Singapore, Aussie troops to conduct urban-based exercise for first time

Soldiers from the Singapore Guards and the 7th Australian Regiment take a group photograph in the middle of performing dry runs of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Soldiers from the Singapore Guards and the 7th Australian Regiment prepare to take a group photograph in the middle of performing dry runs of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Soldiers from the Singapore Guards and the 7th Australian Regiment clear a room during a dry run of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Soldiers from the Singapore Guards and the 7th Australian Regiment get ready to  perform a dry run of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Soldiers from the 7th Australian Regiment demonstrate how they clear a room in an urban environment during a Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) sharing session with the Singapore Guards before performing a dry run of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014.  -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Soldiers from the Singapore Guards demonstrate how they clear a room in an urban environment during a Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) sharing session with the 7th Australian Regiment before performing a dry run of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Second Sergeant Jason Yap (right), 27, fits a round corner sensor on 22-year-old Private Jacob Damon's gun (left), during a Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) sharing session before performing a dry run of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Soldiers from the Singapore Guards and the 7th Australian Regiment carry out a Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) sharing session before performing a dry run of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A soldier from the Singapore Guards (left) and the 7th Australian Regiment (right) clear a room during a dry run of an urban-based exercise at the Urban Operations Training Facility in Shoalwater Bay Traning Area, Rockhampton, on Nov 9, 2014. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Adrian Lim In Rockhampton (australia)

Updated

Published

Nov 09, 2014, 02:59 PM

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia - In another milestone for Singapore and Australia's bilateral military relations, troops from both countries will participate in an urban-based exercise in Rockhampton on Monday.

Around 100 soldiers from the Singapore Guards and the 7th Royal Australian Regiment will mount a capture of buildings ranging from single to 4 storeys at the Urban Operations Training Facility located in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA). The facility is modelled after a township, with shipping containers used to simulate areas such as a marketplace and residential buildings.

In preparation for the exercise, a sharing session on urban tactics and a dry-run was conducted on Sunday, which The Straits Times attended.

Before conducting the urban operation at dawn on Monday, troops will be inserted onto the ground, some 7km away from their objective, via helicopter the night before.

The exercise is part of the ongoing seven-day bilateral military operation called Exercise Trident, which is now in its second year.

On Saturday, troops from both armies performed a beach landing together for the first time at Freshwater Bay in SWBTA.

The ship-to-shore exercise, which also involved Singapore's air force and navy, was observed by Second Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and Australia's Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert.

adrianl@sph.com.sg

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