september 2018 will be the 75th · september 2018 will be the 75th anniversary of the ‘z special...
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September 2018 will be the 75th anniversary of the ‘Z Special Unit’s’ raid on Singapore Harbour. The raid was an audacious attack deep into Japanese held territory that stunned the enemy at a time when they held ascendancy in the Asia-Pacific region and in a location that they considered a safe haven. The raid was a success with all participants returning safely to Australia having sunk or severely damaged some 39,000 tonnes of enemy shipping.
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The Adventure Group (TAG)The Adventure Group is going to re-enact this epic feat of Special Operations, focusing on the canoe approach to Singapore Harbour. We do this to honour and commemorate the men that carried out this raid, for they are the forbearers of today’s Special Forces community from which we draw our DNA from. We do this also to raise funds to support Australia’s veteran community. This is a fund raising mission. The raid, which was conducted by members of Special Operations Australia’s (SOA) Z Special Unit, involved the use of a captured Japanese fishing vessel renamed the MV Krait which now sits in pride of place in the National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney. She undertook a significant sea transit in order to deliver the canoe teams to their infiltration start point. Four two man canoe teams then paddled by night over multiple periods of darkness in order to reach
their target area – Singapore Harbour. At approximately 1920 hrs on the evening of 26th September 1943 the raiding party left Subar on their second attempt to place their magnetic mines. On this attempt they were all successful. Between 0515 and 0550 on the morning of September 27th, 1943 seven explosions rocked Singapore Harbour – all mines detonated successfully. The canoe teams then had to paddle back through enemy waters (after they had ‘poked the bear’) for several days before they RV’d with the Krait on the 2nd October for the long transit back to Exmouth, Western Australia.
A daring, audacious and ingenious action carried out in the true spirit of ANZAC and Spec Ops!
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If you want to come on an adventure of a lifetime or
you just want to help in other ways, then drop us a line:
The Mission To re-enact a heroic and daring special
operations raid whilst raising funds to support
those that have given so much in the service of
our nation – our veterans and their families.
For over 20 years the Australian Defence
Force has been engaged in operational duties
across the globe. Much of the ‘boots on the
ground’ operational burden has been shouldered
by the Australian Army with a significant part
played by units of the Army’s Special Operation
Command (SOCOMD). The price paid by these
service personnel and the families that support
them has been heavy. For many the struggle of
the battlefield continues in everyday life. Help us
to help them, it’s the Australian thing to do – help
our mates who’ve served this great country.
Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept it!)
Be among the few on this unique adventure
commemorating a legendary Australian military
action. A journey through history, of bravery,
heroic deeds and legends. An adventure that
raises funds for very worthy veteran charities to
help support those who have served our nation.
Embrace the challenge, build bonds that will last
a lifetime, enjoy the camaraderie – come on an
adventure and see parts of the world that you can
only experience at sea level in a small two person
canoe!
Be part of a tight knit team that raises funds
for veterans and defence families in need.
We need your support to achieve the mission
– the effect will so much greater if you get
‘on board’!
We need:
• ‘HardChargers’topaddle
• Peopleaspartofthesupportteam
• Peopletodonateand
• Sponsors
• Andweneedpeopletowaveandcheer!
Each person embarking on this journey will
be expected to fundraise on an individual and, at
times, on a collective basis.
The ConceptDates: Between 16th – 26th September 2018
(To be confirmed)
Embarkation Point: Lombok Straits
End Point: Singapore Harbour
To walk, or in this case paddle, in the footsteps
of heroes. We will retrace the route taken by the
raiding team in the canoes and the route the Krait
took through enemy waters. The sea transit will
take up to 4 days with the canoe insertion being
conducted over 5 ‘periods of darkness’ (Military
term for a night!). As the purpose of this mission
is to support veteran’s charities, all members of
the team will fund raise.
There will be a commemorative service in
Singapore at the completion of the paddle for the
entire team as well as selected supporters and
sponsors. Beers down range after that. We then
RTA (return to Australia).
A final phase to this epic undertaking is
planned – a paddle through Sydney Harbour
from the Maritime Museum, darling Harbour to
the Opera House to be conducted in late October
2018.
The Adventure Group (TAG) The Adventure Group (TAG) believes that
life is a tactile experience, it must be embraced
– anything worth doing is worth overdoing,
moderation is reserved for the final retirement!
We believe in humankind’s innate connection to
nature, to the great outdoors. We believe in doing
things that others can’t, and we believe in doing it
well – the relentless pursuit of excellence!
TAG is a veteran owned and operated
business.
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The Participants There will be a maximum of 8 canoe teams
– that is 8 x two person canoes. The intent is to
place a veteran in each canoe, many of these
veterans will be from the Australian Special
Forces community. The canoe teams will LUP
(lay up) on the same islands that the Z Special
Operators used. A support vessel (our version of
the Krait) will accompany the canoe teams during
the paddle phase of the operation.
Spots in the canoe teams are limited and
competition will be tough – final positions will be
determined by fitness and the amount of funds
raised.
Sponsors and Supporters This is an epic undertaking. In order to
conduct this as authentically and as safely as
possible it will take considerable resources. As
the main purpose of the mission is to raise funds
to support veterans charities it is hoped that the
vast majority of equipment, assets and personnel
needed to pull this off will be secured through
’in kind’ donations, at ‘mates rates’ and through
sponsorship packages.
The Charity Partners Our current charity partners are:
White Cloud Foundation
- http://whitecloudfoundation.org/
Founded in 2011, White Cloud Foundation
(WCF) is a mental health not for profit organization
that provides early intervention services
for Australians with or at risk of developing
depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) or perinatal depression (PND). Ben
Roberts-Smith VC MG is the patron of the charity.
The SASR Resources Fund
- https://www.sasresourcesfund.org.au/
The Special Air Service Resources Fund is
a perpetual trust fund that assists current and
former members of the SAS Regiment (as well as
dependants of those members) who are in need
of relief or support. The primary beneficiaries are
the dependants of SAS soldiers who are killed or
severely disabled in, or as a result of, operations
or training. The Fund also assists the families of
other ADF personnel who are killed or disabled
while working alongside the SAS Regiment in
SASR controlled operations or training.