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New heavy armoured vehicle capability systems were publicly displayed and tested in Townsville in a demonstration of effectiveness for the new machinery.
Public demonstrations of 3rd Brigade’s new heavy armoured machinery were shown to civilians and senior officers in Townsville Field Training Area to demonstrate the capabilities of the new systems and vehicles.
The display primarily highlighted the new M1150 assault breacher vehicle and M1110 joint assault bridge, following 3rd Brigade’s reclassification as an armoured formation earlier this year. These tanks are effective in reducing time to clear an obstacle, such as anti-tank minefields and ditches.
Brigadier Ben McLennan said the new machinery are important additions to the brigade, noting the significant advancements they will bring to the efficiency and stealth of operational readiness.
“Having these platforms here allows us to break through the most formidable defences that previously would have taken hours, now it takes a matter of minutes,” BRIG McLennan said.
“The tank gives us unmatched lethality in the close fight and these new platforms, using the same tanks chassis, give us that unmatched mobility.”
The new vehicles, which are based on the Abrams tank chassis, enhance Abrams’ key characteristics of enhanced firepower, mobility and survivability, which BRIG McLennan said gives engineers and crew unparalleled protection.
“The tank gives us unmatched lethality in the close fight and these new platforms, using the same tanks chassis, give us that unmatched mobility.”
Commanding Officer of 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Mitchell explained how for decades throughout his career, these tanks were purely theoretical.
“We used to play YouTube clips to demonstrate what these vehicles could do,” he said.
“To have them physically with us, testing and evaluating how they work; they’ve been incredibly impressive. They do what it says on the label.”
BRIG McLennan recognises the wait that the regiment has undertaken to be able to receive these systems, saying: “We’re so grateful we’re the recipients of these types of platforms, and I know that our Army has worked in some cases for decades to get to this point.”
The live displays act as a valuable testing and training opportunity for crew, as trialling attacks, along with recovery, are vital in ensuring all defensive aspects of the tanks work effectively alongside each other.
“It’s a system. If you don’t have the parts interdependent, working with each other, these will run out of fuel, they’ll get damaged and we won’t be able to bring them back into the fight,” BRIG McLennan said.
Along with this new tech, the live-fire display saw capabilities such as the M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge system and the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tank in action with artillery and machinery infantry support.
