"The troops are saying that they do not have enough artillery and air support.
If you are a student of the Battle of Long Tan, you would know that artillery support is vital to ground troops."
"The soldiers of D Company held their line and repulsed any VC that got through the artillery barrage. D Company were supported by 24 105 mm and 155 mm guns from the Australian 1st Field Regiment, the 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery and the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 35th Artillery Regiment. Over 3,000 rounds of artillery were fired throughout the remainder of the battle at likely Communists' forming-up positions and withdrawal routes. "A" Battery, 1st Field Regiment fired rounds every 15 seconds for three hours. The U.S. gunners were in the same base as "A" Battery and assisted the exhausted Australian gunners by carrying artillery rounds to their guns."
We were well support by our New Zealand and US allies who provided much of the artillery support.
Our general on the ground in Afghanistan does not think we need more Australian fire support because we have access to US assets.
If we send in more Australia tanks , helicopters and artillery that means more Aussie soldiers and Airmen exposed to danger , more Australian youth to protect in a hostile area. All we would be doing is taking over a service already provide by the US.
Our Generals understand this and thats why they told Tony we didn't need what he was proposing.
The man needs to research his facts before opening his move.
If he doesn't like the military justice system he should speak about that and propose some positive changes to it. But he should keep out of active cases as it undermines the justice system we have.
