of the UAV will be exercised through the STA Cell in Battalion HQ. 131 STA Bty was chosen to insert the capability due to their previous experience with similar systems over the past few years. The longer term concept of employment across Army for the Mini-UAVs has not yet been decided, but in the mean-time, 131 STA Bty will remain Army's centre of excellence for UAVs. This centre of excellence will continue when the Minister for Defence announces the winning tenderer of the Joint Project 129, due to deliver a higher level Tactical UAV system into Army. This higher level UAV will equip 132 UAV Bty due to be raised in Jan Finally, I wish all the members of the Association a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year and thank you all for the refurbishment of the 'Walker' trophy. I look forward to the first inter-battery competition within the Regiment in 2007 I also wish our soldiers and officers currently deployed a s a f e t o u r a nd a safe return. "Seek to Strike" The Committee continues to work towards the determination of trophies and prizes as detailed in previous editions of Locrep, in recognising outstanding efforts by soldiers in 20 STA Regt and STA Wing Courses. REGIONAL CONTACTS A full contact list appears as an insert to this edition and will be a regular feature of Locrep in future. We encourage members to be in touch with their regional contacts so that local networks can grow and members can take part in nearby activities, especially on significant occasions such as ANZAC Day etc. Similarly, we ask that Regional Contact volunteers maintain contact with Newsletter Editor Allan Harrison, preferably by to allan@harrisonsolution.com.au or at PO Box W43 Abbotsford NSW Notifications re local activities will be placed on the website notice board and will be published in Locrep. AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MEDAL The Association continues to receive conflicting reports regarding the acceptance of applications for the new medal. Our advice is that applications will be called by LOCREP 5

6 press release. We further understand that qualifying serving pe rsonnel will be issued in the first instance, followed by qualified ex-service personnel. 40 TH ANNIVERSARY - VIETNAM VETERANS RE-UNION AUGUST 2006 idea to get in soon and book your accommodation and travel arrangements. More information and updates on the Association website: LOCATOR IN PROFILE The Coffs Harbour Branch of the Association is putting together a Vietnam Veterans Gunners re-union to mark the 40 t h anniversary of 1 ATF Vietnam. The event will be based at the Coffs Harbour Ex- Servicemen s Club and will include social events, bowls, golf, deep sea fishing, a Freedom of the City march, a shopping bus trip for the ladies and appearances by performers who entertained the troops in SVN. The program is looking like this: Thurs 17 t h 1700 Cocktails, meet & greet Fri 18 t h 0800 B r e a k f a s t 1700 Memorial Service (Cenotaph) 1701 Dinner and entertainment Sat 19 t h 0800 B r e a k f a s t 0900 Golf, bowls, fis hing, shopping 1600 Freedom of the City March 1800 Regimental Dinner Sun 20 t h 0800 B r e a k f a s t, f r e e morning 1230 BBQ Lunch, Farewells Accommodation can be booked through the Coffs Harbour Visitor Info Centre (toll free ). Please quote RAA Re -union Tracking # 97. Enquiries: David Auld divloc131@hotmail.com David Doyle ddoyle@tpg.com.au David & Jane Gow reunion2006@ceinternet.com.au The legendary Coffs Harbour re-unions have gone from strength to strength over the years and this special one will be no exception. It would be a good In this issue we feature LT COL Phillip Swinsburg Head of the 20 t h STA Regt IIS Team and CO- elect of the new Regiment (see insert). POST-NOMINALS LET US KNOW The Association does not recognise rank except in the case of serving personne l. Nevertheless, the Committee at its most recent meeting agreed that we should record Post- Nominals and acknowledge members accordingly in correspondence and reports. We therefore invite you to inform us of your postnominals in writing to the Secretary, 6 Apex Ave Picnic Point 2213, or by to info@locatingartillery.org 2005 SYDNEY RE-UNION This annual event took place on Sunday 27 Nov at North Fort and was attended by over 50 members and their guests. Mother Nature unloaded on us again with a wild and wet Southerly buster. North Head veterans will recall such days at the Fort and this one was right up there. We were delighted with the turnout in the conditions which would have kept the less enthusiastic at home (see cover photo). Fortunately the marquee at the Observation Platform stayed in one piece (well almost) and Joe Kaplun and Diane Wood turned on another one of their special spreads. North Fort Tour Guide and Association regular Blue Johnson led the visitors on an inspection tour of the Fort and Tunnels. LOCREP 6

7 KEVIN MAKER HONOURED Kevin is a hard working Association member and has rallied a substantial number of ex- Locators and other ex- service men and women in the Hunter Valley. We offer our congratulations to Kevin who was recently honoured with a local Community Service Award for service to Veterans. Kevin offers his services free of charge as a DVA Advocate. He resides in Maitland and can be reached on Kevin Maker addresses the Association Committee Meeting held at Maitland Ex- Services Club ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f R o n H a r t m a n n ) LOCREP 7

8 Locator in Profile - LT COL Philip R Swinsburg Born in Sydney in 1967, he graduated from Chatswood High School in In 1986 LT COL Swinsburg entered RMC, graduating in 1987 and was allocated to 1 Fd Regt RAA as a Section Comd in 101 Fd Bty and then as GPO in 105 Fd Bty. In 1990 LT COL Swinsburg was posted to 131 Div Loc Bty as a Target Acquisition Section Comd and then as a Target Acquisition Tp Comd. In 1992 he attended the Gunnery Staff Course (Depth Fire) at the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill, UK, where he graduated as dux in his class. He subsequently went on to work with the British Army in Germany as a Target Acquisition and Deep Attack Instructor at the Royal Artillery Gunnery Training Establishment in Hohne Barracks, Bergen-Belsen Germany. On return to Australia in 1994, he was posted to the School of Artillery in Sydney were he undertook doctrine writing. In 1995 LT COL Swinsburg was posted SI Loc Wing. In 1996 he took command of A Squadron 1 st Reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RISTA) Regiment. In June of the same year, he converted A Squadron 1 st RISTA back to 131 Loc Bty in line with the restructuring of 1 Div and the end of the RISTA trial. During this time, LT COL Swinsburg restructured 131 Bty to include a Ground Surveillance capability, assisted in the introduction of tactical targeting doctrine and ran the first Targeting Instructors course for members of the School of Artillery. He also assisted the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre in the conduct of their Pilot Targeting Course in April In 1999 he was posted to the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters as the J3 Surveillance and Target Acquisition. In June 1999, LT COL Swinsburg attended the US Command and General Staff College were he was awarded the Eisenhower Award as dux in his class. During these studies he gained a US Military staff designation as a Strategist, successfully competed for and was award the title of Master Tactician and completed a Masters in Military Art and Science majoring in Strategy. He was subsequently selected by the US Army to attend the School of Advance Military Studies, the first Australian to be afforded this opportunity. During this year, LT COL Swinsburg completed a second Masters in Military Art and Science majoring in Theatre Operations. While in the US he published three thesis length articles. LT COL Swinsburg s other tertiary qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts and Profession Studies majoring in Disaster Management from the University of New England, awarded in Since returning from the United States LT COL Swinsburg has been posted to Strategy Branch and then Strategic Operations Division in the Australian Defence Headquarters as SO1 Land Operations. During this posting, LT COL Swinsburg was involved in the strategic planning for the deployment of the Australian Contribution to Operation BASTILLE and then FALCONER in the Middle East in Other operational responsibilities included Operations TANAGER and then CITADEL in East Timor, Operation BEL ISI II in Bougainville, Operation HELPEM FREN, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), Operation OSIER in Bosnia and minor UN deployments. Presently, LT COL Swinsburg is the SO1 Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment Implementation Team, responsible to establish and raise 20 th STA Regt. This unit will introduce into service the first unmanned aerial vehicle unit in the ADF and will be operational from LT COL Swinsburg will be the first Commanding Officer of the unit in Married to Gaye, he has two children, Katelyn and Elizabeth. His hobbies include Cycling, Woodworking and Golf. His interests include reading military history, campaign planning and implementing systems analysis awareness in the workplace. LOCREP 8