HMNZS Aotearoa Refuels of US Wasp-class Amphibious Ship

04 Agustus 2024

HMNZS Aotearoa refuels US Wasp-class amphibious ship during Rimpac 2024 (photos: dvids, NZ Navy)

Over the course of RIMPAC, HMNZS Aotearoa has played a vitally important role in the exercise by refuelling 13 participating naval vessels.

But their biggest job came recently when the ship was tasked to replenish a U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ship sailing to Asia for an operational deployment.

USS BOXER LHD 4 had just completed a ten-day transit from San Diego to Hawaii carrying Ground Elements of the U.S. Marine Corps 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and V-22 Osprey Tilt Rotor aircraft, a variety of helicopter types, and F-35 jets.

On the transit from the mainland, USS Boxer had conducted numerous aviation serials and both ship and aircraft were in need of refuelling before carrying on across the Pacific.

But when a US Navy tanker suddenly became unavailable for the task, Aotearoa stepped up to the plate and carried out the job with professionalism, care and attention.

And what a job - the 44,000 tonne USS Boxer had to be stationed 45m off Aotearoa’s port beam for 8.5hrs while close to 3,000,000 litres of diesel fuel and 350,000 litres of aviation fuel were pumped across.

Not only was it the longest replenishment Aotearoa had ever undertaken, it was also the largest ship they had replenished since commissioning four years ago.

The opportunity to provide ‘real world’ operational support was a great motivator for the crew and an excellent example of demonstrating the main theme of RIMPAC24 – ‘Partners: integrated and prepared’

(NZ Navy)