DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 185/10
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Australian and Afghan Soldiers Conduct Major Road Convoy
Last week approximately 250 Afghan National Army and 1st Mentoring Task Force
(MTF-1) soldiers completed Operation TOR GHAR IV (‘Black Mountain’ in Pashtu),
a dangerous and complex re-supply convoy between Tarin Kowt and Kandahar in
Afghanistan.
The first leg from Tarin Kowt to Kandahar, a 150 kilometre road trip, involving
around 100 vehicles, was conducted without incident in around 18 hours on 16 May.
The return trip was completed without incident on 20-21 May.
Officer Commanding the MTF-1 elements on Operation TOR GHAR IV, Major
David Ryan, said the convoy was the second major re-supply activity to be conducted
by the Australian and Afghan soldiers this year.
“We conducted Op TOR GHAR III a couple of months ago with our Afghan National
Army counterparts – it went well, but needed some refinement in terms of Afghan
Army planning,” Major Ryan said.
“This time the Afghan commanders really stepped up to the plate; planning and
executing a successful operation.”
The convoy travels down one of the most dangerous roads in Afghanistan, requiring
extensive clearance of improvised explosive device threats.
“Our engineers and Afghan engineers worked shoulder-to-shoulder along the highway
searching for threats to the convoy,” Major Ryan said.
“The operation was conducted without incident – it is testament to a well planned and
executed team effort involving Afghan soldiers, MTF-1 soldiers, Afghan National
Police, and engineering and helicopter assets from ISAF Forces.”
Media Note: For imagery go to:
For more information on the Australian Defence Force’s operations in Afghanistan
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
