Brief History: Australia's Involvement During The Invasion And Occupation Of Afghanistan - Part 1/3

 

The Australian involvement in the invasion and subsequent occupation of Afghanistan have been known as Operation Slipper (2001–2014) and Operation Highroad (2015-2021).

Operation Slipper and Operation Highroad, date: 2001 – 2021

Casualties: 41 killed, 261 wounded, 500 committed suicide back home.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations and the size of the forces deployed have varied and ADF involvement has included two major areas of activity:

1. Afghanistan
2. Persian Gulf.

These activities have seen the deployment of naval, air and land forces that have taken part in combat and combat support operations as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

In mid-2014, the naval and logistic support operations in the Persian Gulf were re-designated as Operation Manitou and Operation Accordion respectively.

Operation Slipper began in late 2001 and ended on 31 December 2014.

During the first phase of Operation Slipper, the ADF commitment to Afghanistan consisted of a Special Forces Task Group and two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing 707 air-to-air refuelling aircraft from No. 33 Squadron. These aircraft and associated support personnel operated from Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan and provided support to coalition aircraft operating in Afghan airspace.

Two RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft flew maritime patrol missions in support of maritime interdiction operations in the Persian Gulf. These aircraft were temporarily retasked to Operations Falconer and Catalyst in 2003.

RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft were also involved in providing logistic support for deployed forces.

The Special Forces were involved with the establishment of the US-led coalition's first Forward Operating Base (Camp Rhino) southwest of Kandahar in November 2001, followed by the capture of Kandahar International Airport in December 2001.

The initial ADF commitment in Afghanistan concluded in December 2002, when the Special Air Service Task Group was withdrawn. Following this date until 2005 Australia's total contribution in Afghanistan were two officers attached to the NATO and the Coalition Landmine Clearing Force.

All three squadrons of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) were deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 and 2002. The dates of these deployments were:

1 Squadron Group, SASR: (October 2001 – April 2002)

3 Squadron Group, SASR: (April 2002 – August 2002)

2 Squadron Group, SASR: (August 2002 – November 2002)


In Phase 2, an Australian Special Forces Task Group was re-deployed to Afghanistan in August 2005. This Task Group consisted of elements from the SASR, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), the Incident Response Regiment and logistic support personnel. As well as heavily modified Land Rovers, the Special Forces Task Group was also equipped with some Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles.

A detachment of two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2006 to support the Special Forces Task Group.

The Australian Special Forces Task Group was withdrawn from Afghanistan in September 2006 and the helicopter detachment returned to Australia in April 2007. Public opinions against the ASF massacre of innocent Afghan civilians were mounting.

LIPS.