Pieces of an Austeyr F-88 rifle, dismantled for cleaning by Corporal (Cpl) Brendan Martin, of ...

Pieces of an Austeyr F-88 rifle, dismantled for cleaning by Corporal (Cpl) Brendan Martin, of Signals Platoon, Support Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR). The Austeyr, an Australian-manufactured version of an Austrian design, is the standard rifle used by the Australian army. It features extensive use of composite materials, for example in the plastic stock (top of picture). Infantry from C Company of 2RAR were among the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific troops deployed to protect police posts established by the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Australia’s military contribution to RAMSI was known as Operation Anode. The police post at Malu’u, one of three on the island of Malaita, was opened on 19 September 2003, following a “Weapons Free” ceremony. Prior to the arrival of RAMSI forces, Malu’u was a heartland for the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF), an armed militant group. The MEF surrendered weapons at a ceremony at Auki, capital of Malaita, on 15 August 2003.