The
Australian Defence Force and Police Involvement
in Peacekeeping and Peacemaking Operations
1947- Present
Introduction
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been involved in peacekeeping since 1947.
The mission in 1947 is known as the first peacekeeping operation conducted using
Military Observers, that being the United Nations Good Offices Commission to
Indonesia (UNCI). UNCI saw the first ever peacekeepers deployed, in which Army
Brigadier (L.G.H Dyke (RAA)), RAN Officer Commander H.S. Chesterman, Army Major
D.L. Campbell, and RAAF Officer Squadron Leader D.T. Spence, DFC are noted as
the first Australians and first ever UN peacekeepers. The Australian commitment
of this mission was up to 45 Military Observer Officers.
Since UNCI, the ADF has been extensively involved in UN & Multinational
missions. Of a recent note, 1550 ADF personnel are now involved in the War
Against Terror, operating in the Middle East, South West Asia and Afghanistan.
The Tempo of UN & Multinational Operations has notably increased, since the
first large deployment of Engineer Troops to South West Africa in 1989. ADF
personnel have been called upon on a number of occasions over the past 15
years to support UN & Multinational Operations throughout the world. The deeds
of the Australian Service personnel is outstanding, and certainly promotes the
capabilities of the Australian service person in confusing, dangerous and
hostile environments.
Definitions
Operations and Missions are classified as Warlike, Non-warlike or Peacetime. The definitions for these classifications are explained on the Department of Defence website.
Missions
Each mission is listed by the year in which Australia commenced its participation. The information provided is as correct as possible.
UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP): 1949 - 1985
UN Commission on Korea (UNCOK): 1950 - 1950
UN Command - Korea (UNC-K): 1950 - 1956
UN Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) 1953 - Present
Op Paladin
UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) 1956 - Present
UN Observer Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) 1958
United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) 1960 - 1964
United Nations Yemen Observer Mission (UNYOM) 1963
UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) 1964 - Present
UN India-Pakistan Observation Mission (UNIPOM) 1965 - 1966
United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) 1974 – Present
UN Emergency Force Two (UNEF II): 1973 - 1979
Op Agila
Commonwealth Monitoring Force, Rhodesia (CMFR): 1979 - 1980
Australian Army Contingent –
The Commonwealth Military Training Team - UGANDA: 1982 - 1984
Op Mazurka
Multinational Force and
Observers (MFO) 1982 - Present
UN Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG): 1988 - 1991
UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG): 1989 - 1990
Op Salaam
UN Mine Clearance Training Team Peshwar (UNMCTT): 1989 - 1993
Op Damask I and II
First Maritime
Interception Force (MIF 1): 1990 - 1991
Multinational Forces in Iraq - Kuwait (MNF (I-K)): 1991
Op Damask III
Second Maritime Interception Force (MIF II): 1991 - 2003
Op Blazer
UN Special Commission (UNSCOM): 1991 - 1998
Op Cedilla
UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO): 1991 - 1994
Op Goodwill
UN Advanced Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC): 1991 - 1992
UN Protection Force in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia (UNPROFOR): 1992
Op Gemini
UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
Op Iguana
First UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM I) 1992 - 1993
Op Solace
Unified Task Force in Somalia (UNITAF): 1992 - 1993
Second UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II): 1993 - 1994
Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC)
The United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda (UNAMIR II)
United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ)
United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA)
OPERATION LAGOON – South Pacific Peacekeeping Force (SPPKF)
Truce Monitoring Group and Peace Monitoring Group – Bougainville OPERATION BEL-ISI (I&II)
Multinational Military Deployment OPERATION POLLARD – KUWAIT
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Operations - Pacific Region
UN Advance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) 1999
International Force in East Timor (INTERFET)
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)
International Peace Monitoring Team – Solomon Islands
The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
Australian Contingent – The War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
SUMMARY:
Missions / Operations contributed by Australian Defence and Police Forces: 56 (to be revised)
Countries: 56 (to be revised)
Total Military personnel: Approximately 46,000 personnel (to be revised)
Total Killed in Action or Killed / Died on duty: 375 (to be revised), Including the Korean War and Military dogs. Exempted: Malayan Emergency, the Confrontation with Indonesia and the Vietnam War.
This summary did not include details of the Rifle Company, RAAF Base Butterworth Malaysia, from 1958 to the present (120 personnel on 4 month tours of duty = approx 15,840 personnel).
Figures are an approximate appreciation of the mission, time served and personnel deployed.
Sources:
Australian Department of Defence – www.defence.gov.au
Australian Honours - www.itsanhonour.com.au
Australian Attorney General's Office - www.ag.gov.au/govgazette
Department of Veterans' Affairs - www.dav.gov.au
UN Peacekeeping - www.un.org
NATO – www.nato.org
Primary Researchers:
Paul Copeland, OAM
David Vinen
Dale Potter