By Graham Davis
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LSET
Robin Elkington inspects Manoora’s CWIS during Tasmanex
04.
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Photo:
ABPH Brenton Freind
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More
than 2000 sailors, soldiers and airmen from two nations have been
put to the test in Tasmanex 2004.
The exercise ranged for ten days from the southern NSW and Victorian
coastlines out in Bass Strait and King Island.
Involving personnel from the RAN, Royal New Zealand Navy, the
Australian Army, the RAAF, and the RNZAF, the purpose was to further
hone the skills learned during Exercise Ocean Protector, and enhance
the interoperability of the two navies.
The New Zealand Navy was the organiser of this year’s exercise.
Evolutions involved submarines, mock attacks by airforce and contractor
aircraft, officer of the watch drills and MOBEXs.
The RAN committed warships Manoora (CMDR Martin Brooker), Canberra
(CMDR Stuart Mayer), Newcastle (CAPT Trevor Jones), Parramatta
(CMDR Michael Noonan), Success (CMDR Mark McIntosh), Dechaineux
(LCDR Simon Rusiti), Gascoyne (LCDR Dean Schopen) and Waller (LCDR
Mark Potter) to the exercise.
New Zealand sent her two Anzac class ships Te Mana and Te Kaha
and her fleet oiler Endeavour.
The Navy’s 816 Squadron dispatched three Seahawks while Success’
Sea King flight was involved.
The RAAF’s 81 Wing launched F18 Hornets while 78 Wing dispatched
Hawks and 82 Wing some F111s.
No 92 wing with Orions based in South Australia was also involved.
Some P3K Orions from No 5 Squadron of the RNZAF crossed the Tasman
while contractor Pelair supplied jets to act as “hostiles”.
The Seaprites carried by the New Zealand Anzacs were also heavily
involved. “We formed into two opposing groups,” CAPT Peter Leschen
the task group commander of the Blue Group of ships, told Navy
News.
“I had Canberra, Parramatta, Te Mana and Endeavour in my group.
“Captain Tony Parr of the New Zealand Navy led the Orange Group
with Newcastle, Success and Te Kaha.
“Manoora, Gascoyne and Dechaineux were additional participants.
The submarine put both groups to the test along with the aircraft.”
CAPT Leschen said the exercise also provided the opportunity to
hone the task group command concept.
“Ocean Protector is an exercise where the program is serialised
while Tasmanex is a free flowing exercise. battle in Tasmanex
