RAAHC's Firepower: Lessons from WWII - Event Three: Adelaide

Seminar Event (4-6pm): Campaign Theatre Adaptation, 1941-1944.

Presentation One: Strategic Context:

Presenter One: Mark Johnston

• What was 9th Aust Div Artillery’s role in the 8th Army’s fire plan supporting the 2nd Battle of El Alamein?
• What instrumental role did Allied firepower play in the battle’s outcome?
• What innovations in the orchestration and employment of joint fires were evident during Alamein?

Presentation 2: Campaign Application:

Presenter Two: Dr Garth Pratten

• How well did the Second AIF adapt to applying firepower during operations in the SWP?
• What were Second AIF’s lessons and adaptation methods? Were they effective and timely?
• How did the RAN and RAAF deal with changing primary interoperability partners to deliver joint fires?

Panel Discussion:

• What lessons for today’s military and political decision-makers can be drawn from Australia’s WW2 strategic and military capability re-focus into the Indo-Pacific theatre?
• What Australian experiences then are not applicable for Australia today?
• What strategic policy and/or military capability decisions might be considered to best prepare Australia’s firepower today, for employment tomorrow?

Keynote Address with refreshments (6.30-8pm): Senator Leah Blyth will be our keynote speaker - she will speak on how might Australia’s political, industrial and civic leadership engage and invest in its regional neighbourhood, and develop trusted bonds and partnerships that will withstand external oppression and threat of conflict – then and now?