Watch: Rapid response Desert Rats deploy to Germany for start of Exercise Steadfast Defender
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”.
Watch: British Army vehicle fleet joins Nato’s Steadfast Defender 24.
“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.
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.”
Watch: British Army vehicles gear up for Nato’s biggest exercise in decades.
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.”
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
Total Battle Force
Deployed
Underway
292 (USS 232, USNS 60)
103 (USS 70, USNS 33)
59 (42 Deployed, 17 Local)
In Japan
Sailors and distinguished visitors pose for a group picture on the flight deck of the US Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), during a tour while in-port Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Feb. 16, 2024. US Navy Photo
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
Sailors stand at attention for a service dress white uniform inspection, Feb. 15, 2024. US Navy Photo
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
Sailors respond to a simulated fire during a damage control training drill aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), Feb. 16, 2024. US Navy Photo
Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), homeported at San Diego, Calif.
Carrier Air Wing 11
Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Samuel Verdin, from San Diego, directs an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, in the hangar bay aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Feb. 15, 2024. US Navy Photo
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
Vice Adm. Brendan McLane, Commander, Naval Surface Force, talks with sailors about their time on deployment aboard USS Decatur (DDG-73) during his visit to the Pearl Harbor Waterfront at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Feb. 8, 2024. US Nayv Photo
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.
U.S. Marines with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare an F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft for takeoff during a quick response exercise aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 17, 2024. US Navy Photo
The Japan-based USS America (LHA-6) is operating in the Philippine Sea.
In the South Pacific
An adélie penguin is seen in front of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) while next to the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Feb. 3, 2024. US Coast Guard Photo
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
Sailors render honors to the USS Arizona Memorial as Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) pulls into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Feb. 13, 2024. US Navy Photo
Sailors render honors to the USS Arizona Memorial as Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) pulls into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Feb. 13, 2024. US Navy Photo
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 Carl Vinson (CVN-70) conducts a fueling-at-sea with Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) on Feb. 5 2023. US Navy Photo
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
Marines with Ground Combat Element, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) fire a M240 machine gun while conducting a deck shoot aboard the USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), Mediterranean Sea, Feb. 14, 2024. US Marine Corps Photo
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
Navy Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Austin Coppin communicates with Sailors from the bridge of guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG-58) during a replenishment-at-sea with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196) in the Red Sea, Jan. 17, 2024. US Navy Photo
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
A E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on Feb. 9, 2024. US Navy Photo
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
USNI News Graphic
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
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class John Ganey, a native of Evant, Texas, directs an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Feb. 17, 2024. US Navy Photo
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.
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.
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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Watch: F-35B Lightning jets of 617 Squadron on the flight deck of the HMS Prince of Wales
Ahead of the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War, F-35B Lightning jets have landed on the Royal Navy warship HMS Prince of Wales.
The Lightning jets of 617 Squadron took off from RAF Marham on Monday to join the aircraft carrier before participating in Exercise Steadfast Defender 24.
During the exercise, Nato will look to demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area via the trans-Atlantic movement of forces from North America.
The 65,000-tonne warship currently sailing in the North Sea, previously carried out exercises with F-35B jets during a visit to the eastern US last autumn.
HMS Prince of Wales sailed from Portsmouth last week at short notice after its sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth had to cancel her departure when last-minute checks found an issue with the starboard propeller coupling.
Crews of both Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and dockyard staff worked around the clock to ensure HMS Prince of Wales had everything she needed.
HMS Prince of Wales will head a UK Carrier Strike Group for the exercise which, along with the jets, will include 11 helicopters as well as Royal Navy escort ships and support vessels from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, including frigate HMS Portland and tanker RFA Tidesurge.
Watch: HMS Prince of Wales sets sail for Nato’s Exercise Steadfast Defender after delay.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “It will lead an international taskforce taking part in Steadfast Defender – an exercise across multiple regions and domains from land and sea to air and space.
“Spanning several months and thousands of kilometres, it will see tens of thousands of personnel work together to showcase Nato’s ability to deter enemies and defend allied territory.”
Captain Colin McGannity, Carrier Air Wing and Strike Warfare Commander said: “It is always an exciting moment when F-35B Lightnings join the Carrier Strike Group at sea.
“It’s winter in the North Atlantic and we will face harsh weather and freezing conditions, but we are well prepared and looking forward to demonstrating our readiness to fight, whenever and wherever we get the call.”
Watch: HMS Prince of Wales practises ‘beast’ mode with F-35Bs
The Challenger 3 prototype will be put through its paces under ‘operational conditions’ to ensure it meets British Army standards (Picture: MOD DE&S)
The Army’s first pre-production Challenger 3 main battle tank has been sent to Germany to be put through its paces after rolling off the production line in Telford.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) announced that the Challenger 3 tank had been sent for final trials before production.
“The prototype will be put through its paces under operational conditions to ensure it meets British Army standards before production of final vehicles,” the post explained.
The post was accompanied by two photos appearing to show the tank being driven on a steep gradient and approaching a water obstacle.
The Challenger 3, is set to be the new Main Battle Tank for the future. Along with Ajax and Boxer, it will be “at the heart of the Army’s warfighting capability in the Heavy Brigade Combat Teams”, said the Army.
The Challenger 3 will be fitted with a new 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun built by Rheinmetall, enabling the use of the most advanced ammunition available and commonality with many of Britain’s Nato allies.
What do we know about Challenger 3 so far?
The British Army will get a 140-strong fleet of Challenger 3 tanks.
The tanks are expected to reach initial operating capability by 2027.
The MOD then aims for the tanks to be fully operational by 2030.
It weighs 66 tonnes
It is a joint venture between UK-based BAE Systems and Germany-based Rheinmetall.
Watch: Expert says he’s found the ideal tank weight – and warns Challenger 3 is too heavy.
What new technology will the Challenger 3 tank feature?
The new tank will be fully digitised
It will be a 24-hour, all-weather tank
It will have a top speed of 60mph
Its main gun will fire high-velocity ammunition capable of travelling at faster speeds and have an increased range
Ammunition will be programmed from a new turret equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun
The upgraded tank will feature a new automatic target detection and tracking system
They will have thermal long-range cameras and an upgraded engine with a new cooling system and suspension
Watch: Last October, Forces News took a look at the Challenger 3’s new cutting-edge digital periscope
The destroyer Delbert D. Black returned to its homeport in Mayport, Florida, Sunday following a three-month surge deployment to support theaircraft carrier Gerald R. Fordcarrier strike group.
Delbert D. Black departed Naval Station Mayport on Dec. 1 and joined the Ford in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to bolster deterrence efforts in the region following Hamas’ attack on Israel in October.
The brief underway tested a new concept by U.S. Fleet Forces Command head Adm. Daryl Caudle to bolster deployed strike groups with fresh destroyers and cruisers that the strike group did not initially deploy with.
The Delbert D. Black relieved the destroyers McFaul and Thomas Hudner that originally deployed with the Ford carrier strike group in May, allowing them to head home.
Ford and its strike group returned to the states last month.
“The seamless integration of Delbert D. Black into ongoing operations established proof of concept for sustained and continuous combat operations at sea, which [enhances] the surface Navy’s ability to fight and win,” Cmdr. Adam Stein, commanding officer of Delbert D. Black, said in a Navy news release.
While with the Ford, the Delbert D. Black conducted escort, screening, and warfare commander functions with the strike group. Additionally, it integrated with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and participated in joint training evolutions with the Italian navy.
“We were ready for anything on this deployment, but still maintained high morale while answering our nation’s call,” Master Chief Keona Johnson, the warship’s command master chief, said in the Navy release. “This crew was able to maximize qualifications and become stronger warfighters.”
The Ford originally got underway from Naval Station Norfolk for its first full-length deployment in May, where it primarily operated in the European theater.
But weeks before its scheduled return, the Pentagon ordered the carrier to head to the eastern Mediterranean amid escalating tensions in the region and to provide support to Israel. Amid concerns of a broader conflict erupting, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered multiple extensions to the carrier’s deployment.
The Ford finally returned to Norfolk in January, concluding 239 days at sea. The ship is now undergoing a maintenance availability focused on software upgrades and other general touch-ups.
HMS Queen served British and Allied escort forces in protecting the vital convoy supply effort across the North Atlantic in 1944, and in the Pacific campaigns in 1945. On 4 May 1945 aircraft of Queen’s 853 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, took part in Operation Judgement, the last air-raid of the European war, at Kilbotn, Norway. After hostilities ceased, she was converted to a troop carrier and used to bring British forces back from the Far East, before being returned to the United States at Norfolk, Virginia, 31 October 1946.
On arrival, Queen was decommissioned by the Royal Navy and was taken over by the U.S. Navy. In excess of Navy needs, CVE-49 was slated, in December, for disposal; struck from the Navy Register in July 1947, sold to the N.V. Stoomv, Maats, Nederland Co., Amsterdam, Netherlands and pressed into merchant service as Roebiah on 29 July 1947 (renamed President Marcos in 1967 and Lucky One in 1972). She was scrapped in Taiwan in 1972.
The ship was assigned to the Harwich Force during the war, but saw little action as she was completed less than a year before the war ended. Briefly assigned to the Atlantic Fleet in early 1919, Curacoa was deployed to the Baltic in May to support anti-Bolshevik forces during the British campaign in the Baltic during the Russian Civil War. Shortly thereafter the ship struck a naval mine and had to return home for repairs.
After spending the rest of 1919 and 1920 in reserve, she rejoined the Atlantic Fleet until 1928, aside from a temporary transfer to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1922–1923 to support British interests in Turkey during the Chanak Crisis. Curacoa was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1929.
In 1933, Curacoa became a training ship and in July 1939, two months before the start of the Second World War, she was converted into an anti-aircraft cruiser. She returned to service in January 1940 and, while providing escort in the Norwegian Campaign that April, was damaged by German aircraft. After repairs were completed that year, she escorted convoys in and around the British Isles for two years. In late 1942, during escort duty, she was accidentally sliced in half and sunk by the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, with the loss of 337 men.
HMAS Stalwart conducts a dual replenishment at sea with HMA Ships Brisbane and Toowoomba (Source: Defence)
Naval power is now front and centre for the Albanese Government, with an emphasis on urgency, distributed firepower and numbers set to transform the Royal Australian Navy, but has the Surface Fleet Review truly delivered this and what are we now getting?
Providing bountiful avenues for trade, a source of food and ancient foundation myths, from the earliest days of human settlement in Australia, the ocean has played an ever increasing role in the fabric of everyday Australian life.
In contemporary life, this has only become more important, as the largest island continent on the planet with a maritime jurisdiction of in excess of 8 million square kilometres, Australia, as a nation and a people, is defined by its relationship with the ocean.
The importance of this link to the regional and global maritime commons has only become more importance over the last half decade, as COVID and mounting global tensions off the back of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas which have now spread to engulf the Middle East.
Further compounding this is Australia’s uneasy relationship with the historic concept known as the “tyranny of distance” which is now rapidly being replaced by a “predicament of proximity”.
The rise of this “predicament of proximity” has only been accelerated by the rapid and unprecedented expansion of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy under Xi Jinping’s ambitious and aggressive new reimagining of Communist China.
Recognising this fundamental strategic and tactical reality, the Albanese government’s Defence Strategic Review has moved to reshape the Royal Australian Navy into a flexible, future-proofed force capable of meeting the tactical and strategic operational requirements placed upon the service by the nation’s policy makers.
At the core of this renewed emphasis, the review states, “Australia’s Navy must be optimised for operating Australia’s immediate region and for the security of our sea lines of communication and maritime trade”.
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