New Zealand Army battles tough conditions during valuable armoured vehicle exercise

From providing accurate support fires to conducting assaults on simulated enemy positions, Exercise Hill 60 saw NZ Army troops successfully complete 24-hour live firing battle handling exercises in the Waiouru Military Training Area.

The aim of the exercise was to stretch commanders and crews, and ensure they can successfully deliver Army’s motorised combat capability. 

The main armaments used in the exercise were the Army’s Light Armoured Vehicle’s (NZLAV) fitted with a main 25mm and 7.62mm guns.

The culmination of the exercise saw each troop conduct an assault onto an enemy position where they applied advanced firing angles as well as overhead fires from a support position to successfully destroy multiple targets.

“The feeling of charging down to assault while having the crack of 25mm tracer rounds flying overhead from fire support, and having our own turret firing,  is something I will never forget,” said Lance Corporal Kane McKenzie.

Personnel also had to battle the tough elements and terrain of Waiouru.

“The challenging weather added to the scenario with multiple vehicle recoveries that had to be completed whilst maintaining security and safety,” said Corporal George Lynch.

Activities like Exercise Hill 60 are critical to QAMR in order to maintain proficiency of the NZDF’s primary combat vehicle, which can be used alongside the NZDF’s other services and international partners as part of a joint combat response.

It was also a key activity for QAMR as they prepare for some upcoming exercises alongside the Australian Defence Force.

A composite unit from across 1(NZ) Brigade – Battle Group Black - will deploy a Motorised Infantry Battle Group to Australia to take part in Exercise Diamond Strike next year - a brigade-level combined-arms live firing exercise embedded within the Australian Army’s 7^th Brigade.

This will be followed by Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 - one of the largest training events in the Southern Hemisphere with approximately 30,000 personnel, and an abundance of military capability operating within the multi-domain operating environment, in order to build and maintain coalition combat capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region.

Exercise Hill 60’s success was testament to the tactical and technical proficiency of the regiment’s soldiers and officers while also providing the regiment with an opportunity to further develop and maintain experienced training staff for future live field firing activities.