ARMY EXERCISE AT WAIOURU

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28758, 2 December 1958, Page 21

ARMY EXERCISE AT WAIOURU

Commander Pleased With Results (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 1. Three simulated nuclear explosions in tussock country close to the Desert road at Waiouru at 6 a.m. yesterday marked the closing stages of the New Zealand Division’s “Exercise Thermopylae.” There were three blinding flashes followed by a terrific rdar across the Waiouru basin, 3450 ft above sea level, as the enemy “rockets” exploded. Three black mushroom-shaped clouds rose to several hundred feet before drifting away in the light breeze. Three drums filled with diesel fuel and soap flakes had been placed on tripods and in the centre of each drum was a bangalore torpedo made with plastic explosive. Underneath was a beehive charge of 61b. The three rockets with nuclear warheads were assumed to have been dropped on to and in front of the division by the enemy. Commenting on the monitoring procedures practised by the units, the acting-commander of the divi-, sion (Brigadier R; C. Queree) «ai< that information came back much more quickly to his headquarters than he expected and he was able to use his forces in another stage of the exercise—the imipediate counter-attack. “I feel very happy about the state of training of all formation headquarters, staffs, and the whole of the division,” said Brigadier Queree.