Outside Radio KOI on HMNZS Taranaki 1967 – Basil Rutherford and the late Chick Henderson (RIP)
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USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187) was the ninth of the Newport-class tank landing ships of the United States Navy, which replaced the traditional bow door-design tank landing ships (LSTs).
The vessel was constructed by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, California and was launched in 1969 and commissioned in 1970 and the second ship of the United States Navy to be named after the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The LST participated in the Vietnam War and was decommissioned in 1994. The ship was laid up until being sunk as a target ship during a sinking exercise in 2014.
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Exclusive tour of Spanish F-100 frigate capable of firing laser-guided Hellfire missiles 23rd February 2024 at 2:59pm Play Video Watch: Tour of ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón.
23rd February 2024 at 2:59pm
Play Video
During a port call in Southampton, Forces News was granted an exclusive tour of Spain’s ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón, en route to Nato’s largest exercise since the Cold War.
The F-100 frigate can perform both surface and anti-submarine warfare, as well as launching laser-guided Hellfire missiles.
Before arriving in Hampshire, ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón, the flagship of Standing Nato Maritime Group 1, carried out gunnery exercises while travelling from Scotland.
- Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group gathers momentum ahead of Exercise Steadfast Defender
- Sennelager ‘perfect’ for pushing rapid response Desert Rats across Europe for start of exercise
- F-35B Lightning jets land on warship ahead of largest Nato exercise since Cold War
The frigate is one of five Nato warships visiting Southampton’s port before heading to take part in Exercise Steadfast Defender.
The visit comes after more than 700 vehicles sailed on a 23,000-tonne cargo vessel from Anvil Point to take part in Exercise Steadfast Defender.
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NZDF completes 22 Push Up Challenge -Today hundreds of military and civilian New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel around the motu dropped and gave us 22 push ups to support work around mental health and wellbeing.
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22 FEBRUARY, 2024Many of us struggle with challenges to our mental health and today’s event was designed to start the sometimes difficult conversation around that topic and let people know where they can find help. Sailors, soldiers, aviators and civilian staff took to ships, the beach, the gym and many other areas to take on the challenge.
The 22 Push Up Challenge began in the United States in 2011 as a means of honouring veteran service and sacrifice and drawing attention to veteran mental health challenges. At the time 22 US veterans were committing suicide every single day. Mental health challenges aren’t unique to veterans and it is important to assess your health and wellbeing on a regular basis.
22 PUSH UP CHALLENGE: NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE
Push ups, like life, have their ups and downs. Getting down can seem easy, what matters is that we try our best to get back up again. But if you do find yourself down and getting back up feels impossible, here are some places you can turn to for help. Camaraderie and support are at the heart of the NZDF’s ethos. No-one should feel they are fighting alone. As you do your set of 22, reflect on this list of 22 places you can go for support:
1 Local chaplain
2 Social worker
3 PTI you trust
4 Command WO
5 Line commander
6 Local MO or Doctor
7 0800 NZDF4U
8 Local Defence Psychologist
9 Local RSA welfare officer
10 Defence Nurse
11 A medic you trust
12 Anti-Harassment advisor
13 VANZ
14 Family and Whanau
15 1737 – free national helpline.
16 Overwatch – Rainbow communities support
17 Lifeline – free national crisis line
18 Camp & Base Pasifika and Pan-Asian Networks
19 Defence Marae staff
20 SAPRA
21 Unit commander
22 Any member of the NZDF you might trust.
Should you be struggling please know that you are not alone and the NZDF has support available to you at any time, now or in the future. The Defence Health website, Putahi Hauora, provides guidance about helping a suicidal mate, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and personal stories shared by NZDF personnel. You will find contact numbers for NZDF Social Workers or Chaplains and external health professionals through 0800 NZDF4U where help is available for all regular force and their families, reservists, civilians and veterans. 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 828 865) is the free, nationwide suicide crisis helpline or in an emergency always phone 111.
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British patrol ship arrives in Malaysia
British patrol ship arrives in Malaysia
Patrol ship HMS Spey paid her second visit to Malaysia in three months, say the Royal Navy here.
Having completed a month’s patrol of the Indian Ocean and her first visit to India and Sri Lanka, the Portsmouth-based warship headed for Penang – about 170 miles north of the Malay capital to work with the Royal Malaysia Navy and support the long-standing Five Powers Defence Arrangements.
“Established more than half a century ago against the backdrop of the ‘withdrawal from east of Suez’, the arrangements comprise a series of agreements between five Commonwealth nations – Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK – involving the defence and security of Southeast Asia.
The RN regularly takes part in exercises – typically the annual Bersama Lima workout – under the five-powers banner to ensure the military of the participating states can work together seamlessly and learn from one another. In addition, the UK maintains a permanent presence in Penang through its support to the Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS) which, among other duties, oversees those exercises.”
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Watch: The Download – the day’s top stories – 21st February 2024 at 1:08pm
MOD has confidence in nuclear deterrent despite second failed trident test, serving officers told minister unarmed Afghans were shot by UK special forces and F-35B jets land on HMS Prince of Wales for massive Nato exercise – all this and more in The Download.
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Sennelager ‘perfect’ for pushing rapid response Desert Rats across Europe for start of Ex Steadfast Defender 21st February 2024 at 3:56pm
A monumental effort has seen thousands of British Army personnel and hundreds of their vehicles arrive in Germany for Nato’s Exercise Steadfast Defender.
Exercise Brilliant Jump One saw personnel deploy to Germany from the UK, whilst Exercise Brilliant Jump Two will see them move off from Germany and head to Poland.
At the front is 7th Brigade, known as the Desert Rats, leading the charge.
B Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, is part of the light mechanised combat team spearheading Nato’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.
This whole section of the exercise is about projecting the force across Europe with the kit they need to join the fight.
Major Simon Cox, Commander of B Company, the Royal Anglian Regiment, told Forces News they are very high readiness forces “held at 48 hours’ notice to move to respond to events in Europe”.
“We’re at the forefront of any Nato activity in Europe at the moment,” he said.
“We are predominantly in the Foxhound and Jackal vehicles, so we would move slightly behind a recce screen, forwards as the spearhead force.
“For the first phase of this exercise, the challenge is logistics, getting us deployed, thousands of people and hundreds of people from the UK to Poland.
“The real learning point for us has been about how we get there because it’s really important that we get there ready to fight if needs be.”
But Germany is not even the starting line for what is a 90,000-personnel effort to show Nato’s deployability across Europe.
The British Army must still get to Poland for the start of Exercise Steadfast Defender.
Lieutenant Colonel John Anthistle, Commander, Enabling Group South, told Forces News that Sennelager is “a jewel in our crown” and perfect for helping get the troops across Europe.
“It’s a base that we disinvested in because we obviously left Germany and we closed it down to a very small capacity.
“But as you can see from how we’re operating here right now, the strategic location of it, the fact we’ve got ready access to a training area, the easy access, the road networks and the rail networks and the airports close by, we’re using all of those to bring in 7 Brigade into theatre and then push forwards.
“It’s a real great example of how this strategic location is absolutely perfect for us and something that we absolutely need to maintain.”
Lt Col Anthistle also stressed that the important detail in this section of the exercise is scale.
“When you’re operating on somewhere like Salisbury Plain, you roll out of your camps almost into your back garden, as it were, onto Salisbury Plain, and you exercise around sort of 30, 40, 50 kilometres, and you come back in again,” he said.
“Here we’re talking about operating over 1,000 kilometres just to reach the start line.
“We’re facilitating their movement through the entirety of Germany,” he said.
Having travelled from the UK to Emden, Germany, they were driven to Sennelager where they were given a thorough check before the next leg of their journey.
Corporal Tomas Bennett, 1 Battalion, REME, told Forces News it is vital they do the checks now because it is a lot harder to repair or maintain vehicles when on the exercise.
“It goes from this nice light environment to pitch black,” he said. “You see a little bit of dull red light in front of you… and your weapon system is right next to you.
“When things are going off in the training serials, you’ll have gunfire in the background… you’ll have to down tools, turn the light off and then go into positions to then do the soldiering role.
“So it is quite literally going from one job role to another like a flick of a light switch.”
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USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: – – Feb. 20, 2024 U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE STAFF FEBRUARY 20, 2024 3:09 PM – UPDATED: FEBRUARY 21, 2024 9:03 AM
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb. 20, 2024, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.
Ships Underway
In Japan
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is in port in Yokosuka. The carrier is set to depart for the East Coast later this year. USS George Washington (CVN-73) will replace Reagan in Japan.
In the Philippine Sea
Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and big deck amphibious warship USS America (LHA-6) are operating in the Philippine Sea.
The carrier is using older C-2A Greyhounds as a temporary carrier-onboard delivery vehicle while the CMV-22B fleet is grounded following the November crash of an Air Force MV-22B off the coast of Japan.
Carrier Strike Group 9
Carrier
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), homeported at San Diego, Calif.
Carrier Air Wing 11
- The “Fist of the Fleet” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
- The “Black Knights” of VFA 154 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
- The “Blue Blasters” of VFA 34 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia Beach, Va.
- The “Flying Checkmates” of VFA 211 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia Beach.
- The “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
- The “Liberty Bells” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 115 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
- The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 – C-2A – from Naval Station, Norfolk, Va.
- The “Wolf Pack” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
- The “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.
Cruiser
USS Lake Erie (CG-70), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
Destroyer Squadron 23
Destroyer Squadron 23 is based in San Diego and is embarked on Theodore Roosevelt.
- USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.
- USS Halsey (DDG-97), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
- USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Japan-based USS America (LHA-6) is operating in the Philippine Sea.
In the South Pacific
USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) departed McMurdo Station and is en route New Zealand for a port visit. The crew held their Antarctica Service Medal ceremony while on the Ross Ice Shelf in the Bay of Whales. The criteria for the medal includes spending a minimum of 10 days below the 60th parallel, emphasizing the crew’s sustained commitment to operational excellence.
In the Middle Pacific
Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for a scheduled port visit on Feb. 13 and departed Feb. 18.
Carrier Strike Group 1
Carrier
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), homeported at San Diego, Calif.
Carrier Air Wing 2
- The “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
- The “Stingers” of VFA 113 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
- The “Warhawks” of VFA 97 – F-35C – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
- The “Golden Dragons” of VFA 192 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
- The “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
- The “Black Eagles” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 113 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
- The “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 – CMV-22B – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
- The “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island.
- The “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.
Cruiser
USS Princeton (CG-59), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
Destroyer Squadron 1
Destroyer Squadron 1 is based in San Diego and is embarked on Carl Vinson.
- USS Hopper (DDG-70), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
- USS Kidd (DDG-100), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.
- USS Sterett (DDG-104), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
- USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
In the Mediterranean Sea
The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) continues to operate in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Pentagon has officially extended the deployment of the ARG and the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Mediterranean Sea amid growing regional turmoil, according to a defense official.
Embarked units include Amphibious Squadron 8, 26th MEU (SOC), Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4 and Beach Master Unit 2. The 26th MEU (SOC), based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., includes Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marines; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 22.
Among the many missions Marines are trained in is evacuating civilians from conflict zones. USNI News visited the unit last April during a noncombatant evacuation drill in North Carolina.
In the Gulf of Aden
Houthi forces in Yemen continue to attack merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while U.S. naval forces in the region have continued self-defense strikes against Houthi weapons that U.S. Central Command says are a threat to naval and merchant ships.
On Thursday, an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. The missile was headed toward MV Lycavitos, a Barbados-flagged, U.K.-owned and operated bulk carrier. The ship reported no injuries and minor damage.
In the Red Sea
U.S. ships are continuing to patrol the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led effort to protect ships moving through the region. Houthi forces say they are targeting ships with connections to the U.K., U.S. and Israel.
Houthi forces hit a British-owned cargo ship traveling in the Red Sea, U.S. Central Command announced via social media site X Monday morning. The Yemen-based group fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles toward MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged ship, owned by British company Golden Adventure Shipping, BBC reported. One missile hit Rubymar and a coalition ship responded to the crew’s distress call.
Houthi Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Sare’e claimed the group downed an American MQ-9B Reaper drone on Monday, which a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed during a Pentagon press briefing.
On X, Sare’e claimed that the Houthis attacked American ships Sea Champion and Navis Fortuna.
On Saturday, CENTCOM successfully conducted five self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in Oct. 23.
On Friday, four anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea. It is assessed that three of the missiles were launched towards commercial vessel MT Pollux, a Panamanian-flagged, Denmark-owned, Panamanian-registered vessel. There were no reported injuries or damage from MT Pollux or any other ship in the area.
Later that day, CENTCOM conducted two self-defense strikes against one mobile anti-ship cruise missile and one mobile unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Yemen. CENTCOM identified the mobile missile and USV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.
On Thursday, CENTCOM forces conducted two self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
On Wednesday, CENTCOM forces conducted four self-defense strikes against seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), three mobile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and one explosive unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
On Tuesday, CENTCOM forces conducted a self-defense strike against one mobile anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
Separately, one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. U.S. Navy ships tracked the missile but took no action because the missile was not projected to impact near any ships. There were no reports of injuries or damage from ships in the area.
On Monday, Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Bab al-Mandeb. Both missiles were launched toward MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea carrying corn from Brazil. The ship reported being seaworthy with minor damage and no injuries to the crew.
As of Tuesday, the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group was operating in the Red Sea.
Ike deployed on Oct. 14, while several of the carrier’s escorts left on Oct. 13. The carrier transited the Strait of Gibraltar on Oct. 28 and transited the Suez Canal on Nov. 4.
The U.N. Security Council on Jan. 10 approved a resolution calling on Yemen’s Houthi rebel group to “cease its brazen” attacks in the Red Sea.
Announced on Dec. 18, Operation Prosperity Guardian is a multinational push to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden under the structure of the existing Combined Task Force 153.
Carrier Strike Group 2
Carrier
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), homeported at Norfolk, Va.
Carrier Air Wing 3
- The “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
- The “Fighting Swordsmen” of VFA 32 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
- The “Rampagers” of VFA 83 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
- The “Wildcats” of VFA 131 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
- The “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
- The “Screwtops” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 123 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
- The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 – C-2A – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
- The “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
- The “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7 – MH-60S – from Naval Station Norfolk.
Cruiser
USS Philippine Sea (CG-58), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
Destroyer Squadron 22
Destroyer Squadron 22 is based in Norfolk, Va., and is embarked on Eisenhower.
- USS Gravely (DDG-107), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
- USS Mason (DDG-87), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
In the Arabian Sea
The U.S. Coast Guard last week announced a late January seizure of weapons and other material shipped from Iran to Yemen in the Arabian Sea.
“The U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr (WPC 1147), assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, located the vessel, and boarded it in the Arabian Sea. The boarding team discovered over 200 packages that contained medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle (UUV/USV) components, military-grade communication and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military components,” reads the statement.
In the Persian Gulf
U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships with U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East. Initially deployed in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA is now a permanent presence based out of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
In the Atlantic
Aircraft carriers USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and USS George Washington (CVN-73) are both underway off the East Coast.
In addition to these major formations, not shown are others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Seabees, EOD Mobile Units and more serving throughout the globe.
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India Begins Multinational Naval Exercise Milan, Deploys Two Carriers – AARON-MATTHEW LARIOSA FEBRUARY 20, 2024 7:17 PM
The Indian Navy deployed two carrier battle groups to the Bay of Bengal for New Delhi’s multinational naval drill Exercise Milan 2024.
INS Vikramaditya (R33) and INS Vikrant (R11) and their accompanying escorts, as well as other Indian Navy warships, maritime patrol aircraft and drones, are slated to participate in one of the region’s largest multilateral naval drills from Feb. 19 to 27.
Exercise Milan – whose name is based on the Hindi word for unification – began in 1995 with the navies of Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia participating. Since then, the biennial naval drills have ballooned as New Delhi’s maritime engagement increased. Divided into in-port and at-sea phases, Milan 2024 will host more than 50 participating nations, 35 vessels, 50 aircraft and various delegations. This is a marked increase from 39 participants in 2022’s iteration.
Notable non-Indian Navy vessels partaking in 2024’s drills include the USS Halsey (DDG-97), HMAS Warramunga (FFH-152), JS Sazanami (DD-113), KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (367), IRIS Dena (75), Varyag (011) and Marshal Shaposhnikov (543).
Before 2020, the drills took place within the Andaman Nicobar Command, the Indian military’s theater command responsible for defending New Delhi’s islands directly adjacent to the strategic Strait of Malacca, which separates the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific. With the exercise’s influx of participants, India moved the drills to the Eastern Naval Command’s area of responsibility at the port city of Visakhapatnam.
Milan 2024 will be the first time India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier participates in an international exercise. Commissioned in 2022, the 45,000-ton Vikrant is expected to carry a plethora of Indian and foreign aircraft from the United States, Russia and France. Last year, India chose Dassault Aviation’s Rafale-M over Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for the carrier’s air wing.
According to an Indian Navy press release on the exercise, Milan is a “congregation of friendly navies” and describes participants as “friendly foreign countries.” In Milan 2024, notable participants include Quadrilateral Security Dialogue countries the United States, Japan and Australia, as well as traditional partners such as Russia.
China, which most Indians view as the country’s most pressing threat, was not invited to the exercise. Three years ago, New Delhi and Beijing fought each other in a violent clash in the Himalayas that left multiple dead, wounded and captured on both sides.
In recent years, the Indian Navy has bolstered its efforts as the People’s Liberation Army Navy has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean region. From deploying submarines and spy ships to seizing a strategic port in Sri Lanka, China’s push into India’s backyard has raised the alarm for the Indian Navy. Last year, it was reported that the service was eyeing an additional aircraft carrier and a force of 160 ships by 2030.
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Senator Malcolm Roberts has questioned whether Royal Australian Navy vessels were at a publicity photo shoot instead of attending the search and rescue of a fatal MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash during Talisman Sabre 2023.
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America sails in formation with the Royal Australian Navy Canberra Class landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Adelaide, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo, Republic of Korea Navy amphibious assault ship Marado, amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay, amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans, Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules, Republic of Korea Navy destroyer Munmu The Great, guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta, dry cargo ship USNS Matthew Perry, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force tank landing ship, JS Shimokita, Royal Australian Navy replenishment oiler HMAS Stalwart and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe during a formation exercise, as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, 29 July 2023. Photo: US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas B. ContantSenator Roberts made the accusations during a Senate foreign affairs, defence and trade legislation committee (Senate estimates) meeting on 14 February.
The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter impacted waters near Lindeman Island around 11pm on 28 July last year. Military and civilian search and rescue aircraft and watercraft were tasked with search rescue and recovery operations at the incident site on 29 July immediately following the crash.
Aircrew lost during the night-time training activity included Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs.
HMAS Huon minehunter, Australian Defence Vessel Reliant and Royal Australian Navy clearance divers later recovered items such as crew personal effects, helicopter and a voice and flight data recorder.
“The United States Navy has taken a photo and it’s dated 29 July. It’s an obvious photo shoot of the Talisman Sabre fleet and, in it, they say that the American ships are sailing in formation with the Royal Australian Navy Canberra Class landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Canberra as part of the Talisman Sabre photo shoot,” Senator Roberts said during the meeting.
“This shows an Australian vessel at the photo shoot on the 29th and it wasn’t searching for the wreckage or the bodies from the downed Taipan.
“Were you embarrassed about the ship not being engaged in the search area, but off on a photoshoot?”
Senator Roberts had previously requested a list of vessels present in the area of operations and those tasked to the search and rescue operation, which was taken on notice during a Senate meeting in October last year. He was later allegedly notified by the Defence Department that “Defence does not comment on the operational tasking of its assets”.
Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell, speaking at the Senate estimates, said Defence staff were correct in advising Senator Roberts that the department does not comment on operational tasking.
“I know that our people engaged in that exercise were very conscious of how to be of assistance in supporting that downed aircraft and, at that stage, the missing aircrew,” he said.
“Defence doesn’t comment on the operational tasking of its assets. That is correct, we don’t.
“But I want to reinforce the assurance that every asset that could be of assistance from Australia or from any of our partner nations in that exercise was tasked to be of assistance.
“This photograph is out in open water, in an extended area. There are some ships in the Australian fleet and, indeed, in the US and international partner fleet, that are not suited to the work required in confined waters and with variable depths to deal with searching for a lost helicopter and crew.
“There’s a distinction here between what is suitable and hence applied to the search and what is not suitable and not considered for the search.”
General Campbell also confirmed that HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Choules and HMAS Stalwart alongside vessels from United States Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea took part in a photo shoot on July 29.
“The location of the photo shoot was approximately 142 nautical miles away from the crash site. While it was underway at about 0845 hours HMAS Adelaide was tasked to support the accident site in addition to those vessels already responding,” he said.
“HMAS Adelaide immediately departed the activity. The entire photo exercise was then cancelled upon receipt of HMAS Adelaide’s tasking to support search activities. HMAS Adelaide was also tasked once it was identified that additional aviation assets and logistics support was required.
“The nature of the operating environment, including constrained waters and tidal flows, limited the number of vessels that could freely navigate the identified search area.”
Royal Australian Navy Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark David Hammond, speaking at the Senate meeting, further clarified that the resources available with necessary capabilities were applied at speed during the search and rescue operation.
“That large array of ships in the photograph is in open water, some distance from land. It is routine to mark the beginning or the end of a large naval exercise with a group photograph,” he said.
“There are Australian ships that are not in that photograph, because they were engaged in the search and rescue effort in confined waters inside the Whitsunday Islands.
“Had all of those ships been in that search area, we would have had a problem; there just isn’t enough sea room.
“The focus was on conducting a surface search initially for survivors, as I understand it, and for signs of wreckage. There were civilian craft involved and there were aircraft, rotary wing and fixed-wing, and there was no shortage of assets for that search; that very tragic incident.
“I understand your frustration. I am not in a position to answer why there was not a more fulsome response.”
Senator Roberts concluded that Defence had been excessively evasive in its response for no apparent reason.
“When we’ve seen what we’ve seen with the Taipans and been horrified by the loss of life on those Taipans, and then we see the nice photo shoot that we were on, we have a duty to ask those questions,” he said during the Senate estimates meeting.
“We didn’t get the damn answers. We were led astray. It was suppressed.
“What you have said makes sense to me. You’re not going to have a US aircraft carrier ploughing around in the Whitsundays looking for a helicopter; I get that. You had at least one boat out in open waters; I get it. Why couldn’t we have been told that? What is Defence repeatedly trying to hide?
“We have seen issue after issue which Defence seems sensitive about.
“There are many issues that have not been talked about openly … It is not just my frustration; it is my deep sadness at the loss of life which seems to have been unnecessarily lost in those Taipans. It borders on anger, though, when it could have been avoided.”
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