Townsville Bulletin

Defence analysis

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sponsored by FEW FOOD delivery services can satisfy an appetite quite like a C- 17A Globemaste­r III.

More than 5000 ration packs were dropped ( pictured) by a C- 17A in two airdrops conducted over June 7- 8, delivered to 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion ( 3 CSSB) during Exercise Brolga Strike 17.

Landing safely on Cormorant Drop Zone ( DZ) in High Range Field Training Area near Townsville, the delivery represente­d the combined efforts of the Royal Australian Air Force’s No. 36 Squadron ( 36SQN), and the army’s 176th Air Dispatch Squadron ( 176AD SQN), 9th Force Support Battalion ( 9FSB).

Exercise Brolga Strike 17 is the Combined Arms Training Activity for the 3rd Brigade ( 3Bde), and involves about 3000 personnel deployed into the field from June 2- 16.

On both airdrops during Exercise Brolga Strike 17, the rations were flown from nearby RAAF Base Townsville.

Inside the C- 17A, the rations were distribute­d across 16 A22 bundles, which filled less than half of the space inside the aircraft’s cargo bay.

Flg Off Jake Nicholas, a C- 17A captain with 36QN, said the airdrops were a welcome training opportunit­y.

“We flew a special route for our own training benefit on both days,” Flg Off Nicholas said.

“This included flying a medium- level navigation route, followed by a mountainou­s ingress into the training area, and a tactical descent to the drop zone. The drops each weighed approximat­ely 11,500lbs ( 5216kg), with 16 bundles containing rations being delivered on each pass.”

Airdrop practice is routinely performed by 36SQN, but opportunit­ies to resupply personnel in the field are rare.

In the past 12 months, 36SQN has air- dropped fuel bladders to researcher­s in Antarctica, and also delivered GPSguided cargo during Exercise Pitch Black 16.

“I’ve done plenty of CDS ( Container Delivery System Strike was the f outside of our tr Londonderr­y ( i Flg Off Nichola “It was good “Not all of th support always trying to get mo drops such as th

Aerial resupp preparatio­n to e the aircraft and good order, and task fell to the a

Lt Col Andy Commanding O members built t at RAAF Base T supported the C the ground.

“176 AD SQN delivery suppor Brolga Strike 17 June 5- 10, whic Officer to Head Harrison- Wyat

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