CALLS for Australia to commit boots to the ground in the latest Arab-Israeli war ignore the history of that region’s conflicts.

No external nation has ever committed troops in direct military support of Israel’s wars.

It’s simply not in their domestic or international interests.

There is however a long history of foreign nationals serving in the Israel Defence Force.

Israel has universal military service for all able-bodied citizens except ultra-orthodox sects, which do not recognise the Israeli state and claim exemption on religious grounds.

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We would not benefit from getting involved | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

A retired Army Officer was a keen duck hunter and often used hunting dogs when out for a shoot.

He heard about a kennel run by an ex-soldier who trained hunting dogs he thought he would give them a try.

He rang and was told that the only dog they had left was PTE Bowser.  He was told all dogs were given a rank depending on the level of its training and it would cost $10 for the weekend.  As it was a long weekend, he decided to give PTE Bowser a try.  The dog turned out to be a hopeless retriever, but the old man developed a strong friendship with the dog and vowed to use him next time he went hunting.

Two months later he rang and requested PTE Bowser and was told that CPL Bowser was available and would cost $40, the old man was delighted to hear of the dog’s promotion and took him out for the weekend.  The dog was very good at all aspects, pointing and retrieving, and the old man was pleased with his efforts.

It took 6 months before the old man was able to go hunting again, he rang the kennel and asked for CPL Bowser, and was overwhelmed to hear that he was now WO1 Bowser and would cost $300. He took WO1 Bowser out and the dog proved to be a master at all aspects of the hunt.

A month went by, and the old bloke couldn’t stop thinking about the dog, he called the kennel and offered to buy the dog for $500, he was shocked to hear that he could have him for $10,”Is this the same dog you have had since he was a PTE and has progressed to WO1?” the bloke asked, “What happened?”.

The kennel owner stated “Well, he got so good we promoted him to Major, now he just sits on his arse and barks all day.”

In the evolving era of smart weaponry, Northrop Grumman has secured a contract from the US Navy to craft a self-navigating 57-mm artillery round for the Mk110 Naval Gun Mount, a medium-sized firearm on Littoral Combat Ships.

Historical naval warfare, as portrayed in classic films and documentaries, often showed chaotic scenes of explosive shots raining down in hopes of hitting the target. Modern naval strategies, however, emphasize accuracy over raw firepower. The trend has shifted from firing multiple heavy explosive rounds in hope of a few hitting the target to precisely aiming a single round to maximize its effectiveness.

The precision-centric philosophy is evident in Northrop’s latest 57-mm shell. Borrowing from their experience in transforming traditional bombs into precise weapons, Northrop’s new shell features a downsized, yet robust system equipped with seeker sensors. These sensors enable the shell to latch onto and chase even swift and manoeuvrable targets. Further, it’s equipped with a rear-facing steering system for final approach adjustments and a versatile fuse that can be set for close proximity or direct impact, ensuring maximum impact.

Notably, this advanced round can be shot from greater distances, maintain its course regardless of evasive manoeuvres by the target, and is compatible with the current deck gun without any modifications.

Dave Fine, Vice President of Armament Systems at Northrop Grumman, stated, “Our cutting-edge 57-mm guided round offers unparalleled tracking and guidance capabilities. This ensures the Navy not only effectively identifies moving threats but also possesses the unmatched precision to neutralize them.”

Source: Northrop Grumman

A trio of international defence contractors have teamed up to offer a new lower-tier counter-drone system that consists of a turreted infantry rifle with a computerized “smart sight,” a small radar array, and a six-wheeled uncrewed ground vehicle. The resulting combination could potentially be employed against other threats beyond drones and would also offer units on the ground valuable surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Smart Shooter, headquartered in Israel, collaborated with Leonardo DRS, the U.S.-based subsidiary of Italy’s Leonardo, and American firm HDT Global to develop this system, seen in the picture at the top of this story. It is set to make its public debut at the Association of the U.S. Army’s main annual conference that opens in Washington, D.C. next week.

The weapon component of the system comes from Smart Shooter. It consists of the company’s Smash Hopper remote-controlled turret armed with a standard infantry rifle equipped with a Smash 2000-series computerized optic.

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Little Radar-Toting Robotic Gun Vehicle Aims To Protect Squads From Drones (thedrive.com)

ED: Ernie submitted a photo with this article, unfortunately the format would not allow me to copy it.

By Ernie Chamberlain

Several writers have implied that Núi Dat was an Australians-only enclave – however, many other nationalities were serving in the base. The New Zealand gunners (161st Field Battery) first served with 1 RAR in Biên Hòa in 1965, and later moved to join 1 ATF at Núi Dat in mid-1966. In May 1967, NZ Victor Company – from 1RNZIR in Malaysia, joined 6RAR in Ph??c Tuy – with NZ Whiskey Company joining 2RAR in March 1968. Resident US artillery elements supported 1 ATF – eg 105mm and 155mm guns of 2nd Bn/35th Arty Regiment in Núi Dat, and 175mm and 8-inch SP guns of the 1/83rd Arty Regiment in the Heavyweight base about a kilometre south of the 1 ATF base. (US SGT Frank Beltier of 2nd Bn/35th Arty – without permission, joined A/6RAR enroute to Long Tân late on 18 August 1966). Other “resident” US elements at Núi Dat included SIGINT detachments (eg 175th Radio Reconnaissance Regiment) supporting 547 Sig Tp – with direction finding (DF) equipment, and occasionally US DF light aircraft were based at the Núi Dat strip Two US SIGINTers were killed in the Province by VC mines – one near Hòa Long in February 1969, and another near Long Dien on Route 44.

US Liaison Officers (LOs) were routinely attached to 1 ATF – from the US Air Force, from HQ II Field Force Vietnam (II FFV) at Long Bình, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 9th US Infantry Division, 25th US Infantry Division, 199th US Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Brigade/1st US Cavalry Division etc. 1 ATF also exchanged LOs with the Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force (RTAVF) based at Bearcat in south-central Biên Hòa Province. LOs were also sometimes deployed from the 18th (nee 10th) ARVN Division to HQ 1 ATF when elements of that ARVN formation were operating in Phuoc Tuy.

Former NVA/VC soldiers were also stationed in Núi Dat – as “Bushman Scouts” (ie NVA/VC who had rallied to the Government side – termed “Kit Carson Scouts” by the US), serving with Australian units. Bushman Scouts served principally with the RAR battalions and the Reinforcement Unit, but also with 1 Field Squadron RAE and 1 PSYOPS unit (3). NVA/VC ralliers were also employed in Armed Propaganda Teams of the PSYOPS unit for direct contact with the local “VC families”.

“Regular” ARVN personnel also served at Núi Dat – principally members of the 10th Military Intelligence Detachment (10th MID) who were “integrated” into Det 1 Div Int Unit and facilitated the Div Int’s “Acorn raids” against the Viet Cong underground/infrastructure across the Province. ARVN NCOs – often as interpreters, also served with the Civil Affairs Unit and the PSYOPS Unit (about five). NVA/VC prisoners were kept for a short period at the RAACMP “cage” at Núi Dat before processing and movement to formal camps.

In February 1971, AATTV founded the Jungle Warfare Training Centre (JWTC) in the former 8RAR “lines” at Núi Dat – for training ARVN junior officers and NCOs. About 1,500 Vietnamese were trained over two years before the Centre relocated to the ARVN National Training Centre at Van Kiep on Bà Ria Town’s eastern outskirts.

Núi Dat was not quite the “United Nations” – but quite a multi-cultural environment at times.

IF Gaius Petronious Arbiter didn’t exist, someone at Fort Zinderneuf on Canberra’s Russell Hill would have invented him.

Perhaps they already had.

Petronius Arbiter is oft quoted in military circles for his pithy observations on reorganisations.

“We trained hard-but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganised,” he wrote.

“I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganising; and what a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralisation.

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Does anyone progress in Army’s reshuffle | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)