Australian commandos
Encyclopedia
The name commando
has been applied to a variety of Australian special forces
and light infantry
units that have been formed since 1941–42. The first Australian "commando" units were formed during the Second World War
, where they mainly performed reconnaissance and long-range patrol roles during Australia's campaigns in New Guinea and Borneo, although other units such as M and Z Special Units, performed more clandestine roles. These units were disbanded following the end of the war, however, later, when in the 1950s it was realised that there was a need for such units again in the Australian forces, other units were formed with more defined special forces roles. Today, the Australian Army
possesses a number of units that perform more conventional direct-action type commando roles, as well as counter-terrorism response, long-range patrolling, and clandestine deep-penetration operations.
During the Second World War, the Australian Army raised a number of units that were designated as carrying out commando-type operations. The first of these units were the Independent Companies, which were raised over a period of twelve months between 1941 and 1942. These units would go on to carry out various roles during the campaigns in New Guinea and Borneo and their members would serve with considerable distinction. Later, following a reorganisation, they would be designated as fully-fledged "Commando" squadrons. Other units were raised also, such as the Special Units, whose tasks would be somewhat more clandestine. The Royal Australian Navy
(RAN) also raised commando units during the war, employing them mainly in the role of beach parties and underwater clearance teams.
Nevertheless, acting on British advice, the Australian Army began raising and training the 2/1st Independent Company
in March 1941. Formed from volunteers from all branches of the Australian military, they were initially modelled upon the British Army Commandos
and began training at the 7th Infantry Training Centre, Guerilla Warfare School, at Wilson's Promontory, Victoria. Of those who trained the first Australian commandos were renowned British commandos Mike Calvert
and F. Spencer Chapman. By halfway through 1941, a total of three companies had been raised and trained and a fourth one had commenced training. At this stage it was decided to discontinue training due to troubles with the concept and a lack of consensus regarding the independent companies' future involvement in operations, however, in December 1941, with Japan's entry into the war, problems with the concept and the training course were ironed out, and more Independent Companies were raised, until there were eight in total.
These first units were:
Initially the Independent Companies were raised to serve alongside the Second Australian Imperial Force
(Second AIF) in the Middle East, however, as the threat from Japan developed it was decided to use them in the Pacific theatre, in the islands to the north of Australia where it was necessary to establish outposts to warn of the approach of Japanese forces. Their mission would then be to remain behind and harass the invading Japanese forces.
The first Australian commando unit to see action was the 1st Independent Company. Many of its members were killed or captured in the defending the island of New Ireland (part of the Australian territory of New Guinea
), from Japanese marines in early 1942. Other detachments of the company served on Bougainville
, Manus Island
, and Tulagi
. A composite platoon was later sent to Wau in March 1942, eventually becoming part of Kanga Force
.
The 2nd Independent Company performed with considerable success during the Timor campaign of 1942-43
, conducting a guerrilla style campaign and occupying the attention of an entire Imperial Japanese Army
division for almost twelve months. On return the 2nd Independent Company was redesignated as the 2/2 Independent Company, and then later the 2/2nd Commando Squadron and was one of only two of the original Independent Companies to remain operationally independent, outside a regimental structure.The other unit to remain independent was 2/8th Commando Squadron. By the end of the war the 2/2nd Commando Squadron could "...claim to have spent longer in contact with the enemy than any other unit of the Australian Army" and indeed their success was later used as a model of SAS training.
Other companies/squadrons served in other parts of New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies
, also serving with considerable distinction, mainly performing roles such as long range reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and flank protection, but also occasionally being called upon to perform more traditional infantry roles. Indeed, the 2/6th Independent Company arguably fought one of the most remarkable small unit actions of the war when it captured and held the village of Kaiapit
and after the Battle of Buna-Gona
where it served alongside the Americans, it was singled out for rare praise for General Douglas MacArthur
.MacArthur praised the unit for its contribution to the campaign in his 9 January 1943, Order of the Day. See Trigellis-Smith 1992, p. 118 and 144.
In mid 1943, the Australian Army re-organised its six front-line divisions as light infantry
Jungle Division
s. As the three Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) divisions' armoured reconnaissance regiments
were considered to be unsuited to jungle terrain, having been raised for service originally in the Middle East and North Africa, their cavalry squadrons were disbanded. The regimental headquarters of the disbanded units were then used to command and administer the independent companies, as they were amalgamated into a regimental structure. Subsequently, the independent companies were redesignated as "Cavalry Commando Squadrons" and later, in 1944, this was simplified to "Commando Squadrons".
As a part of this re-organisation, the following regiments were formed:
In the last year of the war, the elevenThe nine units listed above (2/3, 2/4, 2/5, 2/6, 2/7. 2/9, 2/10, 2/11 and 2/12), plus the 2/2 and 2/8 which remained independent until the end of the war. The twelfth commando unit, 1st Independent Company, was not re-raised after most of its members were either killed or captured during fighting on New Britain in 1942. commando squadrons fought in Borneo, New Guinea and Bougainville. During these campaigns they were largely used in more traditional infantry roles, mainly performing tasks that could arguably have been successfully undertaken by normal infantry units. Although they undoubtedly performed these roles with considerable distinction, there were those within the Australian Army high command that felt that this proved the traditional argument against irregular warfare type units,Largely that they drain manpower and materiel resources from the Army as a whole for arguably little benefit. and arguably this led to further ambivalence—even resistance—in the Australian Army high command towards so-called "special forces" which was later to hinder the formation of other such units after the war.
With the outbreak of war in the Pacific
, two multi-national combined forces commando units were formed as part of the Allied Intelligence Bureau
(AIB), attached to its Special Operations Australia (SOA) branch. These units were M Special Unit
(primarily a coastwatching
unit) and the more famous Z Special Unit
(also known as Z Force), and they were to be used by the Allies
to conduct covert operations in the South West Pacific Area
against the Japanese. These units were formed with volunteers from all branches of the military and from personnel from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and the Netherlands-East Indies.
M Special Unit was used primarily to provide intelligence on Japanese naval and troop movements around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, with personnel being inserted along the coast behind enemy lines where they would observe enemy movements and report back to the AIB via radio. This was invisible, unglamorous work, but there were considerable dangers involved for those involved and a number of M Special Unit members were captured by the Japanese and executed. Z Special Unit's role was perhaps a little more glamorous and certainly since the war it has received a considerable amount of publicity. Members of the unit distinguished themselves in a number of daring clandestine raiding operations, although some of these met with on limited success, or failed completely. During Operation Jaywick
, members of the unit posed as an Asian fishing boat crew in order to infiltrate Singapore
Harbour, where it successfully mined
and destroyed seven Japanese ships, amounting to 35,000 tons, in September 1943. However, in 1944 the similar but larger Operation Rimau
, which also targeted shipping at Singapore Harbour, resulted in the loss of all 23 personnel involved.
also formed a number of commando units. These units were used to go ashore with the first waves of major amphibious assaults, to mark out and sign post the beaches and to carry out other naval tasks. These units were known as RAN Beach Commandos, and they took part in the Borneo campaign
, being used in the landings at Tarakan, Balikpapan and Brunei and Labuan.
After the war, the existing commando units were disbanded as the focus of Australian defence planning returned to the old concept of supplying troops under Commonwealth defence arrangements. However, following a liaison visit to Malaya by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Wells
in 1955, the need to preserve the skills possessed by the Second World War units was realised as it became clearer that there was a role for Australian special forces within the Southeast Asian region. However, financial constraints and possibly an institutional phobia of "special forces" limited the commitment that the Australian Army could make to the concept, and consequently, it was decided that any such units raised would have to be drawn from the Citizens Military Force (CMF), which was the forerunner to the present Australian Army Reserve. As a result, two CMF Commando companies were raised: 2 Commando Company (2 Cdo Coy) in February 1955, based in Melbourne, and 1 Commando Company (1 Cdo Coy) in June 1955, based in Sydney. These units drew their heritage from the commando units raised during the Second World War, and a number of their senior cadre staff had served in these units.
From 1957, some members of these companies went on to assist and/or join the new Australian Special Air Service Regiment
(SASR), when it was raised. However, the commando units retained a separate identity, with a greater emphasis on raiding and other larger offensive operations, rather than the special reconnaissance and "surgical strike" role which is the classic function of SAS units. In February 1981, it was decided to unite the commando companies with a headquarters unit and link them with Special Operations Headquarters (SOHQ). As a result 1 Commando Regiment
(1 Cdo Regt) was formed, incorporating the two ReserveThe CMF was changed to the Australian Army Reserve in 1980. companies in Sydney and Melbourne. In addition 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces) was incorporated to provide long range communications support.
In 1996, it was decided to convert 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(4 RAR) from a light infantry
battalion to a commando unit in order to provide a full time capability within the Australian Regular Army. 126 Signal Squadron was incorporated to provide signal support (301 Signal Squadron was raised to refill the role within the 1st Commando Regiment). Subsequently, 4 RAR was renamed to 4 RAR (Cdo) until 19 June 2009, when it was renamed again to 2nd Commando Regiment
. This unit is largely used in the traditional commando role, and is heavily involved in combat operations in Afghanistan
. However, the unit also has a counter-terrorism function within Australia, providing members to the Tactical Assault Group — East (TAGEAST), to perform the same role on the eastern seaboard that the SASR provides on the western seaboard. In May 2003, Special Operations Command (Australia)
was established as the administrative and operational headquarters for all of Australia's special forces and commando units.
Australian commandos have recently been employed on operations in a number of theatres, including East Timor
, Iraq
and Afghanistan
, although details of many aspects of these operations remain a closely guarded secret.
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
has been applied to a variety of Australian special forces
Special forces of Australia
Since 1941, the Australian military has raised a range of special forces and special operations units, which fall into four categories:# Commando units such as the Independent and Commando Companies raised during World War II, and the 1st Commando Regiment, the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian...
and light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
units that have been formed since 1941–42. The first Australian "commando" units were formed during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where they mainly performed reconnaissance and long-range patrol roles during Australia's campaigns in New Guinea and Borneo, although other units such as M and Z Special Units, performed more clandestine roles. These units were disbanded following the end of the war, however, later, when in the 1950s it was realised that there was a need for such units again in the Australian forces, other units were formed with more defined special forces roles. Today, the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
possesses a number of units that perform more conventional direct-action type commando roles, as well as counter-terrorism response, long-range patrolling, and clandestine deep-penetration operations.
Second World War (1939–1945)
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN) also raised commando units during the war, employing them mainly in the role of beach parties and underwater clearance teams.
The Independent Companies
At the beginning of the Second World War, the Australian Army did not possess any "special forces" units, however, late in 1940, the British government sent a military mission to Australia, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel J.C Mawhood, to investigate the possibility of establishing a number of such units within the Australian Army. The British proposed the establishment of independent companies that would receive special training in order to take part in combined operations and various other tasks, including "...raids, demolitions, sabotage, subversion and organising civil resistance". This was a very broad notion of the role that the independent companies would play, and at the time there was a certain amount of confusion about how these units would be used and indeed for awhile there was a deal of uncertainty about their future which for a while threatened the existence of the independent company concept.Nevertheless, acting on British advice, the Australian Army began raising and training the 2/1st Independent Company
1st Independent Company (Australia)
The 1st Independent Company was one of twelve independent or commando companies raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II. Raised in 1941, the 1st Independent Company served in New Ireland, New Britain and New Guinea in the early stages of the war in the Pacific, taking part in a...
in March 1941. Formed from volunteers from all branches of the Australian military, they were initially modelled upon the British Army Commandos
British Commandos
The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
and began training at the 7th Infantry Training Centre, Guerilla Warfare School, at Wilson's Promontory, Victoria. Of those who trained the first Australian commandos were renowned British commandos Mike Calvert
Mike Calvert
James Michael Calvert DSO and Bar was a British soldier involved in special operations in World War II. The degree to which he led very risky attacks in person led to his becoming widely known as "Mad Mike". Calvert was court-martialled and dismissed from the Army in 1952...
and F. Spencer Chapman. By halfway through 1941, a total of three companies had been raised and trained and a fourth one had commenced training. At this stage it was decided to discontinue training due to troubles with the concept and a lack of consensus regarding the independent companies' future involvement in operations, however, in December 1941, with Japan's entry into the war, problems with the concept and the training course were ironed out, and more Independent Companies were raised, until there were eight in total.
These first units were:
- 1st Independent Company1st Independent Company (Australia)The 1st Independent Company was one of twelve independent or commando companies raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II. Raised in 1941, the 1st Independent Company served in New Ireland, New Britain and New Guinea in the early stages of the war in the Pacific, taking part in a...
(raised May/June 1941) - 2nd Independent Company2/2nd Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/2nd Commando Squadron was one of 12 independent companies or commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army for service during World War II. The 2/2nd served in Timor, New Guinea and New Britain during World War II, taking part in the Battle of Timor in June 1942 as part of Sparrow Force...
(raised Oct 1941) - 3rd Independent Company2/3rd Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/3rd Commando Squadron was one of twelve independent or commando companies and squadrons formed by the Australian Army for service during World War II. Raised in October 1941 as the 2/3rd Independent Company, it served in New Caledonia and New Guinea before being amalgamated into the 2/7th...
(raised Oct 1941) - 4th Independent Company2/4th Cavalry Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/4th Commando Squadron was one of 12 independent companies and commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army during the Second World War. Raised in August 1941 it was disbanded not long after due to conceptual problems, however, it was quickly reformed following the entry of Japan into the...
(raised December 1941) - 2/5 Independent Company (raised March 1942)
- 2/6 Independent Company (raised March 1942)
- 2/7th Independent Company (raised March 1942)
- 2/8th Independent Company (raised May 1942)
Initially the Independent Companies were raised to serve alongside the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
(Second AIF) in the Middle East, however, as the threat from Japan developed it was decided to use them in the Pacific theatre, in the islands to the north of Australia where it was necessary to establish outposts to warn of the approach of Japanese forces. Their mission would then be to remain behind and harass the invading Japanese forces.
The first Australian commando unit to see action was the 1st Independent Company. Many of its members were killed or captured in the defending the island of New Ireland (part of the Australian territory of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
), from Japanese marines in early 1942. Other detachments of the company served on Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
, Manus Island
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
, and Tulagi
Tulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
. A composite platoon was later sent to Wau in March 1942, eventually becoming part of Kanga Force
Kanga Force
Kanga Force was the name given to a composite ad hoc formation of the Australian Army that served in New Guinea during World War II. Commanded by Major Norman Fleahy, it was formed on 23 April 1942...
.
The 2nd Independent Company performed with considerable success during the Timor campaign of 1942-43
Battle of Timor (1942-43)
The Battle of Timor occurred in Portuguese Timor and Dutch Timor during the Second World War. Japanese forces invaded the island on 20 February 1942 and were resisted by a small, under-equipped force of Allied military personnel—known as Sparrow Force—predominantly from Australia and the...
, conducting a guerrilla style campaign and occupying the attention of an entire Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
division for almost twelve months. On return the 2nd Independent Company was redesignated as the 2/2 Independent Company, and then later the 2/2nd Commando Squadron and was one of only two of the original Independent Companies to remain operationally independent, outside a regimental structure.The other unit to remain independent was 2/8th Commando Squadron. By the end of the war the 2/2nd Commando Squadron could "...claim to have spent longer in contact with the enemy than any other unit of the Australian Army" and indeed their success was later used as a model of SAS training.
Other companies/squadrons served in other parts of New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, also serving with considerable distinction, mainly performing roles such as long range reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and flank protection, but also occasionally being called upon to perform more traditional infantry roles. Indeed, the 2/6th Independent Company arguably fought one of the most remarkable small unit actions of the war when it captured and held the village of Kaiapit
Battle of Kaiapit
The Battle of Kaiapit was an action fought in 1943 between Australian and Japanese forces in New Guinea during the Finisterre Range campaign of World War II. Following the landing at Nadzab and landing at Lae, the Allies attempted to exploit their success with an advance into the upper Markham...
and after the Battle of Buna-Gona
Battle of Buna-Gona
The Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle in the New Guinea campaign, a major part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. On 16 November 1942, Australian and United States forces attacked the main Japanese beachheads in New Guinea, at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. Both forces were riddled by disease and...
where it served alongside the Americans, it was singled out for rare praise for General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
.MacArthur praised the unit for its contribution to the campaign in his 9 January 1943, Order of the Day. See Trigellis-Smith 1992, p. 118 and 144.
Re-organisation 1943
In mid 1943, the Australian Army re-organised its six front-line divisions as light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
Jungle Division
Jungle Division
The Jungle Division was a military organisation adopted in 1943 by the Australian Army during the Second World War. This organisation was a much lighter version of the standard British-pattern infantry division used during previous campaigns in the deserts of North Africa and was optimised to meet...
s. As the three Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) divisions' armoured reconnaissance regiments
Australian Armoured Units of World War II
Armoured units made a relatively small, but important, contribution to Australia’s war effort during World War II. While Australia formed three armoured divisions and two independent armoured brigades during the war, Australian armoured units only saw action as independent regiments and companies...
were considered to be unsuited to jungle terrain, having been raised for service originally in the Middle East and North Africa, their cavalry squadrons were disbanded. The regimental headquarters of the disbanded units were then used to command and administer the independent companies, as they were amalgamated into a regimental structure. Subsequently, the independent companies were redesignated as "Cavalry Commando Squadrons" and later, in 1944, this was simplified to "Commando Squadrons".
As a part of this re-organisation, the following regiments were formed:
- 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (attached to the Australian 6th DivisionAustralian 6th DivisionThe 6th Division of the Australian Army was a unit in the Second Australian Imperial Force during World War II. It served in the North African campaign, the Greek campaign and the New Guinea campaign, including the crucial battles of the Kokoda Track, among others...
)- 2/7th Commando Squadron2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/7th Commando Company was one of 12 independent companies or commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army during the Second World War. Raised in May 1942, as the 2/7th Independent Company, the 2/7th served in New Guinea in 1943 before being redesignated as the 2/7th Commando Squadron when...
- 2/9th Commando Squadron2/9th Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/9th Commando Squadron was a commando unit raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II. Raised in 1944, the unit saw action late in the war against the Japanese during the Aitape-Wewak campaign taking part in number of long range patrol operations across the Torricelli Range in...
- 2/10th Commando Squadron2/10th Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/10th Commando Squadron was a commando unit raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II. Raised in 1944, the unit saw action late in the war against the Japanese during the Aitape–Wewak campaign. During this campaign the squadron carried out a number of tasks including long-range...
- 2/7th Commando Squadron
- 2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (attached to the Australian 7th DivisionAustralian 7th DivisionThe 7th Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army. It was formed in February 1940 to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force...
)- 2/3rd Commando Squadron2/3rd Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/3rd Commando Squadron was one of twelve independent or commando companies and squadrons formed by the Australian Army for service during World War II. Raised in October 1941 as the 2/3rd Independent Company, it served in New Caledonia and New Guinea before being amalgamated into the 2/7th...
- 2/5th Commando Squadron
- 2/6th Commando Squadron2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/6th Commando Squadron was one of 12 independent companies or commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army during the Second World War. Raised in May 1942 as the 2/6th Independent Company, the 2/6th's main role was to conduct irregular type warfare including small scale raiding, sabotage,...
- 2/3rd Commando Squadron
- 2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment (attached to the Australian 9th DivisionAustralian 9th DivisionThe 9th Division was a division of the Australian Army that served during World War II. It was the fourth division of the Second Australian Imperial Force and was formed in the United Kingdom in late 1940 from infantry brigades and support units which had been previously raised in Australia and...
)- 2/4th Commando Squadron
- 2/11th Commando Squadron2/11th Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/11th Commando Squadron was a commando unit raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II. Raised in 1944, the unit saw action late in the war against the Japanese during the Borneo campaign in 1945. As a part of this campaign the squadron undertook landings on Labuan Island and at...
- 2/12th Commando Squadron2/12th Commando Squadron (Australia)The 2/12th Commando Squadron was a commando unit raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II. Raised in 1944 following a re-organisation of Australia's military forces, the unit participated in the Borneo campaign in 1945 but played only a limited role before hostilities ended...
In the last year of the war, the elevenThe nine units listed above (2/3, 2/4, 2/5, 2/6, 2/7. 2/9, 2/10, 2/11 and 2/12), plus the 2/2 and 2/8 which remained independent until the end of the war. The twelfth commando unit, 1st Independent Company, was not re-raised after most of its members were either killed or captured during fighting on New Britain in 1942. commando squadrons fought in Borneo, New Guinea and Bougainville. During these campaigns they were largely used in more traditional infantry roles, mainly performing tasks that could arguably have been successfully undertaken by normal infantry units. Although they undoubtedly performed these roles with considerable distinction, there were those within the Australian Army high command that felt that this proved the traditional argument against irregular warfare type units,Largely that they drain manpower and materiel resources from the Army as a whole for arguably little benefit. and arguably this led to further ambivalence—even resistance—in the Australian Army high command towards so-called "special forces" which was later to hinder the formation of other such units after the war.
M & Z Special Units
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, two multi-national combined forces commando units were formed as part of the Allied Intelligence Bureau
Allied Intelligence Bureau
The Allied Intelligence Bureau was an joint United States, Australian, Dutch and British intelligence and special operations agency during World War II. It was responsible for operating parties of spies and commandos behind Japanese lines in order to collect intelligence and conduct guerrilla...
(AIB), attached to its Special Operations Australia (SOA) branch. These units were M Special Unit
M Special Unit
M Special Unit, was part of the Services Reconnaissance Department, a joint Australian, New Zealand and British military intelligence reconnaissance unit, which saw action against the Japanese during World War II...
(primarily a coastwatching
Coastwatchers
The Coastwatchers, also known as the Coast Watch Organisation, Combined Field Intelligence Service or Section C, Allied Intelligence Bureau, were Allied military intelligence operatives stationed on remote Pacific islands during World War II to observe enemy movements and rescue stranded Allied...
unit) and the more famous Z Special Unit
Z Special Unit
Z Special Unit was a joint Allied special forces unit formed during the Second World War to operate behind Japanese lines in South East Asia...
(also known as Z Force), and they were to be used by the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
to conduct covert operations in the South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatres of World War II, during 1942–45...
against the Japanese. These units were formed with volunteers from all branches of the military and from personnel from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and the Netherlands-East Indies.
M Special Unit was used primarily to provide intelligence on Japanese naval and troop movements around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, with personnel being inserted along the coast behind enemy lines where they would observe enemy movements and report back to the AIB via radio. This was invisible, unglamorous work, but there were considerable dangers involved for those involved and a number of M Special Unit members were captured by the Japanese and executed. Z Special Unit's role was perhaps a little more glamorous and certainly since the war it has received a considerable amount of publicity. Members of the unit distinguished themselves in a number of daring clandestine raiding operations, although some of these met with on limited success, or failed completely. During Operation Jaywick
Operation Jaywick
Operation Jaywick was a special operation undertaken in World War II. In September 1943, 14 commandos and sailors from the Z Special Unit raided Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour, sinking seven ships.- Background :...
, members of the unit posed as an Asian fishing boat crew in order to infiltrate Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
Harbour, where it successfully mined
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
and destroyed seven Japanese ships, amounting to 35,000 tons, in September 1943. However, in 1944 the similar but larger Operation Rimau
Operation Rimau
Operation Rimau was an attack on Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour, carried out by an Allied commando unit Z Special Unit, during World War II using Australian built MKIII folboats. It was a follow-up to the successful Operation Jaywick, which had taken place in 1943, and Rimau, a shortened...
, which also targeted shipping at Singapore Harbour, resulted in the loss of all 23 personnel involved.
RAN Beach Commandos
Later in the war, the Royal Australian NavyRoyal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
also formed a number of commando units. These units were used to go ashore with the first waves of major amphibious assaults, to mark out and sign post the beaches and to carry out other naval tasks. These units were known as RAN Beach Commandos, and they took part in the Borneo campaign
Borneo campaign (1945)
The Borneo Campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. In a series of amphibious assaults between 1 May and 21 July, the Australian I Corps, under General Leslie Morshead, attacked Japanese forces occupying the island. Allied naval and...
, being used in the landings at Tarakan, Balikpapan and Brunei and Labuan.
Post-Second World War
Henry Wells (general)
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO was a senior officer in the Australian Army. Serving as Chief of the General Staff from 1954 to 1958, Wells' career culminated with his appointment as the first Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, a position marking him as the professional head of...
in 1955, the need to preserve the skills possessed by the Second World War units was realised as it became clearer that there was a role for Australian special forces within the Southeast Asian region. However, financial constraints and possibly an institutional phobia of "special forces" limited the commitment that the Australian Army could make to the concept, and consequently, it was decided that any such units raised would have to be drawn from the Citizens Military Force (CMF), which was the forerunner to the present Australian Army Reserve. As a result, two CMF Commando companies were raised: 2 Commando Company (2 Cdo Coy) in February 1955, based in Melbourne, and 1 Commando Company (1 Cdo Coy) in June 1955, based in Sydney. These units drew their heritage from the commando units raised during the Second World War, and a number of their senior cadre staff had served in these units.
Australian Special Air Service Regiment
The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR but commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army...
(SASR), when it was raised. However, the commando units retained a separate identity, with a greater emphasis on raiding and other larger offensive operations, rather than the special reconnaissance and "surgical strike" role which is the classic function of SAS units. In February 1981, it was decided to unite the commando companies with a headquarters unit and link them with Special Operations Headquarters (SOHQ). As a result 1 Commando Regiment
1st Commando Regiment
1st Commando Regiment is a reserve commando regiment of the Australian Army with a contingent of full-time cadre staff. It is part of the Australian Special Operations Command .-Organisation:...
(1 Cdo Regt) was formed, incorporating the two ReserveThe CMF was changed to the Australian Army Reserve in 1980. companies in Sydney and Melbourne. In addition 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces) was incorporated to provide long range communications support.
In 1996, it was decided to convert 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
The 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, was an Australian Army infantry battalion and part of the Royal Australian Regiment. The battalion was formed on 1 February 1964 and was renamed the 2nd Commando Regiment on 19 June 2009....
(4 RAR) from a light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
battalion to a commando unit in order to provide a full time capability within the Australian Regular Army. 126 Signal Squadron was incorporated to provide signal support (301 Signal Squadron was raised to refill the role within the 1st Commando Regiment). Subsequently, 4 RAR was renamed to 4 RAR (Cdo) until 19 June 2009, when it was renamed again to 2nd Commando Regiment
2nd Commando Regiment (Australia)
The 2nd Commando Regiment is an Australian Army Special Forces unit, it is one of three combat-capable units within the Australian Special Operations Command. The regiment was established on 19 June 2009 when it was renamed from the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
. This unit is largely used in the traditional commando role, and is heavily involved in combat operations in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. However, the unit also has a counter-terrorism function within Australia, providing members to the Tactical Assault Group — East (TAGEAST), to perform the same role on the eastern seaboard that the SASR provides on the western seaboard. In May 2003, Special Operations Command (Australia)
Special Operations Command (Australia)
The Special Operations Command is a command within the Australian Defence Force . Special Operations Command was established in May 2003, to unite all of the ADF special forces units. As of 2007 Special Operations Command is fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of...
was established as the administrative and operational headquarters for all of Australia's special forces and commando units.
Current organisation
The commando units currently active in the Australian Army are:- 1st Commando Regiment
- 2nd Commando Regiment2nd Commando Regiment (Australia)The 2nd Commando Regiment is an Australian Army Special Forces unit, it is one of three combat-capable units within the Australian Special Operations Command. The regiment was established on 19 June 2009 when it was renamed from the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
(formerly 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment4th Battalion, Royal Australian RegimentThe 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, was an Australian Army infantry battalion and part of the Royal Australian Regiment. The battalion was formed on 1 February 1964 and was renamed the 2nd Commando Regiment on 19 June 2009....
)
Australian commandos have recently been employed on operations in a number of theatres, including East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, although details of many aspects of these operations remain a closely guarded secret.