Since re-equipping with the Globemaster , No . 36 Squadron has continued to support Coalition forces in Afghanistan , as well as humanitarian operations worldwide . In 2011 , it took part in relief efforts following the floods in Queensland , the Christchurch earthquake , and the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan . The Queensland floods necessitated the evacuation of two C-17s to Richmond , when Amberley was threatened by rising waters ; of the other two Globemasters , one was in the Middle East and the other was undergoing maintenance at Amberley and could not be flown but was moved onto high ground and escaped damage . The deployment to Japan involved all three of the squadron 's available C-17s , the fourth still being serviced at Amberley . On 11 May 2012 , a C-17 flew an Australian Army M1 Abrams tank from RAAF Base Darwin to Shoalwater Bay for a training exercise ; it was the first time an RAAF Globemaster had airlifted an Abrams , which at 61 tonnes was among the largest single items the 70-tonne-capacity aircraft could carry . In November that year the squadron took delivery of its sixth Globemaster . It was again awarded the Gloucester Cup in March 2013 , for its proficiency the previous year
Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
No. 36 Squadron RAAF