Operation Quickstep
| Operation Quickstep | |
|---|---|
S-70 Blackhawk lost |
Operation Quickstep was the name given to the deployment of military resources by the Australian Defence Force during the leadup to the 2006 Fijian coup d'état on 4–5 December 2006, during which the Fijian military took control of the Fijian government which, at the time, was led by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. The intention behind deploying the military resources was to provide a platform for the evacuation of Australian citizens and nationals in the event of a violent military takeover of the Pacific nation.
Three ships of the Royal Australian Navy were deployed to the South-west Pacific, taking up station in international waters near Fiji, while several military transport aircraft were kept on standby.
Timeline
Following tensions in Fiji between the military and the government
On 29 November 2006, a
The predicted coup d'état was carried out with minimal violence and no bloodshed on 4–5 December 2006, with government officials placed under house arrest and Fiji's parliament dissolved.
The forces committed to the possible evacuation returned to Australia on 17 December. The feared violence had not occurred, and civilian flights to Fiji continued without disruption during the takeover. The need for a military-backed evacuation force was not evident at that point in time.[5]
Military units involved
Approximately 800 personnel were mobilised as part of the operation, primarily from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force.
RAN
- HMAS Newcastlecarrying:
- A Seahawk Helicopter
- HMAS Kanimbla carrying:
- A Commando Contingent
- A Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) contingent
- Evacuation handling teams
- Approximately 50 additional medical staff, largely from 1 HSB, providing a level 3 surgical capability
- A Sea King Helicopter.
- HMAS Success
Army
- Four Blackhawk helicopters
- Commando contingent
- SASR contingent
- Medical team from 1 HSB
- Amphibious Beach Team (ABT) from the 10th Force Support Battalion
RAAF
- Single Pago Pago, American Samoa
- Multiple C-130 Hercules and Boeing 707s, based around Sydney, Australia
References
- ^ Aussie warships heading for Fiji. The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 2 November 2006.
- ^ Aussie Navy vessels ready for Fiji evacuation Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Fiji Times, 24 November 2006.
- ^ "One dead, one missing in Black Hawk crash off Fiji". ABC. 29 November 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
- ^ "Soldier's body recovered from ocean floor". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
- ^ "ADF Task Group in the South-West Pacific returns to Australia" (Press release). Department of Defence. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
Further reading
- Breen, Bob (2016). The Good Neighbour: Australian Peace Support Operations in the Pacific Islands, 1980–2006. ISBN 978-1-107-01971-3.