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| Tactical Assault Group (East) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Tactical Assault Group (East) |
| Dates | 1977–present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Special forces |
| Role | Counter-terrorism, hostage rescue |
| Size | Classified |
| Garrison | Holsworthy Barracks |
| Nickname | TAG (East) |
Tactical Assault Group (East) is an Australian special operations unit formed to provide counter-terrorism and hostage rescue capability in eastern Australia and overseas. It operates as part of the Australian Defence Force alongside units such as Special Air Service Regiment, 2nd Commando Regiment, Special Operations Command (Australia), and coordinates with civilian agencies like Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police Force, and state emergency services. TAG (East) draws personnel from the Special Air Service Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment and has participated in responses linked to events including the Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing, the East Timorese crisis (1999), and operations in the Global War on Terrorism.
TAG (East) traces origins to counter-terrorism developments following the Munich massacre and the establishment of dedicated response units in the 1970s, contemporaneous with the founding of units such as the Special Air Service Regiment and the evolution of Australian Special Operations Command. Its formal capability was developed in the late 1970s and 1980s amid incidents including the Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing and heightened concerns after international crises like the Iran hostage crisis and the Rainbow Warrior bombing. During the 1990s TAG (East) adapted doctrine in the context of operations related to the East Timorese crisis (1999) and multinational efforts alongside forces from the United States Special Operations Command, the British Special Air Service, and the New Zealand Special Air Service. Post-2001, TAG (East) contributed to domestic preparedness and interoperability during the Global War on Terrorism era, aligning practices with NATO partners, Special Boat Service, and tactical doctrines seen in the Gulf War and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
TAG (East) is headquartered at Holsworthy Barracks and is one of two primary Tactical Assault Groups; the counterpart TAG (West) is based in Perth. It is under the command relationships of Special Operations Command (Australia) and coordinates with joint elements such as Headquarters Joint Operations Command and the Australian Defence Force high command. Sub-units are drawn from the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Air Service Regiment, and it liaises with the Australian Federal Police tactical groups, state tactical response units like Police Tactical Groups (Australia), and maritime elements including the Royal Australian Navy clearance divers. Support structures include aviation assets from the Australian Army Aviation and fixed-wing coordination with the Royal Australian Air Force.
TAG (East) provides specialized counter-terrorism and hostage rescue capability for contingencies involving high-risk sieges, complex hostage situations, and maritime interdictions in eastern Australia and national strategic interests. It is tasked with resolving incidents similar in nature to events like the Mumbai attacks (2008), port security scenarios reminiscent of USS Cole bombing concerns, and high-profile protection tasks analogous to security for APEC Australia 2007 and visits by dignitaries such as those involved in the ANZAC Day commemorations. TAG (East) also supports stabilisation and evacuation operations in contexts akin to the East Timorese crisis (1999) and contingency evacuations seen during Lebanon crisis (2006). Coordination with law enforcement frameworks such as the National Counter-Terrorism Committee (Australia) and international partners including United States Department of Defense task forces is routine.
Personnel for TAG (East) are selected from elite formations like the Special Air Service Regiment and the 2nd Commando Regiment following rigorous assessment similar to selection courses of the SAS Selection and commando training models influenced by the British Army Commando Course. Training includes close-quarters battle techniques derived from doctrines used by the US Navy SEALs, British SAS, and Special Boat Service, as well as urban breaching methods practised during multinational exercises such as Tiger Triumph and interoperability trials with New Zealand Special Air Service. Specialist instruction covers maritime counter-terrorism taught alongside Royal Australian Navy units, airborne insertion methods from Australian Army Aviation, and medical training matching standards of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons trauma protocols.
TAG (East) employs equipment categories comparable to those used by international counter-terrorism units: precision rifles sourced to match platforms like the M4 carbine, HK417, and designated marksman systems comparable to the Accuracy International family; submachine and assault weapons in line with Heckler & Koch designs; breaching systems reflecting technologies used by US Army explosive ordnance units; and non-lethal options paralleling police tactical inventories of the Australian Federal Police. Mobility is provided by helicopters analogous to the S-70 Black Hawk operated by Australian Army Aviation and fast craft comparable to Armidale-class patrol boat capabilities for maritime interdiction. Communications and surveillance integrate systems akin to those fielded by Defence Signals Directorate and battlefield sensors used by Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System doctrines.
TAG (East) has been activated for domestic incidents, contingency evacuations, and operations in support of overseas deployments, working alongside formations such as the 2nd Commando Regiment, Special Air Service Regiment, and coalition partners including United States Special Operations Command and the United Kingdom Special Forces. Notable domestic activations have involved responses coordinated with the Australian Federal Police and state police forces during hostage or siege incidents influenced by global precedents like the Beslan school siege. Overseas, elements have provided specialist advice and evacuation assistance during crises comparable to operations in Timor-Leste and stability tasks reminiscent of missions in Solomon Islands and Bougainville.
TAG (East) has been subject to scrutiny over transparency, rules of engagement, and incidents involving use of force, echoing debates seen in inquiries into units such as the Special Air Service Regiment and international incidents involving NATO special operations. Media coverage and parliamentary oversight, including discussions in bodies akin to the Parliament of Australia committees and oversight mechanisms similar to reviews of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, have raised questions about accountability, deployments, and civil–military boundaries during domestic operations. Internal reviews and interagency inquiries have shaped policies on deployment accountability similar to reforms following incidents involving other special operations units like the US Navy SEALs and British SAS.
Category:Special forces of Australia Category:Military units and formations established in 1977