Australia Completes SEA EXPLORER Amphibious Exercise

16 Juni 2021

Australian Sea Explorer exercise (all photos : Aus DoD)

Australian amphibious force completes exercise

Exercise Sea Explorer has concluded with about 1800 ADF personnel taking part and for the first time the tactical deployment of M1A1 Abrams tanks was exercised in amphibious operations.

The Australian Amphibious Force achieved the milestone at Cowley Beach in North Queensland during Exercise Sea Explorer, the second major activity of the Sea Series suite of exercises.

Commander 1st Division Major General Jake Ellwood said the achievement showed Defence is advancing its warfighting capability in the coastal environment.

“During Exercise Sea Explorer we were able to demonstrate our capacity to project a mechanised combat team onto land from the sea,” Major General Ellwood said.

“Troops rehearsed beach landings with a range of military vehicles, including the M1A1 Tank, using a variety of landing craft and with Australian Army ARH-Tiger and CH-47 Chinook helicopters in support.” 

Embarked in HMA Ships Canberra and Choules, the Australian Amphibious Force conducted wet and dry environmental rehearsals, combat enhancement training and force integration.

Troops trained day and night to familiarise forces with the conduct of amphibious operations.  

Commander Amphibious Task Force Captain Leif Maxfield said the exercise provided a fantastic opportunity to learn and test new skillsets in the amphibious environment.

“The Australian Amphibious Force is a scalable, joint force enhancing the ADF’s ability to achieve the nation’s Defence and maritime strategic objectives and interests throughout the region,” Captain Maxfield said.

“Exercise Sea Explorer enables our soldiers, sailors and aviators to practice a range of procedures and capabilities in complex and challenging scenarios.”

The training will intensify next month on Exercise Sea Raider when the Australian Amphibious Force take the lessons learnt on this exercise, and put them in to practice during a range of realistic amphibious assault and raid rehearsals as part Exercise Talisman Sabre. (Aus DoD)

Exercise explores all options

There is a lot going on in the air, on land and at sea in Exercise Sea Explorer, which is landing on Cowley Beach in North Queensland until June 15.

The annual Sea Series of exercises is a tiered training program that hones the skills of Australia’s amphibious force, ensuring it is ready now and future-ready.

After last month’s planning exercise Sea Horizon, Exercise Sea Explorer allows nearly 1600 Army, Navy and Air Force elements to rehearse and perfect the intricate process of moving people and materiel from HMA Ships Canberra and Choules to shore.

Exercise Sea Explorer is the amphibious force’s preparation for July’s Exercise Sea Raider in which they will support the broader ADF as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.

Coordinating the insertion of sailors, soldiers and vehicles – including main battle tanks – by air and sea requires a focused effort to overcome challenges while maintaining safe and effective training. 

Commander Amphibious Task Force Captain Leif Maxfield said Army, Navy and Air Force personnel synchronised the complex management of the amphibious manoeuvre, while in the background, the ships’ companies also maintained rigorous internal training and maintenance regimes.

“There is certainly a lot going on,” Captain Maxfield said.

“Sea Explorer is our opportunity to bring our amphibious forces together to achieve initial training goals while ensuring we operate to the highest standards of safety before we pick up the pace on exercise Sea Raider.

“I am continually very proud of the hard work and professional approach of the embarked amphibious forces and crews of Canberra and Choules.”

During Exercise Sea Raider, the focus will shift to tactics and further integration with a company of US marines from Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, a strike company of Royal Marines from Bravo Company, 40th Commando Royal Marines, and a platoon of Japanese infantry from the Amphibious Ready Deployment Brigade. (Aus DoD)