A Heinkel under attack, exploding into a house near Bournemouth, a crew member on his parachute, all captured on camera gun by a Spitfire. But what’s the story behind it? The Wingleader team discover the full tragic tale of the men involved that day.
Vice Admiral David Johnston begins his term as Australia’s Defence Force chief amidst significant challenges. The federal government has entrusted him with the task of addressing plummeting morale and stagnant recruitment, set against the backdrop of unprecedented strategic uncertainty. Despite his anticipated short tenure, Johnston’s reputation as an industrious leader suggests he will implement much-needed reforms during his time in office.
With experience as Joint Operations chief and Defence Force vice chief, Johnston is well-equipped to tackle the multifaceted issues ahead. His appointment as the first naval leader to head the Defence Force in two decades reflects the recognition that contemporary challenges largely revolve around Australia’s maritime capabilities.
Key challenges include the pressing workforce crisis characterized by recruitment shortfalls and low morale. The Defence Force aims to increase its personnel by 30% by 2040, but current numbers fall short, necessitating concerted efforts to attract and retain talent.
Improving morale involves addressing cultural issues within the Defence Force and the department, a task Defence Minister Richard Marles has committed to tackling. Johnston emphasizes the importance of creating a respectful and supportive environment for personnel.
Budgetary considerations are crucial to bolstering morale, as insufficient support and unrealistic expectations contribute to dissatisfaction. Marles proposes cuts and restructuring to align resources with actual needs, aiming to instil confidence in the workforce.
Johnston’s tenure coincides with the release of a report on internal cultural issues, including veteran suicides, underscoring the imperative for reform and improved support mechanisms. The Defence Force’s participation in the Royal Commission reflects a commitment to enhancing its culture.
The Prime Minister highlighted the need for effective leadership in navigating a complex global strategic environment, particularly in responding to regional tensions. Johnston’s appointment signifies a shift in focus from the war on terror to new challenges, requiring adaptive leadership and strategic vision.
As you know, I’ve written several articles on the 1968 Battles of Coral and Balmoral – principally analyzing the Vietnamese accounts – see free-to-read: https://www.scribd.com/document/374639182/Vietnam-War-The-Battles-of-Coral-S%E1%BB%9F-H%E1%BB%99i-and-Balmoral-%C4%90%E1%BB%93ng-Tram-May-1968-The-Vietnamese-Communist-Accounts-including-three-sketch-maps – 56 pages with maps etc.
I ‘ve noticed a recent item on a local NSW website – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/illawarra-breakfast/carl-robinson/103689052 that recounts recent Australian-assisted efforts assisting the recover of bodies/remains of the Vietnamese casualties from the Battle of Balmoral in Binh Duong Province ie: “Australia Helps Vietnam Find Fallen Soldiers from the Battle of Balmoral”. The short article notes: “After 15 years of search efforts, a team including Australian veterans have helped authorities to identify the resting place, in Binh Duong province, of a large number of fallen Vietnamese soldiers from the Battle Of Balmoral.(Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam).” The article shows an Australian Army major (? RAEME) assisting Vietnamese searchers at a site in Binh Duong.
Regards, Ernie Chamberlain
MEMO to Hon Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence.
Dear Richard (if I may be so bold), there are moments when personal and political ambition versus national interest, sometimes opposing concepts, collide.
One has arrived, and you have made what may be the most important ministerial decision affecting the ADF’s future direction and leadership.
It is so critical your entire stewardship may be judged by future generations on the basis of that decision alone.
Forget about AUKUS, Hawaiian shirts and cocktails at the Hale Koha Club, Waikiki or golf at the Navy-Marine Club, Pearl Harbour, or even how many VIP jets the PM needs, this will be your Rubicon.
CLICK LINK to continue reading
Amidst the unveiling of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, a significant departure from Australia’s traditional defense stance emerges, emphasizing tactical and strategic deterrence. Central to this shift are the concepts of “impactful projection” and “national defense,” redefining Australian deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles elaborated on the notion of “impactful projection,” stressing the need for the defense force to hold adversaries at risk far from Australian shores, signaling a departure from past strategies.
This paradigm shift is echoed in the Defense Strategic Review’s assertion that Australia lacks effective defense capabilities against higher threat levels, advocating for collaboration with the United States and other key allies to maintain regional stability and deter aggression.
While efforts to reshape the Australian Defence Force are underway, the Royal Australian Air Force appears to face a gap in survivable long-range strike capabilities, a concern heightened by the region’s escalating security risks.
Despite discussions about the B-21 Raider, the review deems it unsuitable for acquisition, leaving a void in Australia’s defense capabilities. However, alternative options exist, including large, sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles developed by the United States Air Force in collaboration with defense companies.
As Australia navigates evolving security challenges, exploring viable alternatives becomes imperative to ensure robust defense capabilities in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.
Australia’s Defence Department unveiled its latest recruitment campaign on March 17th, urging Australians to consider careers in aviation, medical, intelligence, space, or cyber fields within the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The initiative showcases various aircraft from the RAAF fleet, including F-35A Lightning II and F/A-18F Super Hornet jets, an E-7A Wedgetail, and a C-17A Globemaster heavy airlifter.
What sets this campaign apart is its innovative use of technology. Filmed from an L-39 jet equipped with a high-definition gimbal camera, it marks the first time this advanced equipment has been deployed in Australia for such purposes.
Federal Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh, emphasized the campaign’s focus on highlighting the diverse range of roles within the Air Force. Beyond piloting, it encompasses technical positions such as mechanics, technicians, electronic warfare specialists, cyber experts, and space domain professionals.
Keogh emphasized the importance of recruiting individuals with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills, aligning with the evolving technological landscape not only within the Defence Force but also across broader society.
The campaign aims to attract individuals from various backgrounds, including high school students considering their future career paths and mid-career professionals seeking a change. Keogh stressed the significant support and benefits offered to those joining the Defence Force, including financial assistance for education, housing support, and healthcare benefits.
Air Marshal Robert Chipman, Chief of Air Force, emphasized the modern and technologically advanced nature of the Air Force, urging young Australians to consider the challenging and purposeful career opportunities it offers.
Major General Wade Stothart, Acting Chief of Personnel, highlighted the campaign’s target demographic of Australians aged 16 to 35. He emphasized the appeal of Air Force careers, offering opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology, receive world-class training and education, and enjoy benefits such as competitive salaries, job security, and flexible hours.
Stothart also outlined the various recruitment pathways available, catering to individuals at different stages of their careers, from recent school leavers to mid-career professionals seeking a new direction.
With its blend of technological innovation, diverse career opportunities, and comprehensive support, the “Up There” campaign aims to bolster recruitment efforts and attract top talent to serve in Australia’s Defence Force.
What about Ukraine’s Abrams tanks?
Recent losses underscore the importance of doctrine and training—not just weapons—in war.
DEAN LOCKWOOD,
FORECAST INTERNATIONAL
APRIL 11, 2024 03:53 PM ET
In early March, press reports of the battle at Berdychi, five miles northwest of Avdiivka, asserted that the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade lost three M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, at least four M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and two Assault Breacher Vehicles in combat there. These losses represent 10 percent of the brigade’s tanks, five percent of its infantry fighting vehicles and about one-third of its armored engineer vehicles.
In late March, independent visual reporting confirmed four destroyed Abrams tanks in the vicinity of Avdiivka. Make that 12.9 percent of Ukraine’s Abrams lost in one battle.
However. these reports also said the capture of the rubble of Avdiivka cost the Russians “at least 16,000 dead, probably tens of thousands of wounded and nearly 800 armored vehicles.” Vague reports of Ukrainian losses suggest a few thousand killed, thousands more wounded, and fewer than 100 armored vehicles lost. The Ukrainians claimed the battle effectively halted the advance of the Russian 2nd and 41st Combined Arms Armies.
The M1A1 Abrams figured prominently, albeit not in detail, in these news accounts of Avdiivka and Berdychi. Such reports will likely feature prominently in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s next series of demands for more U.S. and European financial and material support.
But the Ukraine war persists in begging the question: are advanced weapons like the M1A1 Abrams truly force multipliers in Ukraine? Or are they destined to be lost and abandoned on the battlefield?
While many defense pundits wax eloquently about the technological sophistication of Western combat vehicles, the Forecast International Weapons Group once again maintains technology alone is not the key to modern armored warfare. How these weapons are employed tactically is, and always will be, the key factor.
Both the Ukrainian and Russian armies have exhibited a remarkable lack of aptitude, let alone inclination, to properly exploit the potential of advanced weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine. This is not surprising, however, as both armies provide a mirror image of each other in terms of modern tactical sophistication…or, more precisely, the lack thereof.
If the Western combat vehicles in Ukraine, such as the Abrams, are employed with crews and commanders well-grounded in Western armored warfare doctrine, the impact on the battlefield could be devastating for Russian forces. But if Ukrainian forces insist on employing these Western weapon systems according to their existing Soviet-style doctrine, the results on the battlefield will remain mixed at best, disastrous at worst. Even the most sophisticated weapon in the world is utterly useless in untrained (or poorly trained) hands.
Sadly, as the slaughter in and around Avdiivka and Berdychi reflect, continues to indicate the Ukrainians have NOT embraced Western armored combat doctrine. Indeed, the Ukrainians are still operating in the same discredited Russian mode.
Technology does not win battles. Properly trained soldiers win battles.
The commander of the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific region, Admiral Aquilino, has identified the Chinese Communist Party and Russia as significant threats in the area. These threats are outlined in the U.S. national defense strategy, particularly emphasizing Russia’s illegitimate invasion of Ukraine.
Admiral Aquilino oversees all U.S. military operations across the expansive Indo-Pacific region, which spans 36 countries from India to Carabosse, encompassing 14 time zones and half of the world’s population. This vast area is commonly referred to as IndoPACOM.
His responsibilities include managing various volatile situations, ranging from the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (KDZ).
Admiral Aquilino articulated his primary mission as twofold: firstly, to prevent conflicts in the region, and secondly, to be prepared to effectively engage and succeed if conflicts arise.
Central to the latter objective is the integration and synchronization of U.S. forces with allies and partners. Admiral Aquilino emphasized the significance of alliances, friendships, and partnerships throughout the region, both in military and economic terms.
He highlighted the immense strength derived from collaborative efforts, stating that the combined capabilities of the U.S. and its partners far exceed those of any potential adversary. This, he believes, underscores the challenge faced by any adversary in confronting the interconnected network of like-minded nations in today’s globalized world.
Admiral Aquilino pointed to several joint exercises as examples of this collaborative approach. For instance, the Talisman Sabre exercise, originally a bilateral U.S.-Australian event, has evolved to include the participation of 12 to 14 nations, demonstrating the broadening scope of cooperation across the Pacific region.
