Navy and Army train on new ship

The New Zealand Army will be helping the Navy put its newest ship through her paces over the next week with the first integrated trial of HMNZS CANTERBURY’s embarked forces capabilities.

Around 250 soldiers and 50 vehicles, including a number of the Army’s Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) will be loaded onto the ship when she is berthed in Napier this week.

“This is an important activity for the Ship and provides a significant milestone in our plan to build operational capability,” says CANTERBURY Commanding Officer, Commander Tony Millar. “The requirement to take NZDF and coalition personnel and equipment to a port and offload them safely and efficiently will be an important aspect of CANTERBURY’s multi-mission capabilities.”

The ship’s programme is as follows:

Tuesday 18 September to Friday 21 September – Napier Harbour
Testing loading and unloading of troops and equipment

Friday 21 September to Sunday 23 September – Marlborough Sounds
Rehearsing at sea operations

Monday 24 September –
Wellington Harbour
Full tactical offload of troops, vehicles and equipment

The Army will then continue exercises throughout the North Island.