’Copters “Brought Exercise To Life”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31279, 27 January 1967, Page 1

’Copters “Brought Exercise To Life”

Helicopters of No. 3 Battlefield Support Squadron “made” the Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force exercise which ended in the Tekapo area yesterday, said the commander of the Southern Military District (Brigadier W. R. K. Morrison).

The exercise involved almost 1500 men, mainly Terri-

Brigadier Morrison said he was tremendously proud of the troops who took part, especially those of No. 4 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

They had had to endure very hot, dry weather in the early stages of the exercise, and this week high winds and rain swept over the open tussock country. Royal New Zealand Air Force participation, for the

first time, had brought the exercise to life and made it most realistic.

The helicopters, however, had made the exercise, he said. The four machines carried out their tasks in spite of the weather, carrying food, water, and equipment to the infantry and other supporting units in areas inaccessible by vehicle.

Infantry of No. 4 Battalion launched a helicopter assault into “enemy”-held territory at dawn on Sunday. Eighty men from the Ist Battalion, R.N.Z.1.R., at Bumham had, in a series of ambushes and attacks, driven the 400 men of No. 4 Battalion up against a major defended “enemy” on a high feature in the Lake Pukaki area, and Canberra and Vampire jets were called on to make simulated bombing and strafing runs over the “enemy” before a fullscale assault was made by the infantry.

After driving the “enemy” from the hill, men of No. 4 Battalion received a supply drop from a Bristol Freighter. There was then a rest period before the final phase of the exercise began on Wednesday morning. At this stage bad weather, hampered the exercise, and throughout Tuesday training continued as a radio and signals exercise, Late on Tuesday night the “enemy” counter-attacked in strength, and orders for a fighting withdrawal were received at brigade headquarters. Once again weather forced a change of plans, and at 9 a.m. on Wednesday two Iroquois helicopters in 34 sorties flew 300 men out to the main Tekapo-Pukaki road. On Wednesday afternoon men of the No. 4 Battalion, and gunners of No. 3 Field Regiment were visited in camp by the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General

W. S. McKinnon), who flew from __ Wellington. MajorGeneral McKinnon later entertained 13 local runholders at a buffet dinner at the camp. Without the cooperation of the runholders the Army would be hard pressed to find suitable areas to hold such large exercises, said Brigadier Morrison. The magnitude of the exercise was indicated by the quantity of food issued on January 20. It included 15961 b of meat, 13661 b of potatoes, 12001 b of vegetables (9111 b of onions), 363 loaves, 1821 b of butter, 871 b of jam, 50 packets of cereals, 1821 b of bacon, 242 dozen eggs, 341 b of tea, 141 b of coffee, 2731 b o' sugar, and 105 gallons of milk. Before the troops arrived at the Tekapo camp on January 10 Army vehicles carried 30 tons of supplies from Bumham, and later carried 9J tons made up of 5000 24-hour ration packs.