NORFORCE

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

North-West Mobile Force
Larrakeyah
Nickname(s)Nackaroos
Green skins
Motto(s)Ever Vigilant
MarchQuick – The Vedette
Slow – The Never-Never
Commanders
Current
commander		LTCOL Gavin Ware
Colonel of the RegimentHugh Heggie
Insignia
Unit colour patch
AbbreviationNORFORCE

The NORFORCE (North-West Mobile Force) is an infantry regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. Formed in 1981, the regiment is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSUs) employed in surveillance and reconnaissance of the remote areas of Northern Australia. It consists of a regimental headquarters, four surveillance squadrons, and an operational support squadron and training squadron.

History

In the late 1970s and early 1980s the need for a military presence in the north of Australia was recognised, with an integrated land, sea and air surveillance network developed in response. Part of this involved the raising of

51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment established in Far North Queensland.[4]

The regiment's lineage goes back to 2/1st North Australia Observer Unit (2/1 NAOU) (also known as the "Nackaroos"), which were formed in 1942 as part of the defence of northern Australia from the Japanese during the Second World War, performing reconnaissance, scouting and coastal surveillance tasks across the Kimberley and the Northern Territory's sea and air approaches.[5] Patrols were reduced in July 1943 as the Japanese threat subsided, and the unit was disbanded in 1945.[4][6] Due to the similarities between the two units and in order to give NORFORCE an identity it was decided that it would perpetuate the 2/1 NAOU traditions, and as such NORFORCE officially adopted the 2/1 NAOU's orange and green 'double diamond' colour patch and its unit heritage upon formation.[4]

NORFORCE also shares its heritage with a number of other units raised during the Second World War, including the Darwin Mobile Force, from which NORFORCE derives its name, and the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit which performed a similar role to the 2/1 NAOU and pioneered the enlistment and training of regionally based Australian soldiers, mainly from Arnhem Land. The Darwin Mobile Force was raised in 1939, originally as an artillery unit due to restrictions of the Defence Act (1903) which prohibited the establishment of permanent infantry forces, and was the first Permanent Military Force unit to be raised in the Army. The unit was tasked with the surveillance and protection of the Darwin region. It was renamed the Darwin Infantry Battalion in 1942 and the 19th Battalion in 1943, and subsequently saw service during the New Guinea campaign.[4][7]

During its formative years between 1981 and 1985 the regiment consisted of two reconnaissance squadrons, with the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron responsible for the Northern Territory and the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron responsible for the Kimberley region in Western Australia. In early 1986 the alpha-numeric designations gave way to geographic names, with 1 Squadron being re-designated Darwin Squadron and 2 Squadron becoming Kimberley Squadron. Further growth of the unit saw Centre Squadron and Arnhem Squadron also being raised in 1986. Each of the regional reconnaissance squadrons has its own Area of Responsibility, and is further divided into a number of "troops", each of which consists of a number of "patrols".[8]

Darwin Squadron is based at

Numbulwar and Ramingining, and on Elcho Island and Groote Eylandt. Centre Squadron operates from the South Australian border northwards, including the main regional centres of Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, the sparse Barkly Tableland, and north to the Robinson River and Borroloola.[9]

NORFORCE Area of Operations

The regiment is now a fully integrated unit consisting of a cadre of about 65 regular personnel supporting 435 Reservists.

area of operation (AO) covers 1.8 million square kilometres, encompassing the entire Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia; the largest of any military unit in the world today.[6] An Operational Support Squadron and Training Squadron are also based in Darwin.[11]

Borrowing the concept of different "skin" groups to differentiate clans, members of NORFORCE are also known as "Green skins".[12] The primary role of the regiment is reconnaissance, observation and the collection of military intelligence. In the event of an invasion of northern Australia, NORFORCE and the other RFSUs would operate in a "stay-behind" capacity.[13] Sixty percent of NORFORCE personnel are Aboriginal soldiers, recruited mainly from the area they patrol in order to draw upon local knowledge.[5] This has resulted in great trust for the Regiment among Aboriginal communities.[12]

Patrols can be inserted and extracted from the area of operations by small boat, airlifted by helicopter or light aircraft, drive in using a range of vehicles, or on foot.

Zodiac inflatable boats, and Regional Patrol Craft (aluminium boats).[16]

NORFORCE has the distinction of being granted the

colours.[19]

Operation Resolute

NORFORCE has continuously contributed Force Elements to

Exclusive Economic Zone and coastline.[20] On 1 March 2010, NORFORCE became part of the re-raised 6th Brigade.[21]

On 1 September 2014, NORFORCE came under the command of the 2nd Division.[22] On 4 October 2018, all three RFSUs were grouped together as part of a new formation headquarters, the Regional Force Surveillance Group. The new formation came into being at a parade held at Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin.[23]

Current organisation

As of 2021, NORFORCE comprised:[11][24]

  • Regimental Headquarters – Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, NT
    • Arnhem Squadron – Nhulunbuy, NT
    • Centre Squadron – Alice Springs, NT
    • Darwin Squadron – Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, NT
    • Kimberley Squadron – Broome, WA
    • Training Support Squadron – Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, NT
    • Operational Support Squadron – Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, NT

Freedoms of Entry

NORFORCE has the distinction of being granted the

Freedom of Entry to a city or town on nine occasions, the most of any unit, ship or establishment in the Australian Defence Force.[17][8][18]

In 2006, the regiment celebrated its 25th birthday by being presented with its first stand of

colours.[19]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Unit History—the Pilbara Regiment". Department of Defence. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b Kuring 2004, p. 390.
  3. ^ Rosenzweig 2001, p. 33.
  4. ^ a b c d "Unit History—North West Mobile Force". Department of Defence. 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Norforce". Message Stick (Transcript). Australian Broadcasting Commission. 22 October 2004. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Operation OUTREACH NT". Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  7. ^ Grey 2008, p. 141.
  8. ^ a b c Rosenzweig 2001, pp. 230–252.
  9. ^ Rosenzweig 2001, pp. 72–73.
  10. ^ Macrae 1994, pp. 8–12.
  11. ^
    ISSN 0722-8880. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link
    )
  12. ^ a b Hancock 2010.
  13. ^ Langtry & Ball 1991, p. 235.
  14. ^ Rosenzweig 2001, p. 68.
  15. ^ "New Australian Army G-Wagon 6X6 Reconnaissance Vehicle Fitted With Weapons Suite". Ottawa Citizen. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  16. ^ Rosenzweig 2001, pp. 74–78.
  17. ^ a b Rosenzweig 2001, p. 227.
  18. ^
    ISSN 1449-2385
    . Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  19. ^ a b McSweeney 2006.
  20. ^ "Global Operations: Border Protection". Department of Defence. 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  21. ^ Gaze 2010.
  22. ^ "North West Mobile Force". Australian Army. Department of Defence. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  23. ^ Beurich, Sebastian (1 November 2018). "Power of three as spears go on parade". Army News (1431 ed.). p. 3.
  24. ^ "North West Mobile Force". Australian Army. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 18 September 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2012.

References

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NORFORCE&oldid=1216201221"