Defence ties
between Australia and Papua New Guinea were strengthened during Exercise
Paradise in waters off Cairns.
Two Royal
Australian Navy heavy landing craft, HMA Ships Labuan and Tarakan, spent a week
at sea with two PNG Defence Force patrol boats,
HMPNG Ships Moresby and Rabaul.
Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Bundaberg also contributed to the
exercise while in transit to border protection operations.
HMAS Labuan L-128
heavy landing craft (photo : RAN)
Lieutenant
Commander Steve Woodman, Commander Minor War Vessel Sea Training, said the
annual exercise is an important opportunity to develop teamwork between our two
nations.
“During
Paradise, our vessels undertook a range of exercises that became progressively
more challenging and tested the seamanship and mariner skills of all
participants,” LCDR Woodman said.
HMAS Tarakan
L-129 heavy landing craft (photo : Aus DoD)
“We started
with a valuable harbour phase which included a number of desktop forums. The following week we commenced the sea phase
and conducted a range of evolutions including coordinated patrols and combined
maritime surveillance operations, safety of life at sea, search and rescue
exercises and a spirited amphibious operation.
HMPNGS
Rabaul P-01 patrol boat (photo : wcpfc)
“The RAN and
Papua New Guinea Defence Force Maritime Element have a long history of close
cooperation. By training together in
exercises like Paradise we build confidence and improve our ability to conduct
joint operations to protect our common maritime interests.”
HMAS Bundaberg
ACPB-91 (photo : foter)
Exercise
Paradise ran parallel to Exercise Triton Thunder 02-12, a bi-annual exercise
which tests the preparation of smaller units in the RAN Fleet to meet their
mission of fighting and winning at sea.
(Aus DoD)
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