New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release
Monday 14 June 2004

18 NZLAV are being loaded on to cargo ship CEC Spring along with 42 other military vehicles at CentrePort today. Once loaded CEC Spring will sail to Australia where the New Zealand Army is planning to undertake Exercise
Predators Gallop, a combined training exercise with Australia.

10 New Zealand soliders will sail onboard CEC Spring with the vehicles and are expected to arrive in Australia on 28 June 2004.

The Light Armoured Vehicles, initially driven from Linton Military Camp to Trentham before the weekend, arrived at CentrePort in groups of four early this morning. Loading commenced at 0700 hours.

The introduction of the NZLAV is a key component in the modernisation of NZDF capabilities and the exercise is a significant milestone for the New Zealand Army. This is the first deployment and collective training exercise to include the NZLAV.

Exercise Predators Gallop is an Australian Defence Force exercise conducted by 1 Brigade in the Mount Bundey Training Area (MBTA) and the Delamere training area, Northern Territory.

287 New Zealand Army personnel will deploy to Australia for this exercise by 5 July 2004, returning to New Zealand by 25 August 2004.

Click for big version
Light Armoured Vehicles being loaded by crane.

Is this the first NZLAV deployment?
Yes. Exercise Predators Gallop 2004 (Ex PG 04) is a significant milestone in the introduction into service of NZLAV as the first major deployment and exercise for the first NZLAV platoon from 1RNZIR.

How many NZLAV are being deployed?
18 NZLAVs are being deployed.

How will the NZLAV be deployed?
The 18 NZLAVs will be deployed by sea along with 42 other military vehicles, including 32 Unimogs, on Monday 14 June 2004.

What is Exercise Predators Gallop?
Ex PG 04 is an Australian Defence Force exercise conducted by 1 Brigade in the Mount Bundey Training Area (MBTA) and the Delamere training area, Northern Territory. The New Zealand Army is participating in the exercise, committing an NZLAV mounted company and logistic support.

Why is this a significant event for the New Zealand Army?
The introduction of the NZLAV is a key component in the modernisation of NZDF capabilities. This is the first NZLAV deployment and the first collective training exercise to include the vehicles. The introduction of NZLAV means enhanced capability, including protected mobility, firepower and interoperability with allies.

When does the exercise actually start?
The joint New Zealand and Australian exercise begins on 18 July 2004 and will conclude with a 6-day force on force manoeuvre exercise. The New Zealand Army contingent will attach to one of the two sides in this 6-day exercise.

What will the manoeuvre exercise entail?
The manoeuvre exercise is a two-sided force on force exercise. It will consist of manoeuvre training for the battle group, before conducting counter recon, advance to contact, obstacle breach, hasty defence and battlefield clearance operations.

When will the New Zealand contingent be deployed?
The New Zealand Army contingent will deploy to Australia between 1 - 5 July 2004. 10 Army personnel will travel onboard cargo ship CEC Spring with the equipment and vehicles that have been loaded today and are set to arrive in Australia on 28 June 2004.

How many New Zealand personnel will be deploying for this exercise?
In total, 287 New Zealand Army personnel will deploy to Australia for this exercise, initially arriving at the Robertson Barracks in Darwin.

How has the New Zealand Army been preparing for this exercise?
The NZLAV drivers have undertaken extensive training led by the Transition Training Team (TTT) at Army Training Group (ATG). The first NZLAV platoon are near the end of their individual training and will March out in a parade in Waiouru on 25 June 2004 before they are deployed to Australia.

What about preparation of the vehicles?
2LFG at Linton Military Camp prepared all the vehicles for this deployment, including cleaning and facilitating the Australian Quarantine Services inspection of every vehicle.

What are the objectives of this exercise?
The main objective of Ex PG 04 is to enhance the interoperability of the New Zealand Army and the Australian Army in a combined setting and to develop mutual confidence in each other’s capabilities.

It is also a chance to develop tactics, techniques and procedures for a motorised company and its support teams.

Ex PG 04 will offer the chance to develop bilateral familiarity with organisations, equipment and capabilities and to foster the long-standing professional link between the New Zealand Army and Australian Army.

What else will the New Zealand Army gain from this exercise?
The benefits of the deployment will be significant. The Army will look to learn as much as possible with respect to the deployment of NZLAV and issues associated with its operational employment and overseas training. It is a key training activity in the progressive generation of the LAV Company.

When will the 18 NZLAVs return back to New Zealand?
All vehicles will be cleaned and checked by Quarantine officials after the exercise is concluded and will return to New Zealand around 25 August 2004.

ENDS

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