Photo Of The Day: Exercise Crete, held at Waiouru Military Training Area and led by 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, stood as one of the largest NZ Army exercises in 2025, culminating in a live-fire defensive battle at dawn on the final day. More than 300 personnel participated, including infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, and supporting elements. The exercise served as a tactical milestone following 1RNZIR's December 2025 amalgamation with Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles.
The designated marksman platform on display is the LMT MWS, a precision rifle chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO. The rifle features LMT's monolithic rail platform and a 1:10” twist, 16-inch chrome-lined barrel capable of MOA-level accuracy with proper ammunition.
The New Zealand Army has adopted variants of this platform for designated marksman roles. During Exercise Crete, sharpshooters wielded this rifle to extend battle group reach across mountainous Waiouru terrain.
All photos by the New Zealand Army.
