Cavalry comes to grips with jungle conditions

The 2nd Cavalry Regiment completed 12 days of training last month that culminated in a 48-hour full mission profile using dismounted and mounted force elements to hone their skills in a jungle environment.

CAPTION: An Army light armoured vehicle from 2nd Cavalry Regiment crosses a river during Exercise Regional Warfighter at Tully Training Area, Queensland. Story by Lieutenant Eddie Pa’ak (Papua New Guinea Defence Force). Photos by Corporal Jack Pearce.

Officer Commanding A Squadron Major Laurence Smith said training in the jungle in the Tully Training Area was different to operating in more familiar environments, like the Townsville Field Training Area.

“The training was focused on exposing troops to operating in the jungle while dismounted, as well as understanding the complexities of operating mounted in armoured vehicles in the density of jungle terrain,” Major Smith said.

“We trained in a series of realistic scenarios that simulate the environments where we may operate in the near region, dense jungle, jungle urban fringe, where communications and endurance away from vehicles can be challenging.”

CAPTION: Troopers from Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment move through the jungle during Exercise Regional Warfighter.

The soldiers conducted reconnaissance in the jungle and on urban centres, completed raids and coordinated squadron-level attacks supported by fighting vehicles, and low-level jungle operations, including resupply.

Major Smith said armoured vehicles needed to operate differently depending on the terrain.

“The vehicles can only go to in certain areas; it’s quite restrictive terrain,” Major Smith said.

“We can’t operate how we traditionally would, so we need to understand how the terrain affects mounted manoeuvre.

“You’ve got to slow down; everything is slower and more difficult.”

The training will prove useful as the regiment prepares to deploy to Papua New Guinea for Exercise Wantok Warrior later this year.

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