Gascoyne and Diamantina in Japan for mine-countermeasures ex

The Royal Australian Navy has deployed a maritime task group to join the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and United States Navy off the coast of Japan for the trilateral mine-counter-measures Exercise Hyuga Nada.

FILE PHOTO (May 2019): HMAS Gascoyne leaves Tuvalu on completion of its engagement with the Funafuti community as a part of Task Group 637.1. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

Hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the exercise will run from 14–24 November and will involve a Royal Australian Navy command task group for the first time.

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the exercise would demonstrate a shared commitment by Australia, Japan and the United States to increase interoperability and deepen the sophistication of trilateral exercises.

“Deploying mine hunters HMA Ships Gascoyne and Diamantina to Japan for the second consecutive year builds upon last year’s inaugural Exercise Hyuga Nada,” Minister Reynolds said.

“The trilateral relationship complements our strong and effective bilateral defence relationships with the United States and Japan, and maximises joint efforts to support our shared interest in the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.”

HMA Ships Gascoyne and Diamantina are deployed as part of the Maritime East Asia Deployment and are scheduled to return to Australia in December.

 

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