Navies prove strength in numbers

Warships from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the US have joined forces to conduct a series of high-end warfighting activities for five days.

CAPTION: HMAS Brisbane conducts maritime manoeuvres with ships from Japan, South Korea and the US during Exercise Pacific Vanguard. Story by Lieutenant Sarah Rohweder. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Brisbane is working alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Makinami, the South Korea Navy destroyer Wang Geon and the United States Navy destroyer USS Rafael Peralta.

It is part of Exercise Pacific Vanguard, which is enhancing relations between the partner nations, boosting interoperability and refining navy-to-navy skills.

Commanding Officer Brisbane Commander Aaron Cox said the exercise reaffirmed confidence in the four nations’ ability to work together as a combined force in an increasingly challenging strategic environment.

“Exercise Pacific Vanguard demonstrates Australia’s commitment to working with regional partners to address shared challenges, including our region’s maritime security,” Commander Cox said.

“Operating as a single Task Group led by Wang Geon, we will be conducting high-end training serials, including air, surface and sub-surface warfare, missile firings and ship-to-ship communications.

“By continuing to work with like-minded partner forces, Navy contributes to the stability that underpins prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

Australian submarine HMAS Rankin will also participate in the exercise, which is in its fourth iteration.

Normally held in the vicinity of Guam, it is the first time the exercise is being conducted in Australian waters.

Makinami, Wang Geon and Rafael Peralta will make a brief contactless port visit to Fleet Base East, Sydney, at the end of Pacific Vanguard before participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre.

Brisbane will participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre alongside HMA Ships Ballarat, Canberra, Choules, Melville and Parramatta off the coast of Queensland.

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