Timely Test for No. 3 Squadron
A No.3 Squadron Iroquois at the Koumac Forward Operating Base in New Caledonia. (MC-08-0141-01-tn).
Exercise Croix Du Sud in early April was not without its challenges for No. 3 Squadron, but the end result was mission accomplished and served as a sign of possible things to come for the Ohakea-based unit. No. 3 Squadron took part in the six-nation, tri-Service exercise in New Caledonia which occurs bi-annually. It is led by the French Armed Forces - New Caledonia (FANC) and also involves the Defence Forces of New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Tonga.
Interoperability was very much the goal for participants in 2008. This ranged from working with other Defence Forces in a combined non-combatant evacuation scenario to aligning different kit and learning best practice from Defence partners.
The No. 3 Squadron detachment included two UH1H Iroquois and for the first time in the field outside of New Zealand, a LOV-mounted mobile Communication Information Systems (CIS) unit.
Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron Wing Commander Ian MacPherson said the interoperability with Navy vessels during the exercise was something different for the unit and although rare, with the planned introduction of the NH90’s, pointed to possible future activity for the Squadron.
“For the exercise itself and the kind of flying we’ve been doing, it has been slightly different. The major factor is that we’re operating with ships, around ships and on ships. Given that we’re buying new helicopters with wheels and all the discussion that goes with the new helicopter types and its interoperability with ships, this exercise is quite timely I’m sure.
“We’ve got a fair way to go as an Air Force in getting our head around the fact that this new aircraft is going to be capable of operating off ships. I think we’re doing the right thing and we can see the utility in being able to operate off a ship and deploy the helicopters easily, all in one go, but there’s going to be some big challenges.
“Just how far we go with that is going to be the bit that will be challenging, but we’re up for it, and it will happen slowly,” WGCDR MacPherson said at Koumac where the Squadron was based during Croix du Sud.
Working with the French was also largely something new for the Squadron; outside of the occasional Casa being involved in Exercise Skytrain.
“This is the second time that we’ve brought Iroquois’ to Croix Du Sud, the last time by Hercules and this time on the HMNZS Canterbury. Working with the French has been quite a lot of fun. They do the same job as us but they do it a different way. They’re a social bunch.
“During force integration training we got ourselves to a position where we were comfortable to operate with the French PUMA. That was fairly simple as it turned out. Our procedures are similar enough to the extent we were able to fly in formation with them and we understood the way they work. The training included mountain flying, formation, deck landing procedures - and by the end of the week we were comfortable to move into the second phase of the exercise,” WGCDR MacPherson said.
Whilst there is still difficulty with landing the skids of the Iroquois on the deck of HMNZS Canterbury whilst she is underway, moving No. 3 Squadron’s equipment and people by the amphibious sealift vessel proved more promising, although a few of the personnel took a couple of days to regain their land legs.
“Probably one of the biggest goals for us was to prove we could embark two Iroquois onto Canterbury and move them to another part of the Pacific, another part of the world, and we’ve achieved that.
“I think generally speaking we’re now comfortable that we can move Iroquois on the Canterbury.”
Despite other teething issues with logistics WGCDR MacPherson was happy with the result, although the team were not looking forward to the MAF cleaning come the end of the exercise.
“All of these things are minor, in the big scheme of things. What’s really important is that we flew on the ship on the day we said we were going to; we flew off the ship the day we said we were going to and we’ve continued to operate here in some fairly difficult conditions. The Huey’s are doing their job just like always, so a pretty great success really.”