3rd Brigade sprints ahead
Exercises North Queensland Warfighter and Brolga Sprint have showcased the transformation of Army’s Armoured Brigade, bringing 3500 soldiers, officers and international partners to Townsville over May and June.
CAPTION: Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, conduct a trench clearance, supported by 2nd Cavalry Regiment M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, as part of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area, Qld. Story by Captain Brittany Evans. Photo by Private Jessica Gray.
It was a pivotal training period that demonstrated the capabilities of the 3rd Brigade in a series of complex live-fire serials.
These included tank and artillery fire, armoured infantry movements, direct fire support, combat engineer breaching, danger-close artillery fire and trench warfare.
Commander 3rd Brigade, Brigadier Ben McLennan, highlighted the significance of the training.
“Our ambition and our potential is to be the world’s most lethal armoured brigade. This exercise has given us the opportunity to define how we fight 3rd Brigade Armoured for the first time,” Brigadier McLennan said.
Armoured brigades operate and fight differently to other combat brigades. They focus on heavy firepower, protection and mobility, and are comprehensively interdependent.
CAPTION: Soldiers from 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, observe the dead ground for enemy movement during a trench clearance as part of Exercise Brolga Sprint. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.
Brigadier McLennan reflected on how this year’s Brolga Sprint differed from previous exercises.
“Last year’s equivalent exercise was excellent,” he said.
“The biggest difference between last year and this year’s exercise is that 3rd Brigade trained and fought as a Multi-role Combat Brigade.
“This year, we have transformed into and are rehearsing Army’s Armoured Brigade; we took on this role in January 2025.
“We now fight with an armoured covering force battlegroup, an armoured strike battlegroup, an armoured logistics battalion, enabled and supported by armoured artillery, engineers, signals regiments and headquarters.”
As part of 3rd Brigade’s transformation into Army’s armoured combined arms fighting system, it has received the M1A2 Abrams, with additional platforms such as the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle, AS9 Self-propelled Howitzer, Armoured Breaching Vehicle and Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle set to arrive between 2025 and 2027.
“Once we have received all of these cutting-edge platforms, our competitive advantage will elevate, exponentially, enabling us to realise 3rd Brigade’s potential as the world’s most lethal Armoured Brigade,” Brigadier McLennan said.
Exercise Brolga Sprint underscored the 3rd Brigade’s commitment to rehearsing, readying and enhancing relationships.
“As we move forward, the lessons learnt and the relationships forged during this exercise will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities and readiness for future challenges,” Brigadier McLennan said.
CAPTION: Soldiers from 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, take cover during a trench clearance as part of Exercise Brolga Sprint. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.
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