Operation Slipper
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Image:SASR Afghans.jpg Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the International Coalition against Terrorism. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing. ADF participation included two major activities centred on Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.
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Afghanistan
First Phase
Image:33 Sqn.jpg Australian participation in Afghanistan included a Special Forces Task group and two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing 707 air-to-air refuelling aircraft from No. 33 Squadron. These aircraft and associated support personnel operated from Manas, Kyrgyzstan and provided support to coalition aircraft operating in Afghan airspace. RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft were also involved in providing logistic support for deployed forces. The initial ADF commitment in Afghanistan concluded in December 2002 when the Special Air Service Task Group was withdrawn. Following this date Australia’s total contribution to efforts in Afghanistan was a single officer attached to the Coalition’s mine clearing force.
Australian SAS Squadron deployments
Note: all dates are approximate
- 1 Squadron Group, SASR (October 2001-April 2002)
- 3 Squadron Group, SASR (April 2002-July/August 2002)
- 2 Squadron Group, SASR (July/August 2002-November 2002)
A Troop from the Special Air Service of New Zealand was attached to each Australian SAS Squadron Group. It’s unclear whether the New Zealand SAS Troop was rotated at the same times as the Australian units.
Second Phase
An Australian Special Forces Task Group was re-deployed to Afghanistan in August or September 2005. An Australian Provincial Reconstruction Team is expected to be deployed to Afghanistan in 2006.
The Special Forces Task Group currently consists of elements from the SASR, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), the Incident Response Regiment and logistic support personnel. As well as heavily modified land rovers, the Special Forces Task Group is also equipped with some Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles. A detachment of two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2006 to support the Special Forces Task Group.
Persian Gulf
Since October 2001 the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has maintained a continuous presence in and around Iraqi territorial waters as part of Operation Slipper and subsequent operations. There were four major rotations of RAN ships to this area of operations between December 2001 and March 2003. The primary focus of these rotations was to conduct Maritime Interception Operations as part of a US, Australian and British force enforcing United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iraq. The first rotation consisted of Her Majesty's Australian Ships (HMAS) Sydney, Adelaide and Kanimbla. These ships were followed in February 2002 by HMA Ships Canberra, Newcastle and Manoora and again in July 2002 by HMA Ships Arunta and Melbourne. Detachments from the Army's 16th Air Defence Regiment provided point defence to the Kanimbla andManoora during their deployments. The final Operation Slipper rotation was in November 2002 with HMA Ships Anzac and Darwin; these ships remained and participated in the combat phase of the 2003 Iraq War which was codenamed Operation Falconer.
There were numerous highlights and the Australian ships pioneered a number of techniques that increased the effectiveness of Maritime Interception Force operations leading to them intercepting and boarding approximately 1700 vessels during the period. Four Australian naval officers commanded the multi national force at various times during the course of the operation.
Diego Garcia
A detachment of four Australian F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft provided air defence for the US military base on the island of Diego Garcia during the campaign against the Taliban. The initial detachment was provided by No. 77 Squadron RAAF between December 2001 and 10 February 2002. This detachment was replaced by a detachment from No. 3 Squadron RAAF which was deployed between 10 February 2002 and 20 May 2002. No further Australian units have been deployed to Diego Garcia.
References
- Australian Department of Defence Operation Slipper
- Rory Callinan ‘In the Valley of Death’, Time. June 6 2005.
- Corporal Darryl Luck. 3 Squadron’s involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom and the War Against Terrorism.