Navy ship working with Defence partners

New Zealand’s Multi Role Vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY along with ships from the Australian and French Defence Forces, is taking part in Exercise Sea Lion in the Townsville and inner Great Barrier Reef areas off Australia’s eastern coast.

And the ship is becoming adept at amphibious sea training and operations, says the ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tony Millar.

The exercise between the three navies is designed to test the ships’ interoperability and basic amphibious skills. It involves the transfer of personnel, vehicles and equipment from one ship to another, and onto and off beaches in the area.

Commander Millar says he is proud of the skills his ship’s company have developed so quickly, considering the exercise is the first time virtually all of them have been involved in amphibious operations.

“Exercise Sea Lion is the first of a number of amphibious operations training activities we will be undertaking. The biggest challenge for us now is turning what we have been learning in the exercise into practice to ensure we are a meaningful addition to a multinational amphibious task group.”

Captain Pete Laver, who commands the Australian Defence Force’s amphibious capability, has based his operations team on board CANTERBURY for the exercise.

“Amphibious operations training is vital for everyone taking part, as these ships could be called on to perform a range of tasks - from disaster relief to offensive operations in the event of war. We are learning about the many capabilities of this ship, and while it is early days, thing are looking very positive.”

ENDS