[Australia]: Operation Resolute

[Owen]

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OPERATION RESOLUTE​

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Objective:	Patrols of Australia's Borders and Exclusive Economic Zone
Date:	20 November 1999 - Present
Location:	Mainland Australia, Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island, Lord Howe Island, Coral Sea Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Status:	Ongoing

BELLIGERENTS​

Australia Australian Border Force Royal Australian Navy Royal Australian Air Force Australian Army Australian Federal Police Australian Fisheries Management Authority Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service Australian Security Intelligence Organisation New South Wales New South Wales Police Force Victoria Victoria Police Queensland Queensland Police Service Western Australia Western Australia Police Force South Australia South Australia Police Tasmania Tasmania Police Northern Territory Northern Territory Police Force

People Smugglers Drug Smugglers Illegal Fishermen

COMMANDERS AND LEADERS​

Julia Gillard (Prime Minister) Ros Kelly (Minister for Home Affairs) Tony Burke (Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) John Faulkner (Minister for Defence) Jason Clare (Minister for Justice and Customs) Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg (Commissioner of the Australian Border Force) General Peter Cosgrove (Chief of the Defence Force) Vice Admiral David Johnston (Chief of Joint Operations) Vice Admiral Russ Crane (Chief of Navy) Air Marshal Angus Houston (Chief of Air Force) Lieutenant General Peter Leahy (Chief of Army) Commodore Christina Ween (Senior Naval Officer Northern Australia) Commissioner Tony Negus (Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police) Mike Burgess (Director-General of Security) Commissioner Catherine Burn (Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force) Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon (Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police) Commissioner Bob Atkinson (Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service) Commissioner Barry Matthews (Commissioner of the Western Australia Police Force) Commissioner Malcolm Hyde (Commissioner of the South Australia Police) Commissioner Richard McCreadie (Commissioner of the Tasmania Police) Commissioner Paul White (Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police Force)

None

STRENGTH​

Australian Border Force Maritime Border Command: Australian Border Force Marine Unit: ABFC Ashmore Guardian (16x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Triton (40x Border Force Officers) ABFC Roebuck Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Hervey Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Holdfast Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Arnhem Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Dame Roma Mitchell (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Botany Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Corio Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Storm Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Oceanic Viking (65x Border Force Officers, 10x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Ocean Shield (16x Border Force Officers, 6x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) ABFC Ocean Protector (16x Border Force Officers, 6x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers) Australian Coastal Surveillance Organisation (Coastwatch): 10x de Havilland Canada DHC-8-200 Dash 8s (40x Border Force Officers) JOINT TASK FORCE 639 (AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE NORTHERN COMMAND):​ Royal Australian Air Force Surveillance and Control Group: No. 41 Wing (not operationally deployed): No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit (200x Regular Personnel) No. 2 Control and Reporting Unit (Northern Region Operations) (200x Regular Personnel) No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit (Eastern Region Operations) (200x Regular Personnel) Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boat Group: Attack Division: HMAS Armidale (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Larrakia (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Bathurst (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Albany (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) Assail Division: HMAS Pirie (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Wallaroo (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Ararat (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Broome (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) Ardent Division: HMAS Bundaberg (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Wollongong (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Childers (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Launceston (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) Aware Division: HMAS Maryborough (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Glenelg (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Mildura (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) HMAS Cessnock (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns) Australian Army 2nd Division: Regional Force Surveillance Group: North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) (500x Regular Personnel) Pilbara Regiment (500x Regular Personnel) 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (500x Regular Personnel) Inactive Royal Australian Air Force Maritime Patrol Group: No. 92 Wing, Detachment B: No. 11 Squadron (100x Regular Personnel, 4x Lockheed AP-3C Orions)

Unknown

CASUALTIES AND LOSSES​

None

None

 

[Owen]

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The Operation would get underway with 16 Armidale-class Patrol Boats of the Royal Australian Navy. From HMAS Melville in Darwin the following vessles would depart to their designated patrol zones, all patrols would be operated on a 6 month basis, that is they will change crew after 6 months. Replenishment will be done at local ports and facilities as they will remain close to the Australian shoreline, within the Exclusive Economic Zone:

• Attack Division:
  • HMAS Armidale (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Larrakia (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Bathurst (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Albany (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
• Assail Division:
  • HMAS Pirie (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Wallaroo (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Ararat (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Broome (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
• Australian Border Force:
  • ABFC Ashmore Guardian (16x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)
  • ABFC Triton (40x Border Force Officers)
  • ABFC Roebuck Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)
  • ABFC Hervey Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)
  • ABFC Holdfast Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)

HMAS Armidale, Larrakia, Bathurst, Albany and Pirie along with ABFC Roebuck Bay and ABFC Hervey Bay would all be patrolling the north-western coastline between Darwin and Broome, Western Australia (within PH and OH). This would include the Timor Sea and Indian Ocean. HMAS Wallaroo, Ararat and Broome along with ABFC Holdfast Bay would be patrolling the northern coastline between Darwin and Torres Strait including the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Arafura Sea (within PH and QH). ABFC Ashmore Guardian would be deployed to the Ashmore and Cartier Islands patrolling in and around the waters there. ABFC Triton would be stationed in the Timor Sea and would act as a command vessel. All ships would be fully stocked with ammunition and necessary supplies. They would dock as needed in designated ports (Broome, Darwin, Nhulunbuy, Karumba, Nanum, Home Island and Flying Fish Cove).

From HMAS Advance in Dampier the following vessles would depart to their designated patrol zones, all patrols would be operated on a 6 month basis, that is they will change crew after 6 months. Replenishment will be done at local ports and facilities as they will remain close to the Australian shoreline, within the Exclusive Economic Zone:

• Aware Division:
  • HMAS Maryborough (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Glenelg (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Mildura (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Cessnock (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
• Australian Border Force:
  • ABFC Arnhem Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)
  • ABFC Dame Roma Mitchell (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)

HMAS Maryborough and Glenelg along with ABFC Dame Roma Mitchell would all be patrolling the north-western and western coastline between Broome and Geraldton (within OH and OG). HMAS Mildura would be deployed to Christmas Island and HMAS Cessnock would be deployed to the the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, doing patrols around those islands and within their EEZ along with ABFC Arnhem Bay which would navigate between the two. They would dock as needed in designated ports (Broome, Dampier, Port Hedland, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Home Island and Flying Fish Cove).

They would complimented by 7 de Havilland Canada DHC-8-200 Dash 8s from the Australian Border Force Coastal Surveillance Organisation (Coastwatch) who would fly missions out of Darwin and Broome Airports on a regular basis. There would be at least two aircraft in the air at all times. The remainder would be on call out only though when surveillance was needed.

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From HMAS Cairns in Cairns the following vessles would depart to their designated patrol zones, all patrols would be operated on a 6 month basis, that is they will change crew after 6 months. Replenishment will be done at local ports and facilities as they will remain close to the Australian shoreline, within the Exclusive Economic Zone:

• Ardent Division:
  • HMAS Bundaberg (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Wollongong (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Childers (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
  • HMAS Launceston (21x Regular Personnel, full rounds for Rafael Typhoon gun and 2x 12.7mm machine guns)
• Australian Border Force:
  • ABFC Botany Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)
  • ABFC Corio Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)
  • ABFC Storm Bay (12x Border Force Officers, 3x Australian Fisheries Management Authority Officers)

HMAS Bundaberg, Wollongong and Childers along with ABFC Botany Bay and ABFC Corio Bay would be patrolling up and down the Queensland coastline between Torres Strait and Brisbane within the EEZ, stretching outwards to encompass all of the Territory of the Coral Sea Islands (within QH and QG). They would occassionally visit such islands for routine patrols. HMAS Launceston and ABFC Storm Bay would be deployed to the Torres Strait (within QH), patrolling the islands in and around the strait and engaging with the local Torres Strait Islanders and PNG Navy. All ships would be fully stocked with ammunition and necessary supplies. They would dock as needed in designated ports (Cairns, Thursday Island, Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone, Hervey Bay and Brisbane). They would complimented by 3 de Havilland Canada DHC-8-200 Dash 8s from the Australian Border Force Coastal Surveillance Organisation (Coastwatch) who would fly missions out of Cairns Airport on a regular basis. There would be at least one aircraft in the air at all times. The remainder would be on call out only though when surveillance was needed.

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ABFC Oceanic Viking, ABFC Ocean Shield and ABFC Ocean Protector would be prepared from their base in Hobart. Oceanic Viking would have 65 Border Force officers onboard and 10 Australian Fisheries Management Authority officers. Ocean Shield and Protector would have 16 Border Force officers onboard and 6 Australian Fisheries Management Authority officers. These are quite large ships and would be tasked with patrolling the southern coastline of Australia, the southern ocean and Macquarie Island (apart of Tasmania). ABFC Ocean Protector would depart Hobart and head east towards Macquarie Island (QE -> QD -> RD) where it would patrol for a couple of months before heading back to Hobart to replenish. ABFC Ocean Shield would head west along the southern Australian coastline towards Perth (RD -> QD -> QE -> QF -> PF -> OF), doing round trips along the southern coastline back to Hobart from Perth. They would replenish on every dock back in Hobart. There would be enough fuel and supplies to last them at least 4 months. ABFC Oceanic Viking would patrol the open waters of the southern ocean.

At least one Australian Federal Police officer would be onboard every Navy vessel in order to provide for the necessary arrest powers if it is required. Border Force and Fisheries officers have powers of arrest.

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Another crucial element of Operation Resolute was the deployment and patrols conducted by the Regional Force Surveillance Units. These units form part of Regional Force Surveillance Group of the 2nd (Australian) Division and consist of: North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE), Pilbara Regiment and 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (51FNQR). They each consist of 500 Regular Personnel. NORFORCE is broken up into Arnhem Squadron, Centre Squadron, Darwin Squadron and Kimberley Squadron. Pilbara Regiment is broken up into 1st Squadron, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Squadron and 4th Squadron whereas Far North Queensland Regiment is broken up into A Company, B Company, C Company and D Company. They each had a designated area of northern Australia to which they would patrol. NORFORCE is focused on the Northern Territory and Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Pilbara Regiment is focused on the Pilbara Region of Western Australia and 51FNQR is focused on Far North and North West of Queensland. NORFORCE is based out of Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, Pilbara Regiment out of Taylor Barracks, Karratha and 51FNQR out of Porton Barracks, Cairns. They would operate regular patrols out of these areas. Arnhem Squadron would patrol Arnhem Land and the eastern part of the Top End, Darwin Squadron would patrol the western part of the Top End, Centre Squadron would patrol the inland parts of the Northern Territory and Kimberley Squadron would patrol the Kimberley region. As for Pilbara Regiment and 51FNQR there would be no designated areas where the Squadrons/Companies patrol but would be generalised across the battalion/regiment patrol area.

NORFORCE Patrol Area

Pilbara Regiment Patrol Area

51FNQR Patrol Area
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The units draw on a long-time practice in Australia of using Aboriginal trackers. Indigenous skills of patrol, pathfinding and outback survival have a proud record in Australia assisting colonial and modern-day law enforcement and military operations. As a result, a high proportion the RFSUs' personnel are Indigenous Australians, making the Australian Army one of the largest single employers of Indigenous Australians. NORFORCE has the highest proportion of Indigenous soldiers, with 60% of the unit's personnel being Indigenous. About 30% of 51FNQR's personnel are Torres Strait Islanders or other Indigenous Australians. The Pilbara Regiment has relatively few Indigenous soldiers. The RFSUs' are highly regarded by many Indigenous community leaders as the units provide employment and training opportunities to young Indigenous people living in remote communities.

These units would begin patrols as apart of Operation Resolute and would be using the vast majority of its manpower at a single time patrolling some of the most remote areas of northern Australia.

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No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit, No. 2 Control and Reporting Unit and No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit of No. 41 Wing would provide operational support to Operation Resolute. These units remain at their designated bases and provide wide-area surveillance of Australia through several sources, such as the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) and the Vigilare Air Battlespace Management System. No. 1 RSU operates JORN and focuses on over-the-horizon surveillance whereas No. 2 and No. 3 CRU operate the Vigilare system to receive, interpret and consolidate data from over 250 defence and civil radars and other sensors to generate and display the Australian Recognised Air Picture. No. 2 focuses on Western Australia, Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, as well as Cocos and Christmas Islands, and No. 3 focuses on Southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island.

OPERATION WOULD BE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, LOCATIONS AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF DEPLOYED ASSETS WOULD BE CLASSIFIED.​