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{{Good article}}
{{history of Australia}}
The '''military history of Australia ''' spans the nation's 230-year modern history, from the early [[Australian frontier wars]] between [[Australian
The six British colonies in Australia participated in some of Britain's wars of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, as a federated dominion and later as an independent nation, Australia fought in the First World War and Second World War, as well as in the wars in [[Australia in the Korean War|Korea]], [[Malayan Emergency|Malaya]], [[Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation|Borneo]] and [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] during the [[Cold War]]. In the Post-Vietnam era Australian forces have been involved in numerous international [[peacekeeping]] missions, through the [[United Nations]] and other agencies, including in the [[Multinational Force and Observers|Sinai]], [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf]], [[Rwanda]], [[Somalia]], [[East Timor]] and the Solomon Islands, as well as many overseas humanitarian relief operations, while more recently they have also fought as part of multi-lateral forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In total, nearly 103,000 Australians died during these conflicts.<ref group=note>This figure represents military casualties only and does not include those that died during the frontier conflict. See Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. v.</ref>
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The relationship between war and Australian society has been shaped by two of the more enduring themes of Australian strategic culture: [[bandwagoning]] with a powerful ally and [[expeditionary warfare]].<ref name=Evans2005>Evans 2005.</ref> Indeed, Australian defence policy was closely linked to Britain until the [[Pacific War|Japanese crisis of 1942]], while since then an [[ANZUS|alliance with the United States]] has underwritten its security. Arguably, this pattern of bandwagoning—both for cultural reasons such as shared values and beliefs, as well as for more pragmatic security concerns—has ensured that Australian strategic policy has often been defined by relations with its allies. Regardless, a tendency towards strategic complacency has also been evident, with Australians often reluctant to think about defence issues or to allocate resources until a crisis arises; a trait which has historically resulted in unpreparedness for major military challenges.<ref name=Evans2005/><ref>Millar 1978, p. 49.</ref>
Reflecting both the [[realism in international relations|realist]] and [[liberal international relations theory|liberal]] paradigms of [[international relations theory|international relations]] and the conception of [[national interest]]s, a number of other important themes in Australian strategic culture are also obvious. Such themes include: an acceptance of the [[Sovereign state|state]] as the key actor in international politics, the centrality of notions of [[Westphalian sovereignty]], a belief in the enduring relevance and legitimacy of armed force as a guarantor of security, and the proposition that the status quo in international affairs should only be changed peacefully.<ref>White 2002, p. 257.</ref> Likewise, multilateralism, [[collective security]] and defence self-reliance have also been important themes.<ref name="Grey 1999, pp. 265–266">Grey 1999, pp. 265–266.</ref> Change has been more [[evolutionary]] than [[revolutionary]] and these strategic behaviours have persisted throughout its history, being the product of Australian society's democratic political tradition and [[Judaeo-Christian]] Anglo-European heritage, as well its associated values, beliefs and economic, political and religious ideology.<ref>Millar 1978, pp. 25–26.</ref> These behaviours are also reflective of its unique
==History and services==
==Colonial era==▼
===British Forces in Australia, 1788–1870===▼
▲===Colonial era===
▲====British Forces in Australia, 1788–1870====
{{See also|List of British Army regiments that served in Australia between 1810 and 1870}}
[[File:Battle of VinegarHill.jpg|thumb|left|A painting depicting the [[Castle Hill convict rebellion]] in 1804.]]
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During the early years of settlement the naval defence of Australia was provided by units detached by the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Commander-in-Chief, East Indies]], based in Sydney. However, in 1859 Australia was established as a separate [[Naval squadron|squadron]] under the command of a [[commodore (rank)|commodore]], marking the first occasion that Royal Navy ships had been permanently stationed in Australia. The Royal Navy remained the primary naval force in Australian waters until 1913, when the [[Australia Station]] ceased and responsibility handed over to the [[Royal Australian Navy]]; the Royal Navy's depots, dockyards and structures were given to the Australian people.<ref>Dennis et al 1995, p. 59.</ref>
====Frontier warfare, 1788–1934====
{{Main|Australian frontier wars}}
[[File:Gov Davey's proclamation-edit2.jpg|thumb|Poster issued in [[Van Diemen's Land]] during the [[Black War]] implying a policy of friendship and equal justice for white settlers and Indigenous Australians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Governor Arthur's proclamation|url=http://nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au/%3E/Treasures/item/nla.int-ex6-s52|work=National Treasures from Australia's Great Libraries|publisher=National Library of Australia|access-date=5 November 2010}}</ref>]]
The reactions of the native Aboriginal inhabitants to the sudden arrival of British settlers in Australia were varied, but were inevitably hostile when the settlers' presence led to competition over resources, and to the occupation of the indigenous inhabitants' lands. European diseases decimated Aboriginal populations, and the occupation or destruction of lands and food resources sometimes led to starvation.<ref name=Dennis9>Dennis et al 1995, p. 9.</ref> By and large neither the British nor the Aborigines approached the conflict in an organised sense and conflict occurred between groups of settlers and individual tribes rather than systematic warfare.<ref name=Dennis9/> At times, however, the frontier wars did see the involvement of British soldiers and later [[mounted police]] units. Not all Aboriginal groups resisted white encroachment on their lands, while many Aborigines served in mounted police units and were involved in attacks on other tribes.<ref name=Dennis9/>
Fighting between
It may be inaccurate though to depict the conflict as one sided and mainly perpetrated by Europeans on
[[File:Mounted police and blacks.jpg|thumb|left|Mounted police engaging Indigenous Australians during the [[Waterloo Creek massacre]] of 1838.]]
Central to the success of the Europeans was the use of firearms. However, the advantages afforded by firearms have often been overstated. Prior to the late 19th century, firearms were often cumbersome muzzle-loading, smooth-bore, single shot [[musket]]s with [[Flintlock|flint-lock]] mechanisms. Such weapons produced a low rate of fire, while suffering from a high rate of failure and were only accurate within {{convert|50|m|ft}}. These deficiencies may have initially given the
The conflict lasted for over 150 years and followed the pattern of British settlement in Australia.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 32.</ref> Beginning in New South Wales with the arrival of the first Europeans in May 1788, it continued in Sydney and its surrounds until the 1820s. As the frontier moved west so did the conflict, pushing into outback New South Wales in the 1840s. In Tasmania, fighting can be traced from 1804 to the 1830s, while in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and the southern parts of [[South Australia]], the majority of the violence occurred during the 1830s and 1840s. The south-west of Western Australia experienced warfare from 1829 to 1850. The war in [[Queensland]] began in the area around [[Brisbane]] in the 1840s and continued until 1860, moving to central Queensland in the 1850s and 1860s, and then to northern Queensland from the 1860s to 1900. In Western Australia, the violence moved north with European settlement, reaching the [[Kimberley (Western Australia)|Kimberley]] region by 1880, with violent clashes continuing until the 1920s. In the [[Northern Territory]] conflict lasted even later still, especially in central Australia, continuing from the 1880s to the 1930s. One estimate of casualties places European deaths at 2,500, while at least 20,000
====New Zealand Wars, 1861–64====
=====Taranaki War=====
{{Main|First Taranaki War}}
[[File:HMCSS Victoria 300060.jpg|thumb|[[HMS Victoria (1855)|HMCSS ''Victoria'']] in 1867. In 1861, ''Victoria'' was dispatched to assist the New Zealand colonial government during the [[First Taranaki War]].]]
In 1861, the Victorian ship [[HMS Victoria (1855)|HMCSS ''Victoria'']] was dispatched to help the New Zealand colonial government in its war against [[Māori people|Māori]] in [[Taranaki Region|Taranaki]]. ''Victoria'' was subsequently used for patrol duties and logistic support, although a number of personnel were involved in actions against Māori fortifications. One sailor died from an accidental gunshot wound during the deployment.<ref name=Dennis435>Dennis et al 1995, p. 435.</ref>
=====Invasion of the Waikato=====
{{Main|Invasion of the Waikato}}
In late 1863, the New Zealand government requested troops to assist in the invasion of the [[Waikato]] province against the Māori. Promised settlement on confiscated land, more than 2,500 Australians (over half of whom were from Victoria) were recruited to form four Waikato Regiments. Other Australians became scouts in the Company of Forest Rangers. Despite experiencing arduous conditions the Australians were not heavily involved in battle, and were primarily used for patrolling and garrison duties. Australians were involved in actions at Matarikoriko, [[Defence of Pukekohe East 1863|Pukekohe East]], Titi Hill, [[Invasion of Waikato#Ōrākau|Ōrākau]] and [[Tauranga Campaign#The Battle of Te Ranga|Te Ranga]]. Fewer than 20 were believed to have been killed in action.<ref name=Dennis435/><ref>Coulthard-Clark 1998, pp. viii–ix.</ref> The conflict was over by 1864, and the Waikato Regiments disbanded in 1867. However, many of the soldiers who had chosen to claim farmland at the cessation of hostilities had drifted to the towns and cities by the end of the decade, while many others had returned to Australia.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 22.</ref>
====Colonial military forces, 1870–1901====
{{Main|Colonial forces of Australia|Colonial navies of Australia}}
[[File:Hobart Town Volunteer Artillery members 1869.jpg|thumb|left|Members of the Hobart Town Volunteer Artillery in August 1869.]]
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With the exception of Western Australia, the colonies also operated [[Colonial navies of Australia|their own navies]]. In 1856, Victoria received its own naval vessel, HMCSS ''Victoria'', and its deployment to New Zealand in 1860 during the First Taranaki War marked the first occasion that an Australian warship had been deployed overseas.<ref>Frame 2004, p. 54.</ref> The colonial navies were expanded greatly in the mid-1880s and consisted of a number of gunboats and torpedo-boats for the defence of harbours and rivers, as well as [[naval brigade]]s to man vessels and forts. Victoria became the most powerful of all the colonial navies, with the ironclad [[HMVS Cerberus|HMVS ''Cerberus'']] in service from 1870, as well as the steam-sail warship {{HMS|Nelson|1881|6}} on loan from the Royal Navy, three small gunboats and five torpedo-boats. New South Wales formed a Naval Brigade in 1863 and by the start of the 20th century had two small torpedo-boats and a corvette. The Queensland Maritime Defence Force was established in 1885, while South Australia operated a single ship, [[HMAS Protector (1884)|HMCS ''Protector'']]. Tasmania had also a small Torpedo Corps, while Western Australia's only naval defences included the Fremantle Naval Artillery. Naval personnel from New South Wales and Victoria took part in the suppression of the [[Boxer Rebellion]] in China in 1900, while HMCS ''Protector'' was sent by South Australia but saw no action.<ref>Dennis et al 1995, pp. 166–167.</ref> The separate colonies maintained control over their military and naval forces until [[Federation of Australia|Federation]] in 1901, when they were amalgamated and placed under the control of the new Commonwealth of Australia.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 64.</ref>
====Sudan, 1885====
{{main|Suakin Expedition}}
[[File:Departure of NSW Contingent Sydeny 1885 (ART19713).jpg|thumb|left|Departure of the New South Wales contingent from Sydney for the [[Suakin Expedition]] in Sudan, 1885.]]
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Eventually the British government decided that the campaign in Sudan was not worth the effort required and left a garrison in Suakin. The New South Wales Contingent sailed for home on 17 May, arriving in Sydney on 19 June 1885.<ref name=Dennis575/> Approximately 770 Australians served in Sudan; nine subsequently died of disease during the return journey while three had been wounded during the campaign.<ref name=AWMcasualties>{{cite web |title=Australian War Casualties |publisher=Australian War Memorial |date=15 December 2005 |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/research/infosheets/war_casualties.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520075440/http://www.awm.gov.au/research/infosheets/war_casualties.asp|access-date=4 April 2009|archive-date=20 May 2009}}</ref>
====Second Boer War, 1899–1902====
{{Main|Military history of Australia during the Second Boer War}}
[[Image:Australians and New Zealanders at Klerksdorp 24 March 1901 by Charles Hammond.jpg|thumb|Depiction of Australians and New Zealanders at Klerksdorp, 24 March 1901 by Charles Hammond.]]
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Australians were not always successful however, suffering a number of heavy losses late in the war. On 12 June 1901, the [[Victorian Mounted Rifles|5th Victorian Mounted Rifles]] lost 19 killed and 42 wounded at Wilmansrust, near [[Middelburg, Mpumalanga|Middleburg]] after poor security allowed a force of 150 Boers to surprise them.<ref name=Odgers47/><ref name=":0"/> On 30 October 1901, Victorians of the Scottish Horse Regiment also suffered heavy casualties at Gun Hill, although 60 Boers were also killed in the engagement. Meanwhile, at [[Onverwacht, Gauteng|Onverwacht]] on 4 January 1902, the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen lost 13 killed and 17 wounded.<ref name="Odgers 1994, p. 48"/> Ultimately the Boers were defeated, and the war ended on 31 May 1902. In all 16,175 Australians served in South Africa, and perhaps another 10,000 enlisted as individuals in Imperial units; casualties included 251 killed in action, 267 died of disease and 43 missing in action, while a further 735 were wounded.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 61.</ref><ref>Grey 2008, pp. 57, 63–64.</ref> Six Australians were awarded the [[Victoria Cross]].<ref name=AustVC>{{cite web|title=List of Australians Awarded the Victoria Cross |publisher=ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Qld) Incorporated |year=2001 |url=http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/medals/vc/austlist.html |access-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228071026/http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/medals/vc/austlist.html |archive-date=28 February 2010 }}</ref>
====Boxer Rebellion, 1900–01====
[[Image:Protector crew.jpg|thumb|The crew of [[HMAS Protector (1884)|HMCS ''Protector'']] in 1900. In the same year, the gunboat was sent to China by the South Australian government. ]]
The Boxer Rebellion in China began in 1900, and a number of western nations—including many European powers, the United States, and Japan—soon sent forces as part of the [[Eight-Nation Alliance|China Field Force]] to protect their interests. In June, the British government sought permission from the Australian colonies to dispatch ships from the Australian Squadron to China. The colonies also offered to assist further, but as most of their troops were still engaged in South Africa, they had to rely on naval forces for manpower. The force dispatched was a modest one, with Britain accepting 200 men from Victoria, 260 from New South Wales and the South Australian ship [[HMAS Protector (1884)|HMCS ''Protector'']], under the command of Captain [[William Rooke Creswell|William Creswell]].<ref name=Dennis117>Dennis et al 1995, p. 117.</ref> Most of these forces were made up of naval brigade reservists, who had been trained in both ship handling and soldiering to fulfil their coastal defence role. Amongst the naval contingent from New South Wales were 200 naval officers and sailors and 50 permanent soldiers headquartered at [[Victoria Barracks, Sydney]] who originally enlisted for the Second Boer War. The soldiers were keen to go to China but refused to be enlisted as sailors, while the New South Wales Naval Brigade objected to having soldiers in their ranks. The Army and Navy compromised and titled the contingent the NSW Marine Light Infantry.<ref>Nicholls 1986, pp. 32–33.</ref>
The contingents from New South Wales and Victoria sailed for China on 8 August 1900. Arriving in [[Tianjin|Tientsin]], the Australians provided 300 men to an 8,000-strong multinational force tasked with capturing the Chinese forts at [[Beitang, Tanggu District|Pei Tang]], which dominated a key railway. They arrived too late to take part in [[Battle of Tientsin|the battle]], but were involved in the attack on the fortress at [[Baoding|Pao-ting Fu]], where the Chinese government was believed to have found asylum after [[Beijing, China|Peking]] was captured by western forces. The Victorians joined a force of 7,500 men on a ten-day march to the fort, once again only to find that it had already surrendered. The Victorians then garrisoned Tientsin and the New South Wales contingent undertook garrison duties in Peking. HMCS ''Protector'' was mostly used for survey, transport, and courier duties in the [[
===Australian military forces at Federation, 1901===
{{Main|History of the Australian Army|History of the Royal Australian Navy|History of the Royal Australian Air Force}}
The Commonwealth of Australia came into existence on 1 January 1901 as a result of the federation of the Australian colonies. Under the [[Constitution of Australia]], defence responsibility was now vested in the new federal government. The co-ordination of Australia-wide defensive efforts in the face of [[German Empire|Imperial German]] interest in the Pacific Ocean was one of driving forces behind federalism, and the [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]] immediately came into being as a result, while the Commonwealth Military Forces (early forerunner of the Australian Army) and [[Commonwealth Naval Force]] were also soon established.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 179.</ref><ref group=note>The land forces of Australia have held a number of titles during their history. From 1901 to 1916 they were called the Commonwealth Military Forces, after which they were renamed the [[Australian Military Forces]] (AMF). In 1980 the AMF was renamed the [[Australian Army]], see {{cite web |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/structure/one_army.asp |title=Military Organisation and Structure: One army, two armies? |date=5 October 2011|publisher=Australian War Memorial}}</ref>
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The [[Australian Flying Corps]] (AFC) was established as part of the Commonwealth Military Forces in 1912, prior to the formation of the [[Australian Military Forces]] in 1916 and was later separated in 1921 to form the [[Royal Australian Air Force]], making it the second oldest air force in the world.<ref>Stephens 2001, p. 29.</ref> Regardless, the service branches were not linked by a single [[chain of command]] however, and each reported to their own [[Government minister|minister]] and had separate administrative arrangements and government departments.<ref>Horner 2001, p. 42.</ref>
===First World War, 1914–18===
{{Main|Military history of Australia during World War I}}
====Outbreak of hostilities====
[[Image:Trumpetcallsa.jpg|thumb|An Australian recruitment poster used during [[World War I]].]]
When Britain declared war on Germany at the start of the First World War, the Australian government rapidly followed suit, with Prime Minister [[Joseph Cook]] declaring on 5 August 1914 that "...when the Empire is at war, so also is Australia"<ref>Odgers 1994, p. 58.</ref> and reflecting the sentiment of many Australians that any declaration of war by Britain automatically included Australia. This was itself in part due to the large number of British-born citizens and first generation Anglo-Australians that made up the Australian population at the time. Indeed, by the end of the war almost 20% of those who served in the Australian forces had been born in Britain.<ref>Dennis 1999, p. 85.</ref>
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As the existing militia forces were unable to serve overseas under the provisions of the ''Defence Act 1903'', an all-volunteer expeditionary force known as the [[First Australian Imperial Force|Australian Imperial Force]] (AIF) was formed and recruitment began on 10 August 1914. The government pledged 20,000 men, organised as one infantry [[division (military)|division]] and one [[Australian Light Horse|light horse]] [[brigade]] plus supporting units. Enlistment and organisation was primarily regionally based and was undertaken under mobilisation plans drawn up in 1912.<ref name=Dennis63>Dennis et al 2008, p. 63.</ref> The first commander was Major General [[William Throsby Bridges|William Bridges]], who also assumed command of the [[1st Division (Australia)|1st Division]].<ref>Grey 1999, p. 81.</ref> Throughout the course of the conflict Australian efforts were predominantly focused upon the ground war, although small air and naval forces were also committed.<ref>Beaumont 1995, pp. 1–28.</ref>
====Occupation of German New Guinea====
Following the outbreak of war Australian forces moved quickly to reduce the threat to shipping posed by the proximity of Germany's Pacific colonies. The [[Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force]] (AN&MEF), a 2000-man volunteer force—separate from the AIF—and consisting of an infantry battalion plus 500 naval reservists and ex-sailors, was rapidly formed under the command of [[William Holmes (Australian general)|William Holmes]]. The objectives of the force were the wireless stations on Nauru, and those at Yap in the [[Caroline Islands]], and at Rabaul in [[German New Guinea]]. The force reached Rabaul on 11 September 1914 and occupied it the next day, encountering only brief resistance from the German and native defenders during [[Battle of Bita Paka|fighting at Bita Paka]] and [[Siege of Toma|Toma]]. German New Guinea surrendered on 17 September 1914. Australian losses were light, including six killed during the fighting, but were compounded by the mysterious loss offshore of the submarine [[Australian submarine AE1|AE1]] with all 35 men aboard.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 83.</ref>
====Gallipoli====
{{main|Gallipoli Campaign|Landing at Anzac Cove}}
The AIF departed by ship in a single convoy from [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]] on 1 November 1914. During the journey one of the convoy's naval escorts—{{HMAS|Sydney|1912|6}}—engaged and destroyed the German cruiser {{SMS|Emden|1906|6}} at the [[Battle of Cocos]] on 8 November, in the first ship-to-ship action involving the Royal Australian Navy.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 521.</ref> Although originally bound for England to undergo further training and then for employment on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], the Australians were instead sent to British-controlled Egypt to pre-empt any [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] attack against the strategically important [[Suez Canal]], and with a view to opening another front against the [[Central Powers]].<ref>Grey 1999, p. 88.</ref><ref group=note>Despite temporarily being disembarked when the convoy reached the Suez Canal at the end of November in order to assist with the defence of the canal against Turkish forces, it had always been intended that the Australians and New Zealanders would eventually go to the Western Front like the Canadians; however, issues involving the availability of accommodation and equipment in the training areas of the Salisbury Plain made the arrival of further troops during the winter impossible, and they remained in Egypt as a result. See Grey 1999, p. 88.</ref>
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For Australians and New Zealanders the Gallipoli campaign came to symbolise an important milestone in the emergence of both nations as independent actors on the world stage and the development of a sense of national identity.<ref>Walhert 2008, p. 28.</ref> Today, the date of the initial landings, 25 April, is known as [[Anzac Day]] in Australia and New Zealand and every year thousands of people gather at memorials in both nations, as well as Turkey, to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the original Anzacs, and of all those who have subsequently lost their lives in war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/anzac_tradition.asp|title=The ANZAC Day tradition|publisher=[[Australian War Memorial]]|access-date=2 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/25/1082831420031.html?from=storyrhs|title=15,000 attend dawn service|date=25 April 2004|work=[[The Age]]|access-date=10 May 2007}}</ref>
====Egypt and Palestine====
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli the Australians returned to Egypt and the AIF underwent a major expansion. In 1916 the infantry began to move to France while the cavalry units remained in the Middle East to fight the Turks. Australian troops of the [[Anzac Mounted Division]] and the [[Australian Mounted Division]] saw action in all the major battles of the [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign]], playing a pivotal role in fighting the Turkish troops that were threatening British control of Egypt.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 112.</ref> The
[[Image:4th Light Horse Brigade Beersheba.jpg|thumb|Charge of the [[4th Light Horse Brigade]], 1917.]]
The advance entered Palestine and an initial, unsuccessful attempt was made to capture Gaza on 26 March 1917, while a second and equally unsuccessful attempt was launched on 19 April. A third assault occurred between 31 October and 7 November and this time both the Anzac Mounted Division and the Australian Mounted Division took part. The battle was a complete success for the British, over-running the Gaza-Beersheba line and capturing 12,000 Turkish soldiers. The critical moment was the capture of [[Battle of Beersheba (1917)|Beersheba]] on the first day, after the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade charged more than {{convert|4|mi|km}}. The Turkish trenches were overrun, with the Australians capturing the wells at Beersheeba and securing the valuable water they contained along with over 700 prisoners for the loss of 31 killed and 36 wounded.<ref>Coulthard-Clark 2001, pp. 134–135.</ref> Later, Australian troops assisted in pushing the Turkish forces out of [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] and took part in actions at [[Battle of Mughar Ridge|Mughar Ridge]], [[Battle of Jerusalem (1917)|Jerusalem]] and the [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Megiddo]]. The Turkish government surrendered on 30 October 1918.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 114.</ref> Units of the Light Horse were subsequently used to help put down a [[Egyptian Revolution of 1919|nationalist revolt in Egypt]] in 1919 and did so with efficiency and brutality, although they suffered a number of fatalities in the process.<ref name="Grey117"/>
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Meanwhile, the AFC had undergone remarkable development, and its independence as a separate national force was unique among the Dominions. Deploying just a single aircraft to German New Guinea in 1914, the first operational flight did not occur until 27 May 1915 however, when the [[Mesopotamian Half Flight]] was called upon to assist in protecting British oil interests in Iraq. The AFC was soon expanded and four squadrons later saw action in Egypt, Palestine and on the Western Front, where they performed well.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, pp. 61–62.</ref>
====Western Front====
Five infantry divisions of the AIF saw action in France and Belgium, leaving Egypt in March 1916.<ref>Grey 2008, p. 100.</ref> [[I Anzac Corps]] subsequently took up positions in a quiet sector south of [[Armentières]] on 7 April 1916 and for the next two and a half years the AIF participated in most of the major battles on the Western Front, earning a formidable reputation. Although spared from the disastrous first day of the [[Battle of the Somme]], within weeks four Australian divisions had been committed.<ref>Grey 2008, p. 102.</ref> The 5th Division, positioned on the left flank, was the first in action during the [[Battle of Fromelles]] on 19 July 1916, suffering 5,533 casualties in a single day. The 1st Division entered the line on 23 July, assaulting [[Battle of Pozières|Pozieres]], and by the time that they were relieved by the 2nd Division on 27 July, they had suffered 5,286 casualties.<ref name=Grey103>Grey 2008, 103.</ref> [[Battle of Mouquet Farm|Mouquet Farm]] was attacked in August, with casualties totalling 6,300 men.<ref>Odgers 1994, pp. 93–94.</ref> By the time the AIF was withdrawn from the Somme to re-organise, they had suffered 23,000 casualties in just 45 days.<ref name=Grey103/>
[[File:Chateauwood.jpg|thumb|left|Soldiers of
In March 1917, the 2nd and 5th Divisions pursued the Germans back to the [[Hindenburg Line]], capturing the town of [[Bapaume]]. On 11 April, the 4th Division assaulted the Hindenburg Line in the disastrous [[Battle of Arras (1917)#First Battle of Bullecourt (10–11 April 1917)|First Battle of Bullecourt]], losing over 3,000 casualties and 1,170 captured.<ref name=Odgers95>Odgers 1994, p. 95.</ref> On 15 April, the 1st and 2nd Divisions were counter-attacked near [[Lagnicourt-Marcel|Lagnicourt]] and were forced to abandon the town, before recapturing it again.<ref>Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 126.</ref> The 2nd Division then took part in the [[Battle of Arras (1917)#Second Battle of Bullecourt (3–17 May 1917)|Second Battle of Bullecourt]], beginning on 3 May, and succeeded in taking sections of the Hindenburg Line and holding them until relieved by the 1st Division.<ref name=Odgers95/> Finally, on 7 May the 5th Division relieved the 1st, remaining in the line until the battle ended in mid-May. Combined these efforts cost 7,482 Australian casualties.<ref>Coulthard-Clark 1998, pp.127–128.</ref>
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The war had a profound effect on Australian society in other ways also. Indeed, for many Australians the nation's involvement is seen as a symbol of its emergence as an international actor, while many of the notions of Australian character and nationhood that exist today have their origins in the war. 64 Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War.<ref name=AustVC/>
===Inter-war years===
====Russian Civil War, 1918–19====
{{Main|Australian contribution to the Allied Intervention in Russia 1918–19}}
[[Image:Aussies in Russia (AWM A04697).jpg|thumb|left|Australian soldiers of the North Russia Relief Force during the [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War]], 1919.]]
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Although the motivations of those Australian's that volunteered to fight in Russia can only be guessed at, it seems unlikely to have been political.<ref name=Muirden8/> Regardless, they confirmed a reputation for audacity and courage, winning the only two Victoria Crosses of the land campaign, despite their small numbers.<ref name=Grey117/> Yet Australian involvement was barely noticed at home at the time and made little difference to the outcome of the war.<ref>Dennis et al 1995, p. 437.</ref> Total casualties included 10 killed and 40 wounded, with most deaths being from disease during operations in Mesopotamia.<ref name=Muirden78>Muirden 1990, p. 78.</ref>
====Malaita, 1927====
In October 1927, {{HMAS|Adelaide|1918|6}} was called to the [[British Solomon Islands Protectorate]] as part of a [[punitive expedition]] in response to the killing of a district officer and sixteen others by [[Kwaio]] natives at Sinalagu on the island of [[Malaita]] on 3 October, known as the [[Malaita massacre]]. Arriving at [[Tulagi]] on 14 October, the ship proceeded to Malaita to protect the landing of three platoons of troops, then remained in the area to provide personnel support for the soldiers as they searched for the killers. The ship's personnel took no part in operations ashore, providing only logistic and communications support. ''Adelaide'' returned to Australia on 23 November.<ref>Cassells 2000, p. 6.</ref><ref>Coulthard-Clark 2001, pp. 167–168.</ref>
====Spanish Civil War, 1936–39====
A small number of Australian volunteers fought on both sides of the [[Spanish Civil War]], although they predominantly supported the [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish Republic]] through the [[International Brigades]]. The Australians were subsequently allocated to the battalions of other nationalities, such as the [[British Battalion]] and the [[Lincoln Battalion]], rather than forming their own units. Most were radicals motivated by ideological reasons, while a number were Spanish-born migrants who returned to fight in their country of origin. At least 66 Australians volunteered, with only one—Nugent Bull, a conservative Catholic who was later killed serving in the RAF during the Second World War—known to have fought for General [[Francisco Franco]]'s [[Spain under Franco|Nationalist]] forces.<ref name=Dennis81>Dennis et al 1995, p. 81.</ref>
While a celebrated cause for the Australian left—particularly the [[Communist Party of Australia]] and the trade union movement—the war failed to spark particular public interest and the government maintained its neutrality.<ref>Grey 1999, p. 133.</ref> Australian opposition to the Republican cause was marshalled by [[B. A. Santamaria]] on an anti-communist basis, rather than a pro-Nationalist basis. Equally, although individual right wing Australians may have served with the Nationalist rebels, they received no public support. Service in a foreign armed force was illegal at the time, however as the government received no reports of Australians travelling to Spain to enlist, no action was taken.<ref name=Dennis81/><ref group=note>Such service was technically illegal under the ''Foreign Enlistment Act 1870''—an act of British Parliament. Notably Australia did not possess similar legislation until the ''Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978'' was passed. See Dennis et al 2008, p. 81.</ref> Consequently, returned veterans were neither recognised by the government or the [[Returned and Services League of Australia]] (RSL). Although the number of Australian volunteers was relatively small compared to those from other countries, at least 14 were killed.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 72.</ref>
===Second World War, 1939–45===
{{Main|Military history of Australia during World War II|Australian home front during World War II}}
====Europe and the Middle East====
[[File:HMAS Sydney (AWM 301473) cropped.jpg|thumb|The light cruiser {{HMAS|Sydney|1934|6}} in 1940.]]
Australia entered the Second World War on 3 September 1939. At the time of the declaration of war against Germany the Australian military was small and unready for war.<ref>Grey 2008, p. 144.</ref> Recruiting for a [[Second Australian Imperial Force]] (2nd AIF) began in mid-September. While there was no rush of volunteers like the First World War, a high proportion of Australian men of military age had enlisted by mid-1940. Four infantry divisions were formed during 1939 and 1940, three of which were dispatched to the Middle East.<ref>Beaumont 1996a, pp. 7–9.</ref> The RAAF's resources were initially mainly devoted to training airmen for service with the Commonwealth air forces through the [[Empire Air Training Scheme]] (EATS), through which almost 28,000 Australians were trained during the war.<ref>Stevens 2006, pp. 60–64, 75.</ref>
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The RAAF's role in the strategic air offensive in Europe formed Australia's main contribution to the defeat of Germany. Approximately 13,000 Australian airmen served in dozens of British and five Australian squadrons in [[RAF Bomber Command]] between 1940 and the end of the war.<ref>Stevens 2006, p. 107.</ref> Australians took part in all of Bomber Command's major offensives and suffered heavy losses during raids on German cities and targets in France.<ref>Odgers 1999, pp. 187–191.</ref> Australian aircrew in Bomber Command had one of the highest casualty rates of any part of the Australian military during the Second World War and sustained almost 20 percent of all Australian deaths in combat; 3,486 were killed and hundreds more were taken prisoner.<ref>Stevens 2006, p. 96.</ref> Australian airmen in light bomber and fighter squadrons also participated in the [[Western Front (World War II)|liberation of Western Europe]] during 1944 and 1945<ref>Long 1973. pp. 379–393</ref> and two RAAF maritime patrol squadrons served in the [[Battle of the Atlantic]].<ref>Odgers 1999, p. 187.</ref>
====Asia and the Pacific====
[[Image:Darwin 42.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Bombing of Darwin]] in 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia.]]
From the 1920s Australia's defence thinking was dominated by British Imperial defence policy, which was embodied by the "[[Singapore strategy]]". This strategy involved the construction and defence of a major naval base at Singapore from which a large British fleet would respond to Japanese aggression in the region. To this end, a high proportion of Australian forces in Asia were concentrated in [[British Malaya|Malaya]] during 1940 and 1941 as the threat from Japan increased.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, pp. 339–340.</ref> However, as a result of the emphasis on co-operation with Britain, relatively few Australian military units had been retained in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Measures were taken to improve Australia's defences as war with Japan loomed in 1941, but these proved inadequate. In December 1941, the Australian Army in the Pacific comprised the [[8th Division (Australia)|8th Division]], most of which was stationed in Malaya, and eight partially trained and equipped divisions in Australia. The RAAF was equipped with 373 aircraft, most of which were obsolete trainers, and the RAN had three cruisers and two destroyers in Australian waters.<ref>Horner 1993, pp. 2–3.</ref>
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Following Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945 Australia assumed responsibility for occupying much of Borneo and the eastern Netherlands East Indies until British and Dutch colonial rule was restored. Australian authorities also conducted a number of [[war crimes trials]] of Japanese personnel. 993,000 Australians enlisted during the war, while 557,000 served overseas. Casualties included 39,767 killed and another 66,553 were wounded.<ref name=AWMcasualties/><ref group=note>27,073 Australians were killed and 23,477 were wounded by enemy action during the war, however when non-battle casualties are included these figures are 39,767 killed and another 66,553 wounded. See {{cite web |title=Australian War Casualties |publisher=Australian War Memorial |date=15 December 2005 |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/research/infosheets/war_casualties.asp |access-date=4 April 2009}}</ref> 20 Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australians.<ref name=AustVC/>
===Post-war period===
====Demobilisation and peace-time defence arrangements
The [[Demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II|demobilisation of the Australian military]] following the end of the Second World War was completed in 1947. Plans for post-war defence arrangements were predicated on maintaining a relatively strong peacetime force. It was envisioned the Royal Australian Navy would maintain a fleet that would include two [[Fleet carrier|light fleet carriers]], two cruisers, six destroyers, 16 others ships in commission and another 52 in reserve. The Royal Australian Air Force would have a strength of 16 squadrons, including four manned by the Citizen Air Force. Meanwhile, in a significant departure from past Australian defence policy which had previously relied on citizen forces, the Australian Army would include a permanent field force of 19,000 [[Regular army|regular]]s organised into a brigade of three infantry battalions with armoured support, serving alongside a part-time force of 50,000 men in the Citizen Military Forces.<ref>Grey 1999, pp. 195–196.</ref> The Australian Regular Army was subsequently formed on 30 September 1947, while the CMF was re-raised on 1 July 1948.<ref>Kuring 2004, pp. 219–220.</ref>
====Occupation of Japan, 1946–52====
[[File:General Eichelberger inspects the Australian Guard of Honor at Kure, British Commonwealth Occupation Force Headquarters.jpg|thumb|Australian Guard of Honour, at the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]] headquarters, 1946.]]
In the immediate post-war period Australia contributed significant forces to the Allied occupation of Japan as part of the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]] (BCOF), which included forces from Australia, Britain, India and New Zealand.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 111.</ref> At its height in 1946 the Australian component consisted of an infantry brigade, four warships and three fighter squadrons, totalling 13,500 personnel.<ref>Eather 1996, p. 1.</ref> The Australian Army component initially consisted of the [[34th Brigade (Australia)|34th Brigade]] which arrived in Japan in February 1946 and was based in [[Hiroshima Prefecture]].<ref>Grey 2008, p. 203</ref><ref>Long 1963, p. 578.</ref> The three infantry battalions raised for occupation duties were designated the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of the [[Royal Australian Regiment]] in 1949,<ref name=AWM_1RAR>{{cite web|title=1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11339korea.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006144650/http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11339korea.asp|work=Korea, 1950–1953 units|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=27 December 2012|archive-date=6 October 2012}}</ref> and the 34th Brigade became the [[1st Brigade (Australia)|1st Brigade]] when it returned to Australia in December 1948, forming the basis of the post-war Regular Army. From that time the Australian Army contribution to the occupation of Japan was reduced to a single under-strength battalion. Australian forces remained until September 1951 when the BCOF ceased operations, although by that time the majority of units had been committed to the fighting on the Korean peninsula following the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950.<ref>Kuring 2004, p. 219.</ref> The RAAF component consisted of [[No. 76 Squadron RAAF|Nos. 76]], [[No. 77 Squadron RAAF|77]] and [[No. 82 Squadron RAAF|82 Squadron]]s as part of [[No. 81 Wing RAAF]] flying [[P-51 Mustang]]s, initially based at [[Hōfu, Yamaguchi|Bofu]] from March 1946, before transferring to [[Iwakuni, Yamaguchi|Iwakuni]] in 1948. However, by 1950 only No. 77 Squadron remained in Japan.<ref>Eather 1996, pp. 1–19.</ref> A total of ten RAN warships served in Japan during this period, including HMA Ships [[HMAS Australia (D84)|''Australia'']], [[HMAS Hobart (D63)|''Hobart'']], [[HMS Shropshire|''Shropshire'']], [[HMAS Arunta (I30)|''Arunta'']], [[HMAS Bataan (I91)|''Bataan'']], [[HMAS Culgoa (K408)|''Culgoa'']], [[HMAS Murchison (K442)|''Murchison'']], [[HMAS Shoalhaven (K535)|''Shoalhaven'']], [[HMAS Quadrant (G11)|''Quadrant'']] and [[HMAS Quiberon (G81)|''Quiberon'']], while HMAS Ships [[HMAS Manoora (F48)|''Manoora'']], [[HMAS Westralia (F95)|''Westralia'']] and [[HMAS Kanimbla (C78)|''Kanimbla'']] also provided support.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, pp. 111–112.</ref>
===Cold War===
====Early planning and commitments
During the early years of the [[Cold War]], Australian defence planning assumed that in the event of the outbreak of a global war between the Western world and Eastern bloc countries it would need to contribute forces under collective security arrangements as part of the United Nations, or a coalition led by either the United States or Britain. The Middle East was considered the most likely area of operations for Australian forces, where they were expected to operate with British forces.<ref>Kuring 2004, p. 223.</ref> Early commitments included the involvement of RAAF aircrew during the [[Berlin Airlift]] in 1948–49 and the deployment of [[No. 78 Wing RAAF]] to Malta in the Mediterranean from 1952 to 1954.<ref>Eather 1996, p. 38 and pp. 172–183.</ref> Meanwhile, defence preparedness initiatives included the introduction of a [[Conscription in Australia|National Service Scheme]] in 1951 to provide manpower for the citizen forces of the Army, RAAF and RAN.<ref>Kuring 2004, p. 224.</ref><ref>Grey 1999, p. 200.</ref>
====Korean War, 1950–53====
{{Main|Military history of Australia during the Korean War}}
[[Image:3 RAR Korea (AWM P01813-449).jpg|thumb|Members of [[3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]] move forward in 1951.]]
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The belligerents then became locked in static [[trench warfare]] akin to the First World War, in which men lived in tunnels, redoubts, and sandbagged forts behind barbed wire defences. From 1951 until the end of the war, 3 RAR held trenches on the eastern side of the division's positions in the hills northeast of the Imjin River. Across from them were heavily fortified Chinese positions. In March 1952, Australia increased its ground commitment to two battalions, sending [[1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment|1 RAR]]. This battalion remained in Korea for 12 months, before being replaced by [[2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment|2 RAR]] in April 1953.<ref>Grey 1999, pp. 207–208.</ref> The Australians fought their last battle during 24–26 July 1953, with 2 RAR holding off a concerted Chinese [[Battle of the Samichon River|attack along the Samichon River]] and inflicting significant casualties for the loss of five killed and 24 wounded.<ref>Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 269.</ref> Hostilities were suspended on 27 July 1953. 17,808 Australians served during the war, with 341 killed, 1,216 wounded and 30 captured.<ref>Odgers 1999, p. 147.</ref>
====Malayan Emergency, 1950–60====
{{main|Military history of Australia during the Malayan Emergency}}
[[File:RAAFAvroLincolnMalaya1950.jpg|thumb|A Lincoln from No. 1 Squadron RAAF bombing communist targets during the Malayan Emergency,
The [[Malayan Emergency]] was declared on 18 June 1948, after three estate managers were murdered by members of the [[Malayan Communist Party]] (MCP).<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 345.</ref> Australian involvement began in June 1950, when in response to a British request, six [[Avro Lincoln|Lincolns]] from [[No. 1 Squadron RAAF|No. 1 Squadron]] and a flight of [[C-47 Skytrain|Dakotas]] from [[No. 38 Squadron RAAF|No. 38 Squadron]] arrived in Singapore to form part of the British Commonwealth [[Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force)|Far East Air Force]] (FEAF). The Dakotas were subsequently used on cargo runs, troop movement, as well as paratroop and leaflet drops, while the Lincoln bombers carried out bombing raids against the Communist Terrorist (CT) jungle bases.<ref name=Dennis347>Dennis et al 2008, p. 347.</ref> The RAAF were particularly successful, and in one such mission known as Operation Termite, five Lincoln bombers destroyed 181 communist camps, killed 13 communists and forced one into surrender, in a joint operation with the RAF and ground troops.<ref name=Dennis347/> The Lincolns were withdrawn in 1958, and were replaced by [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra]] bombers from [[No. 2 Squadron RAAF|No. 2 Squadron]] and [[CAC Sabre]]s from [[No. 78 Wing RAAF|No. 78 Wing]]. Based at [[RAAF Base Butterworth]] they also carried out a number ground attack missions against the guerrillas.<ref>Eather 1996, pp. 70–76.</ref>
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Australia also provided artillery and engineer support, along with an air-field construction squadron. The Royal Australian Navy also served in Malayan waters, firing on suspected communist positions between 1956 and 1957. The Emergency was the longest continued commitment in Australian military history; 7,000<ref name=AWMcasualties/> Australians served and 51 died in Malaya—although only 15 were on operations—and another 27 were wounded.<ref name=Dennis347/>
====Military and Naval growth during the 1960s====
[[File:HMAS Perth (D 38) fires on North Vietnamese coastal defense sites in February 1968.jpg|thumb|left|{{HMAS|Perth|D 38|6}} firing on North Vietnamese targets in 1968. ''Perth'' joined the fleet in 1965 as part of the RAN's naval expansion program.]]
At the start of the 1960s, Prime Minister [[Robert Menzies]] greatly expanded the Australian military so that it could carry out the Government's policy of "Forward Defence" in South East Asia. In 1964, Menzies announced a large increase in defence spending. The strength of the Australian Army would be increased by 50% over three years from 22,000 to 33,000; providing a full three-brigade division with nine battalions. The RAAF and RAN would also both be increased by 25%. In 1964, conscription or National Service was re-introduced under the ''[[National Service Act (1964)|National Service Act]]'', for selected 20-year-olds based on date of birth, for a period of two years' continuous full-time service (the previous scheme having been suspended in 1959).<ref>Macdougall 1991, p. 327.</ref>
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The RAAF took delivery of their first [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage]] fighters in 1967, equipping [[No. 3 Squadron RAAF|No. 3]], [[No. 75 Squadron RAAF|No. 75]] and No. 77 Squadrons with them. The service also received American [[General Dynamics F-111|F-111]] strike aircraft, [[C-130 Hercules]] transports, [[P-3 Orion]] maritime reconnaissance aircraft and Italian [[Aermacchi MB-326|Macchi]] trainers.<ref>Stephens 2001, pp. 200 and 291.</ref>
====Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, 1962–66====
{{Main|Military history of Australia during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation}}
[[File:Australian soldier Borneo.jpg|thumb|An Australian soldier manning the machine gun while on guard duty in Borneo during 1965]]
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Operations in Borneo were extremely sensitive and they received little press coverage in Australia, while official acknowledgement of involvement in cross-border missions only occurred in 1996. Following a military coup in Indonesia in early 1966 which brought General [[Suharto]] to power, a peace treaty was signed in August 1966 which ended the conflict.<ref name=Dennis173/> 3,500 Australians served during Confrontation; casualties included 16 dead, with seven killed in action and eight wounded.<ref name=Dennis173/>
====Vietnam War, 1962–73====
{{Main|Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War}}
[[Image:7 RAR Vietnam (AWM EKN-67-0130-VN).jpg|thumb|right|An iconic image of Australian soldiers from [[7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment|7 RAR]] waiting to be picked up by UH-1 Iroquois helicopters following a routine cordon and search operation.]]
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The Australian withdrawal effectively commenced in November 1970. As a consequence of the overall allied strategy of [[Vietnamization]] and with the Australian government keen to reduce its own commitment to the war, [[8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment|8 RAR]] was not replaced at the end of its tour of duty. 1 ATF was again reduced to just two infantry battalions, albeit with significant armour, artillery and aviation support remaining.<ref>Horner 2008, p. 231.</ref> Australian combat forces were further reduced during 1971 as part of a phased withdrawal, and 1 ATF ceased operations in October. Meanwhile, the advisors remained to train South Vietnamese troops until withdrawn on 18 December 1972 by the newly elected Labor government of [[Gough Whitlam]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.defence.gov.au/army/ahu/HISTORY/vietnam_war.htm| title = Vietnam War 1962–1972 | work = Website | publisher = Army History Unit | access-date =20 September 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060905054108/http://www.defence.gov.au/army/ahu/HISTORY/vietnam_war.htm| archive-date = 5 September 2006}}</ref> The last Australian forces were finally withdrawn in 1973. The Vietnam War was Australia's longest and most controversial war and although initially enjoying broad support, as the nation's military involvement increased a vocal anti-war movement developed.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 557.</ref> More than 50,000 Australians served in Vietnam; 519 were killed and 2,398 were wounded. Four were awarded the Victoria Cross.<ref name=Dennis620/>
===Post-Vietnam era===
====Creation of the Australian Defence Force, 1976
{{Main|Australian Defence Force}}
[[File:Russell Offices.JPG|thumb|The [[Russell Offices]] complex in [[Canberra]] houses the [[Australian Defence Force]] administrative headquarters. The three military branches amalgamated into the ADF in 1976.]]
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The Whitlam [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] Government subsequently amalgamated the five defence ministries (Defence, [[Department of the Navy (Australia)|Navy]], [[Department of the Army (Australia)|Army]], [[Department of Air (Australia)|Air Force]], and [[Department of Supply|Supply]]) into a single Department of Defence in 1973, while conscription under the National Service scheme was abolished.<ref name=Horner47/> On 1 January 1976, the three branches of the Australian military were brought together as a unified, all-volunteer, professional force known as the Australian Defence Force (ADF).<ref>Horner 2001, p. 41.</ref> Today, the ADF is headquartered at [[Russell Offices]] in Canberra and is divided into Air, Land, Maritime and Special Operations Commands. In addition, [[Northern Command (Australia)|Northern Command]] is based in Darwin, and is responsible for operations in Northern Australia.<ref>Horner 2001, p. 112.</ref>
====Defence of Australia, 1980s and 1990s====
Until the 1970s, Australia's military strategy centred on the concept of ''Forward Defence'', in which the role of Australian military and naval forces were to co-operate with Allied forces to counter threats in Australia's region. Following the adoption of the [[Guam Doctrine]] by the United States in 1969, and the British withdrawal '[[east of Suez]]' in the early 1970s, Australia developed a defence policy emphasising self-reliance and the defence of the Australian continent. Known as the [[Defence of Australia Policy]], it focused Australian defence planning on protecting the nation's northern maritime approaches (the 'air-sea gap') against possible attack.<ref>Tewes, Rayner and Kavanaugh 2004.</ref>
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During this period Australia continued to retain forces in Malaysia as part of the [[Five Power Defence Arrangements]] (FPDA) agreed in 1971 to defend it in the event of external attack, with this commitment initially including significant air, ground and naval forces. However, these forces were gradually reduced with the infantry battalion withdrawn from Singapore in 1973, and the two Mirage fighter squadrons in 1988. Since then a detachment of Orion maritime patrol aircraft, support personnel, and an infantry company known as [[Rifle Company Butterworth]] have been maintained, as well as occasional deployments of [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18 Hornet]] fighter aircraft.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, pp. 208–209.</ref><ref>Horner and Bou 2008, pp. 256 and 340.</ref> Australian submarines reportedly undertook a number of clandestine surveillance missions throughout Asian waters in the last decades of the Cold War. Airforce and Navy units were also involved in tracking Soviet ship and submarine movements in the region.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barker|first=Geoffrey|url= http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/cold-war-exploits-of-australias-secret-submarines/story-e6frg6z6-1226742599268|title= Cold War exploits of Australia's secret submarines|work=The Australian|date=19 October 2013|issn=1038-8761|access-date=26 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/UploadedFiles/General/Snippet_5.pdf|title=RAAF Participation in Operation Gateway|work=Oral History Program, Snippet No. 5|publisher=Office of Airforce History|access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref> Since then the Orions have continued to participate in maritime security operations as part of [[Operation Gateway]], conducting patrols over the Indian Ocean, Strait of Malacca and South China Sea.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McCaughlin|first=Andrew|date=2007|title=Quiet Achiever|journal=[[Australian Aviation (magazine)|Australian Aviation]]|issue=December 2007|issn=0813-0876|page=44}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Operation Gateway|work=South China Sea Indian Ocean|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/operations/SouthChinaSeaIndianOcean/|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref> They have reportedly also been involved in [[freedom of navigation]] flights.<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia conducting 'freedom of navigation' flights in South China Sea|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-35099445|work=BBC News|date=15 December 2015|access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Defence claims RAAF South China Sea flight is "routine"|url=http://www.afr.com/news/defence-claims-raaf-south-china-sea-flight-is-routine-20151215-glo9qo|work=[[Australian Financial Review]]|date=15 December 2015|access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Greene|last2=Birtles|first1=Andrew|first2=Bill|title=Audio captures RAAF surveillance flight over South China Sea|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-15/audio-captures-raaf-challenging-chinese-navy-in-south-china-sea/7030076|work=ABC News|date=15 December 2015|access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref>
====Gulf War, 1991====
{{Main|Australian contribution to the 1991 Gulf War}}
[[Image:HMAS Sydney 1991.jpg|thumb|right|{{HMAS|Sydney|FFG 03|6}} in the Persian Gulf in 1991.]]
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Since the late 1980s, the Australian government had increasingly called upon the ADF to contribute forces to peacekeeping missions around the world. While most of these deployments involved only small numbers of specialists, several led to the deployment of hundreds of personnel. Large peacekeeping deployments were made to Namibia in early 1989, Cambodia between 1992 and 1993, [[Operation Solace|Somalia]] in 1993, Rwanda between 1994 and 1995 and [[Bougainville Province|Bougainville]] in 1994 and from 1997 onwards.<ref>Horner 2001, pp. 228–255.</ref> The 1996 election of the [[John Howard|Howard]] [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal government]] resulted in significant reforms to the ADF's force structure and role, with the new government's defence strategy placed less singular emphasis on defending Australia from direct attack and greater emphasis on working in co-operation with regional states and [[Foreign relations of Australia|Australia's allies]] to manage potential security threats in recognition of Australia's global security interests. In line with this new focus, the ADF's force structure changed in an attempt to increase the proportion of combat units to support units and to improve the ADF's combat effectiveness.<ref>Australian Army 2008, p. 81.</ref>
===New Millennium===
====East Timor, 1999–2013====
{{Main|United Nations Mission in East Timor|International Force for East Timor|United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor|Operation Astute}}
[[File:INTERFET 12 Feb 2000.jpg|thumb|left|Australian members of [[International Force East Timor]], 2000.]]
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In May 2006, 2,000 ADF personnel were again deployed to East Timor as part of [[Operation Astute]], following unrest between elements of the [[Timor Leste Defence Force]]. Australian forces were involved in a number skirmishes during this time, including a heavy clash with rebels commanded by [[Alfredo Reinado]] at [[Battle of Same|Same]] on 4 March 2007. However, by early-2010 the security situation had been stabilised and just 400 Australian personnel remained to train the local security forces as part of a small international force.<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Operations |publisher=Department of Defence |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/index.htm |access-date=1 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410024243/http://www.defence.gov.au/opex/global/index.htm |archive-date=10 April 2009 }}</ref> Following a drawdown, the International Stabilisation Force commenced withdrawing from Timor-Leste in November 2012, a process which was completed in April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mission complete for ANZAC Diggers|work=Defence News|publisher=Department of Defence|date=3 January 2013|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2013/jan/0103.htm|access-date=30 January 2014}}</ref>
====Afghanistan,
{{Main|Operation Slipper}}
[[File:3RAR Afghanistan 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Members of 3 RAR on a foot patrol in [[Tarinkot]], 2008.]]
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[[File:An ASLAV in a defensive position in Afghanistan during 2010.jpg|thumb|right|An [[ASLAV]] providing security for ground troops in the Tangi Valley in 2010.]]
A modest force remained in Afghanistan over this time and was involved in counter-insurgency operations in [[Uruzgan|Uruzgan Province]] in conjunction United States and other coalition forces, including the Dutch prior to their withdrawal. The force consisted of motorised infantry, special forces, engineers, cavalry, artillery and aviation elements. By 2010 it included a combined arms [[battalion]]-sized [[Battlegroup (army)|battle group]] known as the Mentoring Task Force, and the Special Operations Task Group, both based at Forward Operation Base Ripley outside of [[Tarin Kowt]], as well as the Rotary Wing Group flying [[CH-47|CH-47D Chinooks]], the Force Logistics Asset and an RAAF air surveillance radar unit based in [[Kandahar]].<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 9.</ref><ref>Connery, Cran and Evered 2012, pp. 9–17.</ref> In addition, a further 800 Australian logistic personnel were also based in the Middle East in support, but located outside of Afghanistan.<ref name=":1"/> Meanwhile, detachments of maritime patrol and transport aircraft continued to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, based out of [[Camp Mirage|Al Minhad Air Base]] in the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="Nautilus_Al_Minhad_Air_Base">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalcollab.org/publications/books/australian-forces-abroad/bases/mirage/|title=Al Minhad Air Base – Global Collaborative|year=2009|work=Australian Bases Abroad|publisher=Nautilus Institute|access-date=6 April 2012}}</ref> Also included was one of the RAN's frigates deployed to the [[Arabian Sea]] and [[Gulf of Aden]] on counter piracy and maritime interdiction duties.<ref name="Op_Slipper_Factsheet_130110">{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/info/factsheet.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925021245/http://defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/info/factsheet.htm|title=Operation Slipper Afghanistan – Fact Sheet|year=2010|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=20 September 2010|archive-date=25 September 2010}}</ref><ref group=note>These ships are deployed as part of the US-led [[Combined Maritime Forces]]. Headquartered in Bahrain, the coalition operates three naval task forces in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman, being [[Combined Task Force 150]] (CTF 150) – maritime security and counter-terrorism, [[Combined Task Force 151]] (CTF 151) – counter-piracy, and [[Combined Task Force 152]] (CTF 152) – maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf. See {{cite
Australian forces were at times involved in heavy fighting, and significant actions included [[Operation Anaconda]] in 2002 and [[Operation Perth]] in 2006, as well as actions in [[Battle of Chora|Chora]] in 2007, [[First and Second Battles of Kakarak|Kakarak]] in 2009, the [[Shah Wali Kot Offensive|Shah Wali Kot]] and [[Battle of Derapet|Derapet]] in 2010, and [[Battle of Doan|Doan]] in 2011; although others have yet to be publicly acknowledged due to operational security requirements. Casualties include 41 killed and 256 wounded, while another Australian also died serving with the British Army.<ref name=OPSlipper>{{cite web|title=Australian Defence Force personnel wounded and killed in action|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/info/personnel.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104043/http://www.defence.gov.au/operations/afghanistan/personnel.asp|work=Australian Operation in Afghanistan|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=10 September 2015|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> Four Australians have been awarded the [[Victoria Cross for Australia]], the first such decorations in forty years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24920258-31477,00.html|title=Australian SAS soldier Mark Donaldson awarded Victoria Cross|work=[[The Australian]]|date=16 January 2009|access-date=16 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119022945/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24920258-31477,00.html|archive-date=19 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following a drawdown in forces, the last combat troops were withdrawn on 15 December 2013; however, approximately 400 personnel remain in Afghanistan as trainers and advisers, and are stationed in Kandahar and Kabul.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/under-heavy-security-pm-tony-abbott-visits-afghanistan-and-declares-war-over/story-fncynjr2-1226748502885|work=News.com.au|title=Under heavy security, PM Tony Abbott visits Afghanistan and declares war over|date=29 October 2013|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029074001/http://www.news.com.au/national/under-heavy-security-pm-tony-abbott-visits-afghanistan-and-declares-war-over/story-fncynjr2-1226748502885|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brissenden|first=Michael|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-29/tony-abbott-makes-first-visit-to-afghanistan-as-prime-minister/5051242|title=Tony Abbott makes first visit to Afghanistan as PM, says Australia's longest war is ending|date=29 October 2013|work=ABC News}}</ref> Over 26,000 Australian personnel have served in Afghanistan.<ref name=ONeill>{{cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Clare|url=http://www.army.gov.au/Our-future/Blog/Articles/2015/04/Dichotomy-of-hope|title=Dichotomy of hope|date=24 April 2015|publisher=Australian Army|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173856/http://www.army.gov.au/Our-future/Blog/Articles/2015/04/Dichotomy-of-hope|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In November 2020, a report for the [[Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force]] by Major General [[Paul Brereton]], a [[New South Wales Court of Appeal]] judge, found credible information that 25 current or former members of the ADF were involved in, or accessories to, the murder of 39 Afghan prisoners and civilians, and the cruel treatment of two others. None of these matters occurred in the "heat of battle". Brereton's inquiry took four and a half years to complete, and involved the interviewing of 423 witnesses, the examination of more than 20,000 documents and 25,000 images, regarding conduct in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. It recommended that 36 incidents be referred to the AFP for criminal investigation. The report, released in heavily redacted form on 19 November by the [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of the Defence Force]], General [[Angus Campbell (general)|Angus Campbell]]. Campbell offered an apology for "any wrongdoing by Australian soldiers", and highlighted that the matters predominantly involved the SASR. He summarised the report by saying that "It is alleged that some patrols took the law into their own hands, rules were broken, stories concocted, lies told and prisoners killed", and said that practices developed in order to conceal deliberate unlawful killings.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Doran |first1=Matthew |title=Afghanistan war crimes report released by Defence Chief Angus Campbell includes evidence of 39 murders by special forces |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-19/afghanistan-war-crimes-report-igadf-paul-brereton-released/12896234 |website=ABC News |access-date=30 November 2020}}</ref> On 26 November, it was reported that Defence had commenced administrative action against at least 10 serving members of the SASR, issuing them with "show cause" notices for their dismissal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Andrew |last2=Willacy |first2=Mark |title=Defence starts dismissing SAS soldiers in wake of Afghanistan war crimes inquiry |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-26/defence-dismissing-sas-soldiers-accused-war-crimes-afghanistan/12920946 |website=ABC News |access-date=30 November 2020}}</ref>
====Iraq, 2003–11====
{{Main|Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq}}
Australian forces later joined British and American forces during the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. The initial contribution was also a modest one, consisting of just 2,058 personnel—codenamed Operation Falconer. Major force elements included special forces, rotary and fixed wing aviation and naval units. Army units included elements from the SASR and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), a CH-47 Chinook detachment and a number of other specialist units. RAN units included the amphibious ship {{HMAS|Kanimbla|L 51|6}} and the frigates {{HMAS|Darwin|FFG 04|6}} and {{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|6}}, while the RAAF deployed 14 F/A-18 Hornets from No. 75 Squadron, a number of AP-3C Orions and C-130 Hercules.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 248.</ref> The Australian Special Forces Task Force was one of the first coalition units forces to cross the border into Iraq, while for a few days, the closest ground troops to Baghdad were from the SASR. During the invasion the RAAF also flew its first combat missions since the Vietnam War, with No. 75 Squadron flying a total of 350 sorties and dropping 122 [[laser-guided bomb]]s.<ref>Holmes 2006, pp. 38–39.</ref>
Line 315 ⟶ 317:
The Iraqi military quickly proved no match for coalition military power, and with their defeat the bulk of Australian forces were withdrawn. While Australia did not initially take part in the post-war [[History of Iraq (2003–2011)|occupation of Iraq]], an Australian Army light armoured battlegroup—designated the [[Al Muthanna Task Group]] and including 40 [[ASLAV]] light armoured vehicles and infantry—was later deployed to Southern Iraq in April 2005 as part of Operation Catalyst. The role of this force was to protect the Japanese engineer contingent in the region and support the training of [[New Iraqi Army]] units. The AMTG later became the [[Overwatch Battle Group (West)]] (OBG(W)), following the hand back of Al Muthanna province to Iraqi control. Force levels peaked at 1,400 personnel in May 2007 including the OBG(W) in Southern Iraq, the Security Detachment in Baghdad and the Australian Army Training Team—Iraq. A RAN frigate was based in the North [[Persian Gulf]], while RAAF assets included C-130H Hercules and AP-3C elements.<ref>Dennis et al 2008, p. 250.</ref> Following the election of a new Labor government under Prime Minister [[Kevin Rudd]] the bulk of these forces were withdrawn by mid-2009, while RAAF and RAN operations were redirected to other parts of the Middle East Area of Operations as part of Operation Slipper.<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia ends Iraq troop presence|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/117463/Australia-ends-Iraq-troop-presence|newspaper=Daily Express|date=31 July 2009}}</ref>
Low-level operations continued, however, with a small Australian force of 80 soldiers remaining in Iraq to protect the Australian Embassy in [[Baghdad]] as part of [[SECDET Iraq|SECDET]] under [[Operation Kruger]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Operations – Department of Defence|publisher=Department of Defence |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402001225/http://www.defence.gov.au/op/index.htm|access-date=6 April 2010|archive-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> SECDET was finally withdrawn in August 2011, and was replaced by a [[private military company]] which took over responsibility for providing security for Australia's diplomatic presence in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia withdraws troops guarding Iraq embassy|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-10/australia-withdraws-troops-guarding-iraq-embassy/2833654|access-date=10 August 2011|newspaper=ABC News|date=10 August 2011}}</ref> Although more than 17,000 personnel served during operations in Iraq, Australian casualties were relatively light, with two soldiers accidentally killed, while a third Australian died serving with the British [[Royal Air Force]]. A further 27 personnel were wounded.<ref name=AWMcasualties/> Two officers remained in Iraq attached to the [[United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq]] as part of Operation Riverbank.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wiseman|first1=Nick|title=SECDET Hands Over in Iraq|newspaper=Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper|publisher=Department of Defence|location=Canberra|url=http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/?xml=defencenews_army.xml|date=18 August 2011|page=3|access-date=19 August 2011}}</ref> This operation concluded in November 2013.<ref>{{cite
====Military intervention against ISIL, 2014–present====
[[File:A21-36 taking off for a mission over Iraq during Operation Okra.jpg|thumb|An RAAF F/A-18 Hornet taking off for a mission over Iraq in 2017.]]
{{main|Operation Okra}}
In June 2014 a small number of SASR personnel were deployed to Iraq to protect the Australian embassy when the security of Baghdad was threatened by the [[Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)|2014 Northern Iraq offensive]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brissenden |first1=Michael |title=Australia scales back embassy staff numbers in Iraq due to safety fears over safety of Baghdad airport |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-03/australia-scales-back-embassy-staff-numbers-in-iraq/5570240 |access-date=3 July 2014 |agency=ABC News |date=3 July 2014}}</ref> Later, in August and September a number of RAAF [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] and [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|C-130J]] transport aircraft based in the Middle East were used to conduct [[airdrop]]s of humanitarian aid to trapped civilians and to airlift arms and munitions to forces in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.<ref>{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Katharine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/14/australian-troops-complete-first-humanitarian-mission-in-northern-iraq |title=Australian troops complete first humanitarian mission in northern Iraq |work=The Guardian |date=14 August 2014 |access-date=18 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wroe |first=David |title=SAS to Protect Crews on Arms Drops in Iraq |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/sas-to-protect-crews-on-arms-drops-in-iraq-20140831-10aoyl.html#ixzz3Cz1PIUPK |date=31 August 2014 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Sydney |issn=0312-6315 }}</ref><ref>{{cite
==Peacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations==
{{Main|Australia and the United Nations|Australian military involvement in peacekeeping}}
[[Image:Australian Peacekeeping.PNG|thumb|left|Australian peacekeeping deployments since 1945.]]
Australia's involvement in international peacekeeping operations has been diverse, and included participation in both United Nations sponsored missions, as well as those as part of ad hoc coalitions. Australians have been involved in more conflicts as peacekeepers than as belligerents; however "in comparative international terms, Australia has only been a moderately energetic peacekeeper."<ref>Londey 2004, p. xxi.</ref> Although Australia has had peacekeepers in the field continuously for 60 years—being among the first group of UN military observers in Indonesia in 1947—its commitments have generally been limited, consisting mostly of small numbers of high-level and technical support troops such as signallers, engineers, medics, observers, and police. One significant commitment has been Australia's ongoing involvement with the long running [[Multinational Force and Observers]] in the Sinai. The operational tempo started increasing in the mid-1990s, when Australia became involved in a series of high-profile operations, deploying significantly larger combat units in support of a number of missions including [[Australian contribution to UNTAC in Cambodia 1992–1993|Cambodia]], [[United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda|Rwanda]], Somalia, East Timor, and the [[RAMSI|Solomon Islands]]. Australia has been involved in close to 100 separate missions, involving more than 30,000 personnel; 14 Australians have died during these operations.<ref name=AWMPeacekeeping/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/peacekeeping/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718064542/https://www.awm.gov.au/peacekeeping/ |title=Australian War Memorial Official History of Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations |access-date=4 April 2009|archive-date=18 July 2009}}</ref> In addition, approximately 7,000 personnel have been involved in 66 different overseas humanitarian relief operations between 1918 and 2006.
==Military statistics==
Line 337 ⟶ 339:
! style="text-align: left; "|Notes
|-
| [[Military history of Australia#New Zealand Wars, 1861–1864|New Zealand]] ||
|-
| [[Military history of Australia#Sudan, 1885|Sudan]] || 1885 || 770 in NSW Contingent || 9 || 3 || Nil ||<ref name=AWMcasualties/>
Line 343 ⟶ 345:
| [[Military history of Australia during the Second Boer War|South Africa]] || 1899–1902 || 16,463 in Colonial and Commonwealth contingents || 589 || 538 || 100 ||<ref name=AWMcasualties/>
|-
| [[Boxer Rebellion|China]] ||
|-
| [[Military history of Australia during World War I|First World War]] ||
|-
| [[Australian contribution to the Allied Intervention in Russia 1918–1919|Russian Civil War]] ||
|-
| [[Military history of Australia during World War II|Second World War]] ||
|-
| [[Royal Australian Navy minesweeping after World War II|Post-war mine clearance]] <br>(Northern Queensland coast and New Guinea) ||
|-
| [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force|Japan]]<br>(British Commonwealth Occupation Force) || 1947–1952 || 16,000 || 3 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/bcof|title=British Commonwealth Occupation Force 1945–52|work=Australian War Memorial|access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref>
Line 361 ⟶ 363:
| [[Berlin Airlift]] || 1948–1949 || || 1 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/>
|-
| [[Malayan Emergency]] ||
|-
| [[United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan|Kashmir]] || 1948–1985 || || 1 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/>
|-
| [[Military history of Australia during the Korean War|Korean War]] ||
|-
| [[No. 78 Wing RAAF#Malta garrison|Malta]] || 1952–1955 || || 3 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/>
Line 373 ⟶ 375:
| [[SEATO|South-East Asia]]<br>(SEATO)|| 1955–1975 || || 6 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/>
|-
| [[Military history of Australia during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation|Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation]] ||
|-
| [[Malaysia|Malay Peninsula]] || 1964–1966 || || 2|| || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/>
|-
| [[Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War|Vietnam War]] ||
|-
| [[Thailand]] || 1965–1968 || || 2 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/>
Line 387 ⟶ 389:
| [[United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara|Western Sahara]]<br>(MINURSO) || 1991–1994 || || 1 || || ||<ref name=AWMcasualties/>
|-
| [[Operation Solace|Somalia]] ||
|-
| [[Operation Bel Isi|Bougainville]] || 1997–2003 || 3,500 || 1 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/>
Line 393 ⟶ 395:
| [[1999 East Timorese crisis|East Timor]] || 1999–2013 ||> 40,000 || 4 || || Nil ||<ref name=AWMcasualties/><ref name=AWMPeacekeeping/><ref>{{cite web|last=Copeland|first=Paul |url=http://www.peacekeepers.asn.au/veterans/submissions/Final%20APPVA%20PK%20Medal%20Submission%207%20Jan%2010.pdf|title=The Inquiry into Recognition for Defence Force Personnel Who served as Peacekeepers from 1947 Onward|publisher=Australian Peacekeeper & Peacemaker Veterans' Association Incorporated, National Executive|date=2010|access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Operation Slipper|Afghanistan]] ||
|-
| [[Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq]] ||
|-
| [[RAMSI|Solomon Islands]] || 2003–2013 || 7,270 || 1 || || ||<ref name=AWMDeaths/><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://news.defence.gov.au/2013/07/02/australia-led-combined-task-force-concludes-role-with-ramsi |title=Australia-led Combined Task Forces Concludes Role With RAMSI |date=2 July 2013 |work=Department of Defence |access-date=10 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908030438/http://news.defence.gov.au/2013/07/02/australia-led-combined-task-force-concludes-role-with-ramsi/ |archive-date=8 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| |||