Australian Army

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Related Topics:
Australia's - Australian Defence Force - Royal Australian Navy - Royal Australian Air Force

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The Australian Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army (CA), who is responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF).

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As well as ground troops, approximately 80 Leopard tanks and artillery, it also operates helicopters: Blackhawk, Chinook, and has taken delivery of the first of 22 Eurocopter Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (with the last of the UH-1 Iroquois serving with distinction in Aceh for humanitarian relief after 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake before removal from service.) Recently plans have been announced to procure 59 M1A1 tanks.

Related Topics:
Leopard tanks - Blackhawk - Chinook - Eurocopter Tiger - UH-1 Iroquois - Aceh - 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake - M1A1 tanks

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Australian soldiers have been involved in a number of minor and major conflicts throughout its history, but only in World War II did Australian territory come under direct attack.

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The history of the Australian Army can be divided into two periods:

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• 1901-47, when limits were set on the size of the regular army, the vast majority of peacetime soldiers were in the reserve army units of the Australian Citizens Military Force (also known as the CMF or Militia), and Australian Imperial Forces were formed to serve overseas, and
• post-1947, when a standing peacetime infantry force was formed and the CMF (known as the Army Reserve after 1980) began to decline in importance.

The army has been involved in many peacekeeping operations, usually under the auspices of the United Nations. The biggest one began in 1999 in East Timor. Other notable operations include peacekeeping on Bougainville and in the Solomon Islands, which are ongoing as of May 2004. Humanitarian relief after 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake in Aceh Province, Indonesia, Operation Sumatra Assist, ended on 24 March 2005.

Related Topics:
United Nations - East Timor - Bougainville - Solomon Islands - 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake - Aceh - Indonesia - 24 March - 2005

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Australian Army: History ►