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Australian Military (General) Trivia Quiz

This quiz is on Australian Military history and will be challenging for most people because Australia is a small country and its military input has been very under-reported.

A multiple-choice quiz by mountaingoat. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mountaingoat

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
275,709

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
844

Last 3 plays: Guest 175 (8/10), Guest 1 (10/10), Guest 60 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The main rifle used by Australian troops in Vietnam was the SLR. What does SLR mean? Hint

Specially Lethal Rifle

Slung Low Rifle

Self Loading Rifle

Sniper Long Rifle

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Question 2 of 10

2. In a suburb of which city is the SAS headquarters located in Australia? Hint

Perth

Darwin

Sydney

Brisbane

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the highest non-commissioned rank in the Australian Army? Hint

Private

Lance Corporal

Sergeant

Corporal

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the aircraft carrier in the Australian Navy that was commissioned in 1955 and decommissioned in 1982. Hint

Lightning Ridge

Sydney

Melbourne

Iron Knob

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Question 5 of 10

5. If a soldier calls you a PONGO, what does he mean? Hint

An officer

A coward

A rear echelon troop

A naval rating

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Question 6 of 10

6. Australian soldiers were the first to inflict a defeat on the Japanese Army. Where did this occur? Hint

Milne Bay

Lae

Kokoda Trail

Port Moresby

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which Australian prime minister crashed several fighters in WW2 and was badly burnt? Hint

John Gorton

Gough Whitlam

Malcolm Fraser

Robert Menzies

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Question 8 of 10

8. A fort was built on Pinchgut Island, just off the Sydney Opera House, in the early days of the settlement in Botany Bay. Who was this to deter? Hint

Russia

Spain

France

America

9. When the midget submarines A14, A21 and M24 did not return to the mother submarines I-22, I-24 and I-27 on 31 May 1942 after attacking Sydney Harbour, how did Captain Hanabusa of I-24 react? Hint

He shelled the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney

He destroyed the tug manning the boom

He sank a freighter entering the harbour

He machine gunned swimmers on Bondi Beach

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Question 10 of 10

10. The main Army training base close to Wagga Wagga is called? Hint

Forest Hills

Fort Victoria

Packapunyl

Kapooka

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The main rifle used by Australian troops in Vietnam was the SLR. What does SLR mean?

Answer: Self Loading Rifle

Much heavier rifle than the M16 used by the US troops but this was an advantage in close quarter combat using the heavy butt as a battering weapon.

2. In a suburb of which city is the SAS headquarters located in Australia?

Answer: Perth

Two Blackhawk Helicopters collided on a training flight several years ago and about a dozen SAS soldiers died.

3. What is the highest non-commissioned rank in the Australian Army?

Answer: Sergeant

The rank of Warrant officer is sometimes wrongly described as the highest "non-commissioned rank". He is designated an Officer by Warrant (hence the name), rather than by Commission or by virtue of seniority (in the case of NCOs), so actually he is neither "Commissioned" nor "Non-Commissioned".

The Sergeant is the Senior Non Commissioned Officer in the Army (hence the abbreviated term SNCO) and included Staff Sergeants before this rank disappeared.

4. What was the name of the aircraft carrier in the Australian Navy that was commissioned in 1955 and decommissioned in 1982.

Answer: Melbourne

All of the names in the question are actual towns or cities in Australia. The Melbourne sank 2 of its escort destroyers in its career. One was the USS Evans. It was cynically called the Australian Submarine Launcher after these 2 unfortunate incidents.

The Australian navy has not had a new carrier since the Melbourne was decommissioned. It now concentrates on missile frigates and submarines.

5. If a soldier calls you a PONGO, what does he mean?

Answer: A rear echelon troop

Pongos were treated with contempt because they got the best food and accommodation without any of the hardships. This is common in most armies, sadly.

6. Australian soldiers were the first to inflict a defeat on the Japanese Army. Where did this occur?

Answer: Milne Bay

The men who performed this amazing feat of arms were not regular soldiers but poorly trained and armed militia.

7. Which Australian prime minister crashed several fighters in WW2 and was badly burnt?

Answer: John Gorton

His face showed the obvious effects of the accident. After a vote to retain the leadership, which he won by just a few votes, Gorton voted himself down. He felt with such a narrow support he could not govern.

8. A fort was built on Pinchgut Island, just off the Sydney Opera House, in the early days of the settlement in Botany Bay. Who was this to deter?

Answer: Russia

After the fear of invasion ebbed the island was used as an isolation prison for the worst convicts. It is open to the public and has small vessels taking tours daily.

9. When the midget submarines A14, A21 and M24 did not return to the mother submarines I-22, I-24 and I-27 on 31 May 1942 after attacking Sydney Harbour, how did Captain Hanabusa of I-24 react?

Answer: He shelled the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney

Nobody was injured by the shelling but it bought the reality of the war very close to home for a lot of Sydneysiders. M-24 was located in 2006 off the northern beaches of Sydney. A long held mystery was at last solved.

10. The main Army training base close to Wagga Wagga is called?

Answer: Kapooka

The camp is a very large centre used mainly for basic training.

Source: Author mountaingoat

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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