Operation Astute

Operation Astute

Australian soldiers supporting the Dili Fire Service in June 2006
Date25 May 2006 – 25 May 2013
LocationEast Timor
Result Stabilisation of East Timor
Belligerents
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Malaysia
 Portugal
 East Timor (government troops)
 United Nations soldiers
Renegade elements of the FDTL
Commanders and leaders
Bill Sowry
Mick Mumford
Ismeth Nayan Ismail
Jorge Barradas
Taur Matan Ruak
Gastão Salsinha
Alfredo Reinado  
Strength
13,536 troops
372 police
9 ships
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

Operation Astute was an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It was headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater. The operation was established at the request of East Timor's government, and continues under an understanding reached between Australia, East Timor, and the United Nations, with the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor supporting and helping to develop East Timor's police force. Other countries deploying soldiers to East Timor include Malaysia, New Zealand and East Timor's former colonial power Portugal, operating under independent command.

Initial tasks

The initial tasks of the operation were to:

Deployment

A forward deployment of approximately 200, including a commando company from the 4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, secured an entry point for follow-on forces centred on Dili Airport.

The full deployment consisted of a battalion group of about 1,800 personnel drawn from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and other Australian and New Zealand Army units. Evacuations were carried out by C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, using RAAF Base Darwin as a Forward Operating Base.[1]

Initial assets deployed included the guided-missile frigate HMAS Adelaide, the replenishment vessel HMAS Success and the amphibious landing/hospital ship HMAS Kanimbla. Landing ships HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Manoora were also sent to East Timor with follow-on forces.[2]

Operation Astute was established at the request of East Timor's government. Troops from former INTERFET nations including mostly from Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal have augmented the Australian force. Prior to sending troops, each participating government negotiated a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the government of East Timor.[3]

Malaysian Army forces began arriving on 26 May, by air.[1]

Timeline

May 2006

24 May
25 May
26 May
27 May
29 May
31 May

June 2006

2 June
3 June
7 June
16 June
27 June

July 2006

1 July
18 July
19 July

August 2006

3 August
7 August
14 August
27 August
28 August

September 2006

7 September
19 September

October 2006

26 October

December 2006

17 December

January 2007

26 January

March 2007

4 March

May 2007

9 May
10 May

August 2007

2 August

January 2008

31 January

July 2008

Brigadier Mark Holmes
31 July

January 2009

16 January

Military units involved

Operation Astute is an Australian military operation. While the Malaysian and New Zealand contingents operate under overall Australian command, the Portuguese contingent operates under Portuguese national command.[24] The initial Australian units deployed as part of the operation fell under the operational command of Brigadier Michael Slater, the commander of the Australian 3rd Brigade. The major unit involved in land operations was the 3rd Battalion under its commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mumford. This force was replaced in early September 2006 by a battalion group based around the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment designated the ANZAC Battle Group.[25]

 Australia

Australian Army

Australia currently has approximately 404 personnel deployed to Timor-Leste, the majority of whom are formed into the ANZAC Battle Group, named due to the presence of a rifle company from the New Zealand Army integrated in its structure.

The initial Australian Army force consisted of:

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy force committed to Operation Astute is apparently the largest amphibious task force in the Navy's history.[31]

Royal Australian Air Force

33SQN are assisting the operation by transporting troops from RAAF Base Townsville to RAAF Base Darwin, however only 36SQN and 37SQN have been flying from Darwin to Dili.

 Malaysia

Malaysian Army

Royal Malaysian Navy

Royal Malaysia Police

The Malaysian Government currently anticipates replacing the Malaysian military force with Pasukan Gerakan Khas and General Operations Force operators of the Royal Malaysia Police at the end of July.[35]

 New Zealand

New Zealand Army

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Royal New Zealand Navy

 Portugal

While the Portuguese forces deployed to East Timor are not operating under Australian command, they are acting in co-operation with the Australian, Malaysian and New Zealand forces which are under Australian command.[24]

 United States

Australian soldiers disembark from a USAF C-17 at RAAF Base Richmond on 28 May 2006

The two United States aircraft flew transport flights between Australian air bases (mainly RAAF Base Townsville and RAAF Base Darwin) and were not deployed to East Timor. The aircraft did, however, visit the Solomon Islands in order pick up Australian equipment and personnel.[37] The USAF force completed its mission on 3 June.[38]

In addition, a platoon of the United States Marine Corps Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team was flown into Dili by a United States Navy C-40 Clipper on 26 May to secure the US embassy in Dili.[39] This platoon does not appear to have fallen under Australian command as part of Operation Astute.

Cost

The cost of Operation Astute has represented the third largest operation expenditure between 2006 and 2008, and the second largest from 2009. Below is the yearly expenditure on Operation Astue of the Australian Defence Force.

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Cost (AUD$ million) $107.7[40] $169.1[41] $213.8[41] $151.1[42] $170[42] $160.2[43] $89[44]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Troops pour into Dili, ABC News Online, 26 May 2006
  2. Dili calmer but still dangerous, Houston says, ABC News Online 26 May 2006
  3. Status of Forces Agreements: May 2006, La'o Hamutuk, 1 September 2006
  4. East Timor – Press Conference, Parliament House, The Commonwealth Treasurer, 24 May 2006
  5. John Howard holds press conference on East Timor engagement, ABC News Online, 25 May 2006
  6. E Timorese rebels surrender weapons ABC News Online. 16 June 2006.
  7. Warning Shot Fired in Timor-Leste New Zealand Minister for Defence press release. 27 June 2006.
  8. More New Zealand Troops for Timor' New Zealand Defence Force press release. 29 June 2006.
  9. Troops not leaving Dili yet, says Howard. ABC News Online. 18 July 2006.
  10. Peacekeepers to check weapons in E Timor. The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 July 2006.
  11. Drawdown of Timor Deployment Starts. Australian Department of Defence media release. 3 August 2006.
  12. Returning troops praised. Townsville Bulletin. 8 August 2006
  13. Emotional welcome for troops. Townsville Bulletin. 28 August 2006
  14. NZDF Troops to Return from Timor. New Zealand Defence Force press release. 28 August 2006
  15. Deployment of Troops to Timor Leste. Australian Department of Defence media release. 7 September 2006.
  16. Battle Group Faithful Returns from Timor-Leste. Australian Department of Defence media release. 19 September 2006.
  17. Memorandum of Understanding between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, the United Nations, and Australia on the provision of assistance to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, 26 January 2007.
  18. "All quiet in Timor-Leste presidential vote", United Press International, 9 May 2007
  19. "Australian spy plane crashes into Timorese home", News.com.au, 10 May 2007.
  20. "New commander takes over in East Timor", The West, 2 August 2007.
  21. Change of command in Timor-Leste, Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Australian Minister for Defence, 29 January 2008.
  22. Operation ASTUTE: Brigadier Mark Holmes, MVO: Commander International Stabilisation Force (CISF), East Timor, Australian Government Department of Defence.
  23. Change of command in Australian East Timor mission, media release, Australian Government Department of Defence, 19 January 2009.
  24. 1 2 Portuguese military land in East Timor. Wikinews. 4 June 2006.
  25. Cpl Mike McSweeney 6 RAR off to Timor. Army News. 7 September 2006.
  26. Australian Department of Defence Operation Astute. Retrieved 31 March 2007 and Capt Al Green '1RAR spread far and wide' in Army News Edition 1162, 22 March 2007
  27. John Hunter Farrell, 'Dili Madness. The ANZAC Intervention in Timor Leste' in Australian and NZ Defender. No. 55 Spring 2006. Page 34.
  28. Delivering the goods. Army. 13 July 2006.
  29. Making Most of Flying Time. Army News. 27 July 2006.
  30. Restoring calm and stability. Defence Magazine. June 2006.
  31. Troubled Waters. Navy News. 1 June 2006.
  32. John Hunter Farrell, 'Dili Madness. The ANZAC Intervention in Timor Leste' in Australian and NZ Defender No. 55 Spring 2006. Page 38.
  33. Malaysia Sends 209 Soldiers To Help Quell Unrest In Timor Leste. Bernama. 26 May 2006.
  34. Malcon bantu perdamaian Timor Leste Utusan Online.
  35. M'sian Police To Take Over From M'sian Troops In Timor Leste Bernama. 30 June 2006
  36. Timor-Leste. New Zealand Defence Force. 29 May 2006.
  37. Loadmasters help reposition Australian Defense Forces. Air Force Print News. 30 May 2006.
  38. Isle jets move aid for E. Timor. Star Bulletin. 8 June 2006.
  39. FAST Platoon to Provide Security at U.S. Embassy Dili. United States Pacific Command. 26 May 2006.
  40. http://www.defence.gov.au/budget/07-08/pbs/2007-2008_Defence_PBS_03_s1_ch2.pdf Page 23
  41. 1 2 http://www.defence.gov.au/budget/09-10/pbs/2009-2010_Defence_PBS_03_department.pdf
  42. 1 2 http://www.defence.gov.au/minister/90tpl.cfm?CurrentId=10273
  43. http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview201112/ADF
  44. http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/05/08/minister-for-defence-budget-2012-13-defence-operations-funding/
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