Issue 12
December 2006

64 Pages This Issue

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	As the sun begins its long slow climb over the high peaks of the hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan, and marches relentlessly westward across the cradle of civilisation, a new and dangerous day in the lives of our diggers on operations has already begun. Over the next few issues, CONTACT will take you into the heart of both Operations Slipper and Catalyst to see our service men and women in action. We start, this issue, in Afghanistan, then follow the sun westward to Iraq. Words Brian Hartigan Pics Brian Hartigan This story is packaged for sale with Pt 2&3 in issue 14

	They say every dog has its day. In the case of the ubiquitous M113 tracked armoured vehicle family, that day must be the longest in history. For the Australian Army, its relationship with the M113 began in the mid 1960s and continues to flourish today - more tha 40 years after the first deliveries. No one could ever accuse Army of not extracting maximum bang for the taxpayer buck out of its 'Gavins'. Words Mark Azzopardi Pics Tenix

	ROLE AND EQUIPMENT CHANGE INJECT NEW LIFE INTO AN OLD WARHORSE Entrusted with the pride and traditions of one of Australia's oldest and most decorated military formations, the soldiers of the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers are today invigorated by a new role, a new training drive and increased numbers of new recruits. Words Brian Hartigan Pics Brian Hartigan Buy this story now for just $2 Buy this story for just $2

	Riding high on a bar stool, sharing a cold beer with some friends in the media/marketing section of a non-defence department recently - many of whom are astute media watchers - I was told, in all seriousness, that "our soldiers in Afghanistan are sitting on a protected base, flying the flag for politics, far from the dangers of any real fighting. Aren't they?" I was aghast... Words Brian Hartigan Pics ADF Buy this story for just $2

	They are the ships that will restore a true blue-water warfighting capability to the RAN - they are big, fast and built to take on all comers. Only three in number, each will displace more than 8000 tonnes and stretch the tape to just shy of 150m. Meet Australia's Air Warfare Destroyers. Words Mark Azzopardi Pics Gibbs & Cox, and US Navy

	Nestled in the picturesque Murray Valley near Albury and Wodonga, on the Victorian side of the border with New South Wales, a large tract of military land is home to, among other things, the largest Army schooling establishment in Australia. In August this year, and for only the second time, the Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC) threw open its doors and invited nearly 300 local Year 10 and 11 high-school students and their teachers to take a look at what the Centre and, indeed, the Army, has to offer by way of training and career opportunities. Words Brian Hartigan Pics Brian Hartigan

	Since our arrival in the remote township od Dinsoor a few days before, we had managed to make ourselves at home. We had commandeered an old compound near the centre of town, which had a six-foot wall around it. While the buildings within were without roofs, they offered precious privacy and protection. The series continues... Words Wayne Cooper Pics Supplied by Wayne Cooper, and ADF
Plus... Free pull-out year planner Extrema Ratio knives poster Beat Retreat Richmond Airshow The Silent ANZAC Kiwis save Buddha Tanks for the history lessson Letters to the Editor The Big Picture Heads up Plus our regular columns; Military Fitness by Don Stevenson and Military Self Defence by Major Travis Faure Just Soldiers by WO1 Darryl Kelly Letters from the front by Private Henry Wright Games reviews by Sapper Gameboy Back Brief and competition giveaways - including a $500 Traser watch