Lightness the key

key to Oz

O.D.F.

Australia’s Operational De fence Force, based in Townsville, Queensland, is both older, and somewhat different,from the British, New Zealand and American ready reaction strike forces.

Established in 1978 it is formed around Third Bri gade, commanded by Briga dier Murray Blake, and is made up of about 2500 men in two infantry battalions, and squadrons of field artil lery, engineers, signallers, workshop and supply specialists.

O.D.F. is air portable and thus has no armor, but uses light weight, fast Land-Rov ers and light trucks, carried in with the troops aboard Royal Australian Air Force

Hercules and Caribou trans ports.

Everything about O.D.F. is designed for lightness and speed, from the weapons carried to the vehicles used. ”We are designed to handle small scale incursions on Australian soil, or overseas, as may be needed,” said a Third Brigade spokesman.

In addition to the Hercules the force has access to Chi nook heavy lift helicopters for carrying supplies vehicles guns and men.

No Australian S.A.S. squad ron is attached to O.D.F. but, as was done in Exercise Kangaroo in 1983, S.A.S. troopers can be added as the situation might demand, the spokesman said.

It would appear, also, that some of the equipment used by O.D.F. is common through the British and New Zealand units, which would help supplies in any joint operation overseas.