Defence force training in South Canterbury NZ

[Studeo]

Arguably the biggest defence force exercise in New Zealand history, one involving overseas allies, will kick off in South Canterbury with the arrival of troop-laden amphibious craft on a local beach in November.

Named Southern Katipo 2013, the three-week exercise will involve the defence forces of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Tonga and New Zealand.

It will be followed by others in 2015 and 2017 aimed at testing the New Zealand Defence Force's capability of deploying to a South West Pacific island or nation, aided by other nations, if needed.

The 2000 army, navy and air force personnel will include 500 from overseas, while the US will contribute four of the eight C-130 Hercules aircraft, along with two large military transport C-17 Globemasters.

The airspace over Timaru will reverberate to the sound of 10 helicopters, including three new NH90s.

Although Southern Katipo chief of staff Commander Peter Kempster did not yet have a figure, he said the exercise would put "major dollarsinto the local economy.

Advertisement

Organisers have created a scenario where the lower half of the South Island is a South West Pacific country called Mainlandiar. For the purposes of the exercise, the top half of the South Island doesn't exist and the North Island is New Zealand.

In the scenario, Mainlandiar has held an election with the ousted prime minister refusing to go, supported by a militia.

A coalition of New Zealand and the nine other nations has formed the International Stability Mission for Mainlandiar (Instamm).

Troops and vehicles will be brought ashore on a local beach (weather permitting) on amphibious craft, with the intention of "securing" Timaru Airport.

Once this is accomplished, the aircraft will fly in.

The opposition is centred in Waimate "with a small enclave of bad people in Cave", Commander Kempster said.

A tent city will be erected at Timaru Airport with Waimate, Cave and the Waitaki Valley, with its dams, seeing action.

The exercise will involve the naval ships Canterbury, Wellington, and a French-supplied frigate. The French will also contribute aircraft.

The naval ship Canterbury will also travel to Bluff to "evacuate" 120 Invercargill people, who will spend a night in Dunedin.

VIPs, including American and French generals, will visit.

The exercise starts on November 9 or 10, depending on the weather.

No roads will close in Timaru. Timaru Airport flights will continue as normal, with the large aircraft flying to and from Ohakea and Auckland each day.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Sorry my tablet app dosentt provide url.

[sheme]

What no Russians?

[Carmen]

Wow, first I've heard of this and it's just over the river from me!! Thanks for the warning. That would have really freaked me out if I hadn't known. This is a sleepy wee hollow, the Waitaki Valley.

[RunningDeer]

Posted by Studeo (here)
Sorry my tablet app doesn't provide url.

Defense force training in South Canterbury

[ghostrider]

Strange you bring this up , I met a co-worker last night on an emergency call that needed both of us , when the job was done , on our way back to our maintenance shop he mentioned he saw 20 military jeeps with 50 cal machine guns mounted on top speeding down our major highway that connects our nearest city sort of a metroplex area , we never see the army on that road , it is always cluttered with cars , they we speeding 80 mph , traveling close together in pretty much blackout drive ... there were several helicopters in the sky , this was about 930 at night , I wonder if a UFO crashed in the area and it sent everyone on alert ... or is this just a part of the Urban Sheild drill ??? These days a major event could break out in a second , this is the height of mind control , show of force , then nothing , then again , keeps the public a little uneasy ...

[Studeo]

:-)
Troops liberate Mainlandia
Last updated 05:00 11/11/2013

MATTHEW LITTLEWOOD

0

MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/ Fairfax NZ 1 of 12
SETTING UP: Soldiers and vehicles are unloaded from an Alaska C17 Globemaster at the Timaru Airport on Saturday afternoon as part of a military exercise in South Canterbury.

Mytchall Bransgrove
Hundreds of soldiers stormed the port of Timaru, and captured the local airport on Saturday - but they were welcomed as liberators.

It was part of the New Zealand Defence Force's joint exercise Southern Katipo.

Defence Force exercise chief of staff Pete Kempster said more than 250 troops arrived at the port of Timaru from the HMNZS Canterbury, while others flew in and established themselves at the airport.

There were already 450 troops stationed throughout South Canterbury.

As part of the exercise, Timaru has been renamed "Mainlandia".

"The people of Mainlandia have welcomed us as liberators. We've been treated to some excellent southern hospitality ... but I'm concerned the enemy might be waiting for us in Waimate. You just don't know what's in the water," Commander Kempster quipped.

According to the scenario, the 10 countries taking part in the exercise have signed the Moresby Declaration, giving them permission to stand up a force called the International Stability Mission for Mainlandia (Instamm), with the aim of restoring law and order to Mainlandia.

Advertisement

The enemy is based in Waimate, with a small pocket of baddies in Cave.

Much of the action will take place in the Waimate area, through Kurow to Benmore Dam, with a large battle between Benmore and Aviemore lakes.

The exercise will involve 1500 armed forces personnel from New Zealand and another 600 troops from Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Tonga, Britain and the United States.

It is one of the largest Defence Force joint exercises of its kind. A similar exercise was scheduled for 2011, but had to be postponed after the Canterbury earthquakes.

"It's great doing something like this on our home turf, rather than in another country," Commander Kempster said. "There's been a real buzz about this. Many young people have approached the soldiers and asked about their weaponry and uniforms."

The planning for the exercise was extensive, but the presence of British and US personnel had been beneficial, he said.

"They're the experts at this sort of exercise - so far, it's gone swimmingly, but you can't always know what's around the corner."

Commander Kempster said the main area of operations in Timaru would be the airport and port, and many of the soldiers would be sleeping out in the open. "We're hoping for good weather, we don't want any grumpy troops."

Air New Zealand would continue to use the airport for its scheduled flights, but air traffic control has set aside room for the helicopters and other aircraft involved in the exercise, which will be based in South Canterbury until November 29.

http://i.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/n...ate-Mainlandia