the current mission of the 51st battalion, fnqr is that of an rfsu, with the unit tasked with conducting land based and littoral surveillance and reconnaissance in support of national security operations in the inhospitable areas along the northern coast of australia. as the regiment's name suggests, it is responsible for patrolling the north of queensland, with its area of responsibility covering from cardwell in north queensland, north to the torres strait, including cape york and the gulf country and west to the northern territory border; in total some .