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Operation Astute
Rebel soldier Major Tara (left) hands over his weapon to Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mumford.
Date May 25, 2006 – Ongoing Location East Timor Result Casus belli 2006 East Timor crisis.
Combatants
Australia New Zealand Malaysia Portugal Governmet loyal troops of East Timor UNMIT	Elements of the FDTL
Commanders
Michael Slater Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mumford Col Ismeth Nayan Ismail Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak
Strength
13536 Troops 372 Police 9 Ships	Unknown
Casualties
	Unknown

Operation Astute is a United Nations-authorised, Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. The operation is currently headed by Brigadier Mal Rerden, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater. Other countries deploying soldiers or police to East Timor are Malaysia, New Zealand and East Timor's former colonial power Portugal.

Contents 1 Tasks 2 Deployment 3 Timeline 3.1 May 2006 3.2 June 2006 3.3 July 2006 3.4 August 2006 3.5 September 2006 3.6 October 2006 3.7 December 2006 4 Military units involved 4.1 Australia 4.1.1 Australian Army 4.1.2 Royal Australian Navy 4.1.3 Royal Australian Air Force 4.2 Malaysia 4.3 New Zealand 4.4 Portugal 4.5 United States 5 See also 6 External link 7 References

The immediate tasks of the operation are:

• Allow for the evacuation of Australians and other foreigners
• Restore stability and confine conflict to secured areas
• Assess and locate the weapons possessed by conflicting groups
• Establish a safe environment for dialogue to resolve the crisis.

A forward deployment of approximately 200, including a commando company from the 4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, secured an entry point for follow-on forces centred on Dili Airport.

The full deployment consisted of a battalion group of about 1,800 personnel drawn from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and other Australian and New Zealand Army units. Evacuations were carried out by C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, using RAAF Base Darwin as a forward operating base.^[1]

Initial assets deployed included the guided-missile frigate HMAS Adelaide, the replenishment vessel HMAS Success and the amphibious landing/hospital ship HMAS Kanimbla. Landing ships HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Manoora were also sent to East Timor with follow-on forces.^[2]

Operation Astute comes under the authority of the United Nations Office in Timor Leste (UNOTIL), whose mandate was established under the authority of United Nations Security Council resolution 1599 through 20 May 2006 but has been extended by resolution 1677 through 20 June 2006. Troops from former INTERFET nations including mostly from Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal have augmented the Australian force.

Prior to sending troops, each participating government negotiated a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the government of East Timor.^[3]

Malaysian Army forces began arriving on 26 May, by air.^[4]

24 May

• 21:59 (Canberra) Acting Prime Minister of Australia, Peter Costello, announced in a press conference that East Timor had requested Australia "send defence forces to East Timor to help in maintaining and re-establishing public order". Australia would send an advance party including the Vice Chief of Defence force to negotiate conditions of the deployment the following morning.^[5]

25 May

• 07:00 (Canberra) Prime Minister of Australia John Howard arrives back in Canberra from Dublin early, though not officially because of the East Timor crisis.
• 12:30 (Darwin) A RAAF 34SQN Challenger 604 (VIP jet) was tasked to fly the Australian Vice Chief of Defence Force from Canberra to Dili via Darwin, to negotiate the rules of engagement of the Australian operation, and other conditions of deployment. However on arrival in Darwin the Chief of the Defence Force ordered the aircraft to remain in Darwin, due to a dramatic increase in violence in Dili.
• (Dili) RAAF 37SQN C130J Hercules aircraft arrive at Dili from Darwin with 130 commandos on board, together with 4 Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters. The Vice Chief of Defence Force was also on board the C130, after being unable to fly to Dili on the RAAF VIP jet. Dili Airport is now under Australian military control. However the VCDF is unable to leave the airport due to security concerns.
• (Dili) HMAS Adelaide arrives in Dili Harbour.
• 18:43 (Canberra) Prime Minister John Howard announces in a press conference that the deployment will "go ahead without any conditionality" and that 1300 troops would be in place "in a very short order", despite a failure to negotiate conditions of the deployment with the East Timorese Government. He explains waiting for signatures could lead to significant further bloodshed and the East Timorese Government is desperate for Australian troops to arrive. ^[6]
• (Darwin) The Royal Australian Air Force commence transporting troops to Dili. A 33SQN Boeing 707 ferries troops between Townsville and Darwin, whilst 36SQN C-130Hs and 37SQN C-130Js transport troops and supplies between Darwin and Dili. The flights also commence evacuations of civilians on the return legs. The flights continue throughout the night and the following day to form an air bridge between Darwin and Dili.

26 May

• (Dili) Malaysian Army soldiers begin arrive in Dili. RAAF aircraft continue to transport troops and equipment.
• United States Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team platoon arrives in Dili to protect the US Embassy.

27 May

• 13:30 (Darwin) A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H arrives in Darwin from Townsville, ready to deploy New Zealand soldiers to East Timor.

29 May

• The initial deployment of Australian soldiers is completed.
• A platoon of 42 New Zealand soldiers arrives in Dili to secure the New Zealand embassy.

31 May

• A rifle company of 123 New Zealand soldiers arrives in Dili.

2 June

• 8 New Zealand military police arrive in Dili.

3 June

• USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft complete their task of ferrying Australian troops and equipment between Townsville and Darwin.

7 June

• Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff and Defence Secretary Graham Fortune visit Dili.

16 June

• Rebel Timorese soldiers begin handing their weapons over to Australian troops.^[7]

27 June

• It is announced that a New Zealander soldier fired a warning shot during the week of 18 June-24 June. This is apparently the first short fired during the intervention.^[8]

1 July

• 50 soldiers from 2/1 RNZIR and other units fly to Timor Leste to replace members of the initial New Zealand force.^[9]

18 July

• Australian Prime Minister John Howard visits Timor Leste. During his visit he announced that the Australian force in the country will be gradually reduced. ^[10]

19 July

• HMAS Kanimbla departs Timor Leste for Australia carrying 250 soldiers and four S-70A Blackhawk helicopters.^[11]

3 August

• The Australian Government announces that the ADF has commenced a gradual drawdown of forces in Timor Leste due to the improving security situation. An infantry company, 23 armoured personnel carriers and support personnel are scheduled to depart Timor Leste over the next few weeks.^[12]

7 August

• A Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment returns to Townsville after 71 days in Timor Leste as part of Battle Group Faithful.^[13]

27 August

• D Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment returns to Townsville after being deployed to Timor Leste. Further soldiers from the 3rd Combat Signal Regiment are scheduled to return later in the week.^[14]

28 August

• It is announced that 44 New Zealand military personnel will return home from Timor Leste on 31 August.^[15]

7 September

• It is announced that a rifle company from 1 RAR will be deployed to Timor Leste by 9 September to reinforce the Australian-led force following Alfredo Reinado's escape from prison on 30 August.^[16]

19 September

• The final elements of the Australian Army Battle Group Faithful return to Australia having been replaced by the ANZAC Battle Group led by the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.^[17]

26 October

• Brigadier Mal Rerden takes command of Joint Task Force 631, replacing Brigadier Mick Slater.

17 December

• Protests against UN troops intensify after they are accused of being responsible for the killing of a rebel gang member during factional clashes.

Operation Astute is an Australian military operation. While the Malaysian and New Zealand contingents operate under overall Australian command, the Portuguese contingent operates under Portuguese national command.^[18] The initial Australian units deployed as part of the operation fell under the operational command of Brigadier Michael Slater, the commander of the Australian 3rd Brigade. The major unit involved in land operations was the 3rd Battalion under its commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mumford. This force was be replaced in early September 2006 by a battalion group based around the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment designated the ANZAC Battle Group.^[19]

Australia currently has approximately 925 personnel deployed to Timor-Leste, the majority of whom are formed into the ANZAC Battle Group, named due to the presence of a rifle company from the New Zealand Army integrated in its structure.

• Headquarters Joint Task Force 631
  • Elements, 1st Military Police Battalion
• ANZAC Battle Group: This battle group includes elements of other units:^[20]
• Headquarters, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
  • B Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
  • C Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
  • Victor Company, 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
  • Battery, 16th Air Defence Regiment (operating as infantry)
  • Elements, 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
  • Elements, 17 Construction Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers
  • Elements, B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment
  • Elements, B Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment
  • Troop, 1st Aviation Regiment

The initial Australian Army force consisted of:

• Headquarters elements, 3rd Brigade
• 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) battle group ('Battle Group Faithful'). This battle group included the following elements of other units:
  • Airborne Combat Team Bravo, 3 RAR
  • A Company, 1 RAR
  • C and D Companies, 2 RAR
  • G (108 Field Battery) Company, 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (operating as infantry)
  • B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (originally equipped with 33 x M-113 armoured personnel carriers)
• Commando Company Group, 4th Battalion (Commando), Royal Australian Regiment
• Troop, Australian Special Air Service Regiment^[21]
• Field squadron, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment
• 3rd Combat Service Support Group (based around the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion)^[22]
• Aviation element ('Combat Team Vigilance')^[23]
  • Eight S-70A Blackhawk transport helicopters, drawn from B Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment and the 171st Aviation Squadron (four helicopters since 19 July)
  • Four Kiowa light observation helicopters, 1st Aviation Regiment^[24]
  • Detachment, Emergency Response Squadron, Incident Response Regiment

• HMAS Adelaide (until 28 May)
  • One S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter, 816 Squadron RAN (until 28 May)
• HMAS Kanimbla
• HMAS Manoora
• HMAS Tobruk (until approximately 8 June)
• HMAS Balikpapan
• HMAS Tarakan
• HMAS Success (until 28 May)
• Two Sea King helicopters, 817 Squadron RAN

The Royal Australian Navy force committed to Operation Astute is apparently the largest amphibious task force in the Navy's history.^[25]

• Elements, No. 33 Squadron RAAF (Boeing 707) - Domestic support only
• Elements, No. 36 Squadron RAAF (C-130H)
• Elements, No. 37 Squadron RAAF (C-130J)
• AP-3C Orion aircraft, No. 92 Wing RAAF^[26]
• Detachment, No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron RAAF at Dili airport.
• No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron
• RAAF Airload Team at Dili airport.

33SQN are assisting the operation by transporting troops from RAAF Base Townsville to RAAF Base Darwin, however only 36SQN and 37SQN have been flying from Darwin to Dili.

• 209 soldiers from the 10th Paratrooper Brigade^[27]
• Transport aircraft
• Two warships; KD Mahawangsa and KD Inderasakti
• Elements, 19th Battalion, Royal Malay Regt (Mechanised)
• Elements from Grup Gerakhas (Army Commandos) and PASKAL (Navy Special Force)^[28]

The Malaysian Government currently anticipates replacing the Malaysian military force with members of the Royal Malaysian Police at the end of July.^[29]

• Delta Company (reinforced), 2/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment^[30] (Integrated into ANZAC Battle Group)
• Military police section, 2nd Military Police Platoon
• One Boeing 757-200, No. 40 Squadron RNZAF
• One C-130H, No. 40 Squadron RNZAF

While the Portuguese forces deployed to East Timor are not operating under Australian command, they are acting in cooperation with the Australian, Malaysian and New Zealand forces which are under Australian command.^[31]

• 120 soldiers from the Republican National Guard (GNR)
• 16 officers from the Special Operations Group (GOE) of the Public Security Police

• Two C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft from the 15th Airlift Wing
• 6 person Combat Mobility Element from the 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron

The two United States aircraft flew transport flights between Australian air bases (mainly RAAF Base Townsville and RAAF Base Darwin) and were not deployed to East Timor. The aircraft did, however, visit the Solomon Islands in order pick up Australian equipment and personnel.^[32] The USAF force completed its mission on 3 June.^[33]

In addition, a platoon of the United States Marine Corps Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team was flown into Dili by a United States Navy C-40 Clipper on 26 May to secure the US embassy in Dili.^[34] This platoon does not appear to have fallen under Australian command as part of Operation Astute.

• Battle of Timor (1942-43)
• INTERFET

• Operation Astute