Securing the Airfield.
U.S. Marine Corps Air and Ground combat Elements combine to conduct aerial assault on RAAF Base Scherger for Talisman Sabre 23.
Article: Jaryd Stock.
ON the 24th of July as the opening ceremony for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 was held at Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Base East onboard HMAS Canberra. Two days earlier on the 22nd U.S. Marines participating in the exercise completed their objectives to storm an austere airfield in the top east of the Australian continent in Queensland, know as RAAF Base Scherger.
The air assault was conducted by USMC Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron VMM-363 “Lucky Red Lions” that had deployed to RAAF Base Darwin from their home base of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to be apart of this years Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 23 as the Air Combat Element known as the ACE.
Six MV-22B Osprey’s conducted the mission supported by VMGR-352 “Raiders” from MCAS Miramar, California performing in the Air to Air Refuelling and logistics role on their departure from Darwin to Scherger.
Once there the Ground Combat Element riding onboard the six Ospreys from USMC India Company, 3rd Battalion from the 1st Marine Regiment secured the ground with support in aerial reconnaissance provided by VMM-363 when troops secured the airfield.
The airfield was then used as a forward operating base for blue air assets participating in the exercise. The scenario demonstrated the interoperability between United States and Australian military assets especially with a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail providing command and control piece for the the USMC task force, as well being supported by Electronic Warfare suppression by RAAF EA-18G Growlers.
This scenario demonstrates the abilities of both nations to operate from a austere environment located anywhere in the South-Western Pacific region.
To watch the assault and aerial refuelling being conducted between VMM-363 and VMGR-352 watch the video at the beginning of this article.
Jaryd picked up a camera at a young age and has never looked back. He now combines photography and writing to highlight "Downunder" aviation; especially U.S. DoD units. Jaryd uses Nikon cameras and lenses.