'Short Gallop' comes to a halt DPR/TV/1288

1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, recently completed Exercise Short Gallop in Eastern Malaya - the first major warm-up by Australian, British and New Zealand soldiers in preparation for the five nation Exercise Bersatu Padu next month. The ten day exercise culminated in a helicopter assault on a known enemy position within thick jungle undergrowth. The Australians attacked a strongly defended bunker system where the enemy role was played by British Commandos and New Zealand troops. Prior to the final assault, helicopters were used to secure a fire support base for artillery support of searching and clearing operations by infantrymen. Once the search of the bunker system had been completed the soldiers were soon engaged in clearing the camp of simulated booby traps and unexploded mines. Another training aspect of the exercise was the constant provision of water, rations, stores, fuel and ammunition to the eight hindred and fifty troops who took part. Despite evidence of elephants, tigers and pigs in the exercise area, the only natural hazard encountered by troops were snakes ranging from coral snakes in the coastal areas to cobras inland. Also identified: Private Phil Alsford of Mount Druitt, NSW; Lieutenant Noel Trevor of Sydney, NSW; Sergeant Keith Burnett of Sydney, NSW; Major Trevor Wilkinson of Canberra, ACT.