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ACU 5 Supports Talisman Saber

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050608-11
Release Date: 6/9/2005 1:01:00 AM

By Photographer's Mate Airman Paul Polach, USS Boxer Public Affairs

DARWIN, Australia (NNS) -- Members of the "Swift Intruders" of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., participated in the first wave of loading Australian army vehicles aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) from May 31 to June 1 in preparation for Exercise Talisman Saber 2005.

During the two-day evolution, ACU 5 picked up Australian army Leopard AS1 Main Battle Tanks and M113A1 Armored Personnel Carriers. Additionally, more than 800 Australian army personnel, who will assist with the maintenance and operation of the loaded vehicles, embarked Boxer June 1.

ACU 5 and more than 16,000 Australian and U.S. service members are set to participate in four weeks of intensive training at Shoalwater Bay, near Townsville and the Coral Sea. Talisman Saber provides a key opportunity to train Australian and U.S. forces in mid- to high-intensity training scenarios. Training such as this prepares units like ACU 5 for dynamic operations in any theater.

“Our main mission is the onloading and offloading of mostly Marine equipment,” said Chief Operations Specialist Scott Wilson, Durango, Colo. “We will be transferring Australian vehicles to and from the ship and dropping the soldiers off at the Shoalwater Bay training area.”

Thirty-three enlisted members and two warrant officers from ACU 5 embarked Boxer April 29 with two landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) vehicles, which are multipurpose hovercraft used for high-speed transfers of personnel, equipment and supplies. A craft master, craft engineer, navigator, loadmaster and two deck engineers make up the crew of an LCAC.

“I am very excited to be working with Boxer and the Navy crew,” said Trooper Kieran Muts, Melbourne, Australia. “I also think (Talisman Saber) will be a great experience for the Australian Army and Boxer to familiarize themselves with one another’s equipment.”