In November 2011, President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the deployment of Marines to Darwin and Northern Australia for around six months at a time to conduct exercises and training on a rotational basis with the Australian Defence Force. The intent was to establish a rotational presence of up to a 2,500-person Marine Air Ground Task Force.
On August 27, 2023, during the 12th iteration of MRF-D, an MV-22B Osprey assigned to VMM-363 crashed at Melville Island, Tiwi Islands, which is about 60km north of Darwin in the Northern Territory. The incident occurred during Exercise Predator's Run 2023, resulting in the loss of three of the 23 Marines onboard.
On August 27, 2023, during the 12th iteration of MRF-D, an MV-22B Osprey assigned to VMM-363 crashed at Melville Island, Tiwi Islands, which is about 60km north of Darwin in the Northern Territory. The incident occurred during Exercise Predator's Run 2023, resulting in the loss of three of the 23 Marines onboard.
News about MRF-D |
USMC Ospreys Complete First Trans-Pacific Flight
28-Apr-17 - Four MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268) completed the first transpacific flight for the typeAustralia, China and U.S. Marines Exercise Kowari 15
31-Aug-15 - Kowari 15 is the first environmental survival training among Australian, Chinese and the U.S. participants simultaneously. Held at the Litchfield Area, Northern Territory, Aug.29 to Sep.12Marine Rotational Force Darwin CH-53 Training
01-Jun-15 - US Marines with Heavy Helicopter Squadron HMH-463, Marine Rotational Force Darwin, conducted training operations with CH-53E Super Stallion at Mount Bundy Training Area, Northern Territory, AustraliaAustralians Inspects Marines CH-53E for Darwin Force
24-Mar-15 - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 (HMH-463) complete breakdown, detailed cleaning, inspection and reassembly of CH-53E Super Stallion for deployment to Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, AustraliaMarines begin Exercise Koolendong 2014
16-Aug-14 - TIMBER CREEK, Australia by Cpl. James Gulliver, Marine Rotational Force Darwin - An 81 mm mortar landed in the nearby enemy position, marking the beginning of the assault for the Marines. Immediately they emerged from the tree line engaging the enemy targets at more than 100 yards with pinpoint accuracy. Within minutes the enemy position was destroyed and the Marines were pushing through to their next target.More News ... | |
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MRF-D List of helicopters |
C/N | Version | Built | In this Org | In other Org | |||
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55136 | uh-1y | 168044 : MRF-D, on the side lines (Crated up) at RAAF Base Darwin | |||||
D0211 | mv-22b | 168294 : as VMM-268 /YQ-04 pictured with Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine + | |||||
D0225 | mv-22b | 168322 : Aug18 asg VMM-268 Darwin Australia (MRF-D) during Operation Pitch Black, + |