Flexing high-seas firepower
High-end maritime warfare was on the agenda recently during Exercise Keris Woomera.
CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and Indonesian Armed Forces personnel conduct live-fire serials as part of Exercise Keris Woomera on HMAS Adelaide. Story by Lieutenant Commander Gary McHugh. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.
Personnel in HMA ships Adelaide and Stuart, the embarked Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and Australian Amphibious Force (AAF) took part in an intensive period of maritime force integration training.
During the training, the AAF dispatched a joint pre-landing force to Stuart in preparation for upcoming beach operations as part of Keris Woomera.
The busy schedule included TNI personnel training with some of the ADF’s small-arms weapons, such as the EF88 Austeyr rifle, .50 calibre machine guns and the Blaser tactical 2 sniper rifle.
Sailors from Adelaide and Stuart honed their skills in the use of the five-inch and 25mm guns.
CAPTION: HMAS Adelaide sails ahead of HMAS Stuart during a five-inch naval gun firing as part of Exercise Keris Woomera. Photo by Leading Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips.
The task group also conducted a number of cross-decking evolutions, whereby personnel experienced life on another vessel, at least for a few hours.
AAF Targeting Officer Captain Carys Hodgson said it was particularly memorable.
“Stepping foot on an Anzac-class frigate for the first time and meeting the operators on the other end of the communications circuit was a great experience,” Captain Hodgson said.
“It was very different to my experience over the past few years working in landing helicopter dock ships such as Adelaide.
“The high-seas live-fire exercise, which was coordinated by the AAF’s Supporting Arms Coordination Centre, was a wonderful opportunity to see weapon systems in action.”
Keris Woomera, a component of the ADF’s wider Indo-Pacific Endeavour, is a bilateral amphibious exercise and represents the largest combined joint activity in recent history.
The exercise will feature air, maritime, amphibious and follow-on land operations, and a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief evacuation scenario.
Exercises such as Keris Woomera highlight the ongoing cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, which was strengthened by the recent signing of the Defence Cooperation Agreement.
CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment and Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) personnel conduct range clearance drills prior to live fire serials as part of Exercise Keris W00mera on HMAS Adelaide.
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