Warships from Australia, Japan, UK and US conduct joint training

Posted on October 19, 2021 at 7:29 PM by

The maritime executive

In one of the largest naval training exercises of its kind, navies from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States multilaterally came together for a four-day training exercise in the eastern Indian Ocean. Fifteen ships coordinated during the exercise.

During the multinational exercise, known as Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) 2021, the Four Marines, the Royal British Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy, engaged in planning, maritime communications operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, live fire events, supply at sea, bridge flight operations and maritime interdiction operations.

Ships and aircraft of the US Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and British Royal Navy in transit in formation (US Navy / MC2 Haydn N. Smith)

“MPX is high-end, multi-domain maritime training at its best,” said Rear Admiral Dan Martin, commander of Carrier Strike Group 1. “The four participating nations have enduring interests in security, stability and the well-being of the Indo-Pacific region. We will continue to refine our collective strengths – speed, accuracy, lethality – to maximize our combat proficiency with our trusted regional partners. “

Elements of the Royal Australian, British, Japanese and US maritime forces regularly operate together in the Indo-Pacific, the US Navy said, saying it was a cooperative approach to regional security and stability. This exercise brings together several allies and partners to strengthen interoperability and increase operations in the Indian Ocean region.

“The US Navy regularly conducts integrated training operations with its international partners to demonstrate our commitment and investment in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Captain Gilbert Clark, Commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1. “In addition To preserve rules based on international order in the world’s maritime heritage, the United States Navy’s unwavering commitment to maritime safety in the Indo-Pacific is essential to international commerce and commerce.

USS Carl Vinson replenishes at sea with Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christian Huntington)

US Navy participants in the exercise included Carrier Strike Group 1, consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, Carrier Air Wing 2, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Champlain Lake, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale, and Fleet Replenishment Oiler Henry J. Kaiser-class USNS Yukon. Collectively, the Vinson group consists of more than 7,000 sailors,

The carrier group is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of ​​operations. This is the first time a CSG has deployed to the 7th Fleet area of ​​operations with the Air Wing of the Future (AWOTF), including the first operational deployment for the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and Navy CMV-22B Osprey.

“Multilateral and bilateral exercises demonstrate our unwavering commitment to our partners and our collective desire to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” said Captain P. Scott Miller, commander of the USS Carl Vinson. “The more we train together, the faster and easier we can come together when our combined strengths are needed. “

The Anzac HMAS-class frigate was part of the Royal Australian Navy. Ballarat and HMAS Sirius.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans, and the British Royal Navy Richmond-class frigate HMS Richmond (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell Lindsey)

“Our continued cooperation with Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States further strengthens our relationships with professional mariners and improves our interoperability,” said Cmdr. Antony Pisani, commander of HMAS Ballarat. “The two Ballarat and Sirius have spent a lot of time deployed to the region this year, and the Maritime Partnership Exercise just adds to the list of excellent Navy-to-Navy activities we have experienced with the United States. “

Participants from the Royal British Navy included Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 21, consisting of HMS queen elizabeth, HMS Defender, HMS Kent, HMS Richmond, FRG Tidespring, FRG Fort Victoria, and USS The Sullivans.

Participants from Japan included the Izumo JS-class multipurpose operation destroyer Kaga, and the Murasame JS-class destroyer Murasame.

In addition to Exercise MPX, the US Carrier Strike Group recently conducted various bilateral exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and three-carrier operations with the Royal Navy’s HSM. queen elizabeth and the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald reaganm

F / A-18E Super Hornet launches the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell Lindsey)

MH-60S Sea Hawk takes off from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mason Congleton)

F / A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mason Congleton)