Operation Papua New Guinea Assist
Encyclopedia
Operation Papua New Guinea Assist was the Australian Defence Force
's contribution to the Australian humanitarian effort in Oro Province
, Papua New Guinea
following heavy flooding caused by Cyclone Guba
in November 2007. The humanitarian effort was being led by AusAID and the ADF provided logistical support. The first ADF units involved in this operation deployed to Papua New Guinea on 21 November 2007 following a request from the PNG government. The operation was completed early December 2007.
The ADF force was designated Joint Task Force 636 and was led by Group Captain
Tim Innes. The force had a strength of about 170 personnel and involved the following ADF units:
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
's contribution to the Australian humanitarian effort in Oro Province
Oro Province
Oro Province, formerly Northern Province, is a coastal province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Popondetta. The province covers 22,800 km², and has 133,065 inhabitants ....
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
following heavy flooding caused by Cyclone Guba
Cyclone Guba
Cyclone Guba was a tropical cyclone that resulted in 149 fatalities and severe damage across southeastern Papua New Guinea...
in November 2007. The humanitarian effort was being led by AusAID and the ADF provided logistical support. The first ADF units involved in this operation deployed to Papua New Guinea on 21 November 2007 following a request from the PNG government. The operation was completed early December 2007.
The ADF force was designated Joint Task Force 636 and was led by Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Tim Innes. The force had a strength of about 170 personnel and involved the following ADF units:
- A small ADF support and command element
- Two C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
from No. 37 Squadron RAAFNo. 37 Squadron RAAFNo. 37 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. Formed in July 1943 at RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria, it currently operates C-130H and C-130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. The unit saw active service flying C-60 Lodestars and C-47 Dakotas in... - One C-17 Globemaster IIIC-17 Globemaster IIIThe Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
from No. 36 Squadron RAAFNo. 36 Squadron RAAFNo. 36 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. It currently operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from RAAF Base Amberley. The Squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft during World War II, the Berlin Airlift, Korean War, Vietnam War and the invasion of Iraq... - Three DHC-4 CaribouDe Havilland Canada DHC-4 CaribouThe de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou is a Canadian-designed and produced specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing capability...
from No. 38 Squadron RAAFNo. 38 Squadron RAAFNo. 38 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1943 and saw active service in the Second World War, Korean War and Malayan Emergency. No. 38 Squadron has also supported Australian peacekeeping operations around the world including in Kashmir and East... - HMAS WewakHMAS Wewak (L 130)HMAS Wewak is the fifth ship of the Balikpapan class of heavy landing craft operated by the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- One Beechcraft Super King AirBeechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
from the 173rd Surveillance Squadron - Three S-70A BlackhawksSikorsky S-70The Sikorsky S-70 is a medium transport/utility helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the U.S. Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the UH-60 Blackhawk and spawning a large family in U.S. military service...
from B Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment - Navy clearance diversClearance Diving Team (RAN)The Clearance Diving Teams of the Royal Australian Navy also act as commando frogmen: they consist of naval personnel who are qualified in diving, demolitions, underwater repairs, and reconnaissance...
- A health assessment team from 1st Health Support Battalion
- An engineering team