S.A.S. ‘invasion’ of northern S.I.

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 3

S.A.S. ‘invasion’ of northern S.I.

By

DAVE WILSON

The Army is advising residents in the NelsonMarlborough region not to be alarmed if they see soldiers parachuting into the area, or encounter furtive groups of camouflaged Special Air Services men lurking round local bridges. The region is being used for a month-long exercise involving S.A.S. units from New Zealand and Australia.

Exercise Phoenix began last month and will continue until October 26. Its purpose is to test the reconnaissance and demolition skills of special forces teams as well as giving the Australian and New Zealand S.A.S. units

an . opportunity to train together.

The exercise involves small teams of S.A.S. men gaining information about a number of sites in the Nelson-Marlborough region, and simulating the “demolition” of the sites.

Each site is being guarded by a 10-man section from the 2/1 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, teased at Bumham. A company of 90 Burnham soliders is involved in the exercise.

Both the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Navy are assisting because, depending on the type of task involved, the S.A.S. units are arriving

by parachute or by sea. After “demolishing” their target, the special forces soldiers will have to make their way through “hostile” territory without being intercepted or seen.

The area is a popular stage for such exercises and although the Army is not disclosing details of the targets involved, the Seddon road and rail bridge was used for a similar exercise last year.

About 50 Australian and 30 New Zealand S.AS. soldiers are in the special forces unit Similar exercises have been held in New Zealand at threeyearly intervals since 197 f ■