Sydney and Stuart cross wakes in South China Sea

Two Royal Australian Navy ships rendezvoused in the South China Sea before continuing their regional presence deployments across the Indo-Pacific.

CAPTION: HMAS Stuart conducts maritime training operations in the South China Sea as part of a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Petty Officer Matthew Lyall.

HMAS Sydney and HMAS Stuart conducted training together in international waters, including anti-submarine warfare exercises, aviation operations, boarding party training, cross-deck professional exchanges and ship-handling manoeuvres.

Sydney sailed from Fleet Base East on 9 June. before participating in Exercises Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and Pacific Dragon, both conducted in the waters off Hawaii from June to August.

She then transited the Pacific Ocean to Guam for training activities and engagements with allies and partners during Exercises Pacific Vanguard and Nichi-Gou Trident before sailing through the South China Sea.

Stuart sailed from Fleet Base West on 27 August, also on an ADF regional-presence deployment.

Stuart sailed north from Western Australia to Malaysia, conducting port visits and international engagements before rendezvousing with Sydney in the South China Sea.

CO Stuart Commander Aaron Scott said it was great to work with Sydney. 

“We’ve been working with allies and partners in the region throughout the deployment thus far, which has been great, but there is nothing like hearing another Aussie accent on the radio,” Commander Scott said.

“We got to test our advanced boarding skills, anti-submarine warfare skills and undertake professional education sessions for our engineers. 

“The Sydney team is first-rate and it’s been a pleasure to work with them.”

CO Sydney Commander Hayden Jenkins said the interaction demonstrated Australia’s maritime presence, capability and readiness.

“Sydney has been operating as part of a distributed and coordinated maritime task group during this regional presence deployment,” Commander Jenkins said.

“The opportunity to operate alongside Stuart within the South China Sea has reinforced the task group’s maritime presence, professionalism and commitment to regional security.

“By reconnecting with Stuart at sea, Sydney has been able to enhance its warfighting skills, build experience and demonstrate its capability.

“Importantly, by conducting these activities together, Sydney has shown that the ship remains ready to respond to security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.”

Commander Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones said the deployments of Sydney and Stuart reinforced Australia’s reliability as a security partner and its commitment to transparency.

“In line with the 2026 National Defence Strategy, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Stuart are contributing to Australia’s near-persistent presence in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening our understanding of the operating environment and enhancing our ability to respond alongside trusted regional partners,” Vice Admiral Jones said.

“By operating together, we strengthen interoperability, readiness and collective security, demonstrating our shared commitment to a region that is secure, stable and resilient in the face of increasing strategic competition.”

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