Littoral and Riverine Survey Squadron

2010 Overview

The focus of 2010 was to maintain the specialist teams within the Squadron: 2 Hydro-Survey Teams, a Land/shore Survey Team, a Survey Operations Cell, a Geospatial Information System (GIS) Cell and a Plans/Development Cell. In addition the Squadron maintained one Hydro Survey Team of 10 personnel drawn from the whole Squadron and willing and able to be deployed on hydro and land survey operations, tasks or exercises within Australia or offshore within 28 days notice to move, as well as providing members for deployment as required.

EX GAZELLE PENINSULA
In November, the Squadron spent a 9 day training block at Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast. The week was spent surveying the navigable channel of Huskisson River, utilising sonar to capture a plane wreck in Hare Bay and conduct REA surveys in inflatable vessels by day and by night.

2009 Overview

EX OLGETTA WARRIOR
In late August 2009, eleven Squadron members deployed to Papua New Guinea Supporting Ex OLGETTA WARRIOR, operating as amphibious pathfinders for an "over the beach" landing of a full Joint Task Force, at Bootless Bay near Port Moresby. The tasking pushed the crews to their limits as they contended with tight time frames, commanders and troops eager to get ashore, coral reefs stretching up to half a kilometre out to sea, irregular sea floor topography and the ever present danger of stray sea mines, long forgotten from when the bay was heavily mined during WWII to prevent exactly such a sea borne invasion! In addition the team also supported Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) trials being conducted by Defence Science and Technology Organisation Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles in jungle river locations around the coast. (See article below - Amphibious Pathfinders lead the way.)

Following the squadron's stunning achievements during Ex OLGETTA WARRIOR and its investment in several capability briefings, LRSS has now been tasked by COMD 2 DIV with generating a further two LRSS sections. This will allow LRSS to adopt a tri-rotational model based on the "Readying, Ready, Reset" philosophy. This will significantly boost our capability to deploy and support the ADF.

In November, the Squadron conducted a Rapid Hydrographic Recon training exercise in Jervis Bay, using inflatable survey vessels. The inflatable vessels were loaded onto the Inshore Survey Vessels during land trials, which in the future will significantly increase the capability of the deployed survey team. The Squadron also conducted and practiced sea survival training .... life expectancy times in cold water that had been cited from manuals and then queried during lectures were soon tested for real.

A night time trial was conducted with a loaned Trimble S6 "Terminator" Total Station which was deployed in a discrete Back of Beach location. Using lasers, the Trimble completed a full beach landing survey with millimetre accuracy, in minutes, without even leaving a footprint in the sand.

In March 2010, focusing on deliberate (charting) survey techniques, EX BUFFALO BILL saw up to two dozen Black Duckers conducting surveys near Buffalo Creek in the upper Lane Cove River. Sea Kayak training was one of the reconnaissance methods. Soldiers practiced submerged escapes, recovering and righting kayaks and then conducted NAVEXs around the harbour. Later that evening, under a half moon, a tactical night time REA survey was successfully conducted in total silence. The capabilities and potential offered by these watercraft was rapidly proven to all and sea kayaks will be used again.

EX AVERTING TARAWA saw up to two dozen Black Duckers conducting surveys at HMAS Waterhen in July 2010. HMAS Waterhen, located near Luna Park, is home to the RAN's Mine Warfare Group, who loaned their brand new Side Scan Sonar (under water RaDAR) system. The "SeaSTAR" system was quickly mounted on an ISV and put through its paces after our hydro techs devised a series of sly tests to evaluate her potential. All were passed with flying colours.

OC Conquers Mt Everest
Finally, in an amazing feat of personal endurance, OC MAJ Zac Zaharias conquered the roof of the world on 25 May 2010. He summited Mt Everest at 8,850m on his third attempt, making him the second Army member and the oldest Australian to conquer the mountain.

Technical Stuff

Littoral and Riverine Survey Squadron's (LRSS) role is to conduct surveys and provide engineer advice in a littoral and riverine environment to support Point of Entry (POE) and Logistic Over the Shore (LOTS) operations. The Squadron has continued its mission to provide a specialist deployable hydrographic survey capability IOT contribute to ADF capability by: gathering, analysing and interpreting coastal and riverine hydrographic data; surveying the land adjacent to the shore; and producing reports, plans and maps/charts.

LRSS finds the path for amphibious beach landing in PNG

History

LRSS Squadron has its roots in 45 Port Maintenance Squadron, raised as a Supplementary Reserve Unit on June 26 1955 from the staff of the Maritime Services Board. Its role was to investigate, survey, design and supervise Engineer tasks in support of Ports and Logistics over the Shore (LOTS) in the Area of Operations (AO).

In 1961, the Unit was reorganised and became part of 5, 6, 7 and 8 Port Construction and Repair Teams. In 1963, the teams moved to Chowder Bay and became part of 11 Port Regiment, later 1 Terminal Group. 1 Port Construction and Repair Gp (1 PC & R Gp) with the Port Construction teams was formed in 1971. In September 1994 a decision by Land Headquarters saw 1 Port Construction and Repair Group disbanded. The HQ element formed part of the new CER's and the hydrographic and land survey component formed a reserve element for 19 CE Works at Randwick. 19 CE Works consisted of 39 personnel and with the addition of 43 from 1 PC & R Gp, this consolidation gave 19 CE Works more resources and a hydrographic capability.

LRSS Squadron was attached to 21 Const Regt in 2007 and continues to provide an important hydrographic survey capability for Army. Many of the Squadron members are also employees of Sydney Ports, thereby retaining a long standing tradition with its predecessor, the Maritime Services Board.

The unit symbol, the Black Swan, was instituted by MAJ Mick Webb. A medal was struck from a can of Swan Lager and awarded to 2261868 CPL Paul Kitchen. This award was for his performance (or lack thereof) at the AFX, SME Moorebank 1980.