Mechanised Infantry from the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment followed the tanks in armoured personnel carriers, as did personnel from the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, and it didn’t take long for Battle Group Heeler to force the marines’ withdrawal. “We focused heavily on applying the brilliance of basic infantry tactics, providing the Australians and Japanese with a tough, realistic enemy,” Major Dunlevy said.

MRF-D Officer Commanding Lima Company Major Matthew Dunlevy said fighting in opposition to a much larger force on Exercise Southern Jackaroo provided valuable insight on the effectiveness of their training and education. Marines with anti-armour weapons tried in vain to slow the advance of the tanks, which stopped 50 metres from the outpost and fired their 120mm cannon and 12.5mm machine guns. “Two tanks, moving fast - get over here.” “I can see movement to the north,” shouted a marine. As dawn broke across the Townsville Field Training Area, marines from the US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) heard distant rumbles as they waited in a small urban outpost for contact.

Us air force tank carers