Exercise Croix du Sud is a
military exercise
A military exercise or war game is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat. This also serves the purpose of ensuring the com ...
held every two years in
New Caledonia
)
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, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
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, its surrounding waters and airspace. Many countries in the Pacific region take part in these exercises, which usually focus on delivering humanitarian aid, evacuating civilians, and reestablishing security in the wake of a simulated disaster.
Overview
''Croix du Sud'' is the French term for
Southern Cross
Crux () is a constellation of the southern sky that is centred on four bright stars in a cross-shaped asterism commonly known as the Southern Cross. It lies on the southern end of the Milky Way's visible band. The name ''Crux'' is Latin for c ...
.
It is the largest humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training exercise in the South Pacific.
France hosts and organises the exercises through its
New Caledonian Armed Forces, headquartered in
Noumea.
In alternate years, the concept for the next Croix du Sud is developed through a desktop exercise called Equateur.
A typical scenario would be a
category-four cyclone disaster, resulting in poor sanitation, hunger, disease, and an outbreak of looting and rape which targets foreigners.
Other scenarios have included extremists disrupting government control and inciting riots.
The Australian Department of Defence says Croix du Sud aims to maintain interoperability among regional defence and police forces. The exercise is also an opportunity to practise
maritime surveillance {{Unreferenced, date=March 2008
Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities.
Maritime patrol refers to ac ...
, along with
stability and security operations.
The exercise takes place in accordance with a 1992 agreement between France, Australia and New Zealand.
Participants
Many countries whose militaries are active in the Pacific Ocean have committed personnel and equipment to the exercise.
NGOs
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
have also taken part. Participants in past exercises have included:
* Australia: heavy landing craft and ,
amphibious landing platform ,
landing ship ,
minehunters and ,
[ Sea King helicopters,]Hercules
Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.
The Romans adapted the Gr ...
transport aircraft,Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The Model 200 and Model 300 series were originally marketed as the "Super King Air" family; the "Super" designation was dropped in 1996. ...
utility aircraft.[
* Fiji: observers][ an infantry platoon, patrol boat ,
* France: patrol ship ''D'Entrecasteaux''.][
** New Caledonia: ]Troupes de marine
The (TDM, ) is a corps of the French Army that includes several specialities: infantry, artillery, armoured, airborne, engineering, and transmissions (Signals).
Despite its name, it forms part of the Army, not the Navy. Intended for amphibio ...
,Maritime Gendarmerie
The Maritime Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie maritime) is a component of the French National Gendarmerie under operational control of the chief of staff of the French Navy. It employs 1,157 personnel and operates around thirty patrol boats and h ...
, National Gendarmerie
The National Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie nationale, ) is one of two national law enforcement forces of France, along with the National Police. The Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Minis ...
, the frigate Vendémiaire
Vendémiaire () was the first month in the French Republican calendar. The month was named after the Occitan word ''vendemiaire'' (grape harvester).
Vendémiaire was the first month of the autumn quarter (''mois d'automne''). It started on the ...
,CN-235
The CASA/IPTN CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engined transport aircraft that was jointly developed by CASA of Spain and Indonesian manufacturer IPTN. It is operated as both a regional airliner and military transport; its primary military roles i ...
,[ helicopters, special forces and an infantry platoon from the 1st Battalion of the ]Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is the parent administrative regiment and corps of regular and reserve infantry battalions in the New Zealand Army. It was originally formed in 1947 with a singular Regular regiment and multiple reserve r ...
.International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, an ...
[
* Solomon Islands][
* Tonga:]Marine Rotational Force – Darwin
Marine Rotational Force-Darwin is a United States Marine Corps Marine Air-Ground Task Force based at Matilda Lines at Robertson Barracks and at RAAF Base Darwin.
On 16 November 2011, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and President Barack Obama announc ...
, troops from Hawaii including US Marines
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
9th Mission Support Command
9th Mission Support Command (9th MSC) is a United States Army Reserve unit located in Fort Shafter, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
The 9th Mission Support Command is a U.S. Army Reserve Command under the operational control of U.S. Army Pacific. Headquart ...
.[
]
References
External links
New Caledonian Armed Forces
(French language).
Exercise Croix du Sud 2016
- Australian Department of Defence footage.
Exercise Croix du Sud concludes
- Royal Australian Air Force, YouTube channel.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Croix du Sud
Military exercises and wargames
Military of France
Australian military exercises
Military exercises involving the United States