ANZUK was a tripartite defense force established by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific region following the UK’s decision to reduce its military presence east of the Suez in the early 1970s. The force was officially formed in Singapore on November 1, 1971, under the command of Rear Admiral David Wells. Its primary objective was to provide a unified military presence in Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore and Malaysia.
The ANZUK force comprised land, naval, and air components from the three nations. The land component included the 28th ANZUK Brigade, which consisted of battalions from each country: the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment; the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment; and the 1st Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers from the UK. Naval contributions featured frigates and submarines from the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal New Zealand Navy. The air component was made up of various squadrons, including No. 3 and No. 75 Squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force operating Dassault Mirage III aircraft, and No. 41 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force flying Bristol Freighters and Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopters.
Each nation’s personnel wore their standard uniforms, supplemented with specific patches to denote their affiliation with ANZUK. For instance, ANZUK Headquarters and support elements had distinct insignia, while the 28 ANZUK Brigade units had their own identifying patches. The naval and air components typically did not wear additional patches, as they remained under national command and were attached to ANZUK on an as-needed basis.
By 1973, shifting political climates in Australia and the UK led to the decision to disband ANZUK. Rear Admiral Wells initiated the planning for the force’s dissolution, with Air Vice Marshal Richard Gordon Wakeford overseeing the final phases. Australia chose to maintain a presence at Butterworth in Malaysia, while the UK proceeded with its withdrawal from the region. Recognizing the strategic importance, New Zealand established the New Zealand Force Southeast Asia (NZFORSEA) on January 30, 1974, assuming command of the New Zealand units previously integrated into ANZUK. The disbandment process continued throughout 1974, with integrated units transitioning back to national commands. By January 31, 1974, ANZUK had officially ceased to exist, and by 1977, NZFORSEA remained the sole foreign military presence in Singapore.
The ANZUK force represented a significant collaborative defence effort among Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom during a pivotal period in Southeast Asian geopolitics.
