Roaring up north QLD coast

By LS Rachel Irving

	Exercise Sea Lion video clip 1 (Mpeg Video 9.02Mb)
	Exercise Sea Lion video clip 2 (Mpeg Video 7.06Mb)

Army maintainers attach the rotors on their Blackhawk onboard HMAS Kanimbla.

Photo: ABPH Yuri Ramsey

More than 500 ADF personnel have converged on Cowley Beach, north of Townsville for the first amphibious training exercise of the year, Exercise Sea Lion.

Close on the heels of Exercises Ocean Protector and Tasmanex 04, the threeweek Ex Sea Lion is aimed at improving Australia’s amphibious defence capability.

HMA Ships Tobruk (CMDR Nicholas Bramwell), Kanimbla (CMDR Stephen Woodall), Labuan (LCDR Donna Muller), Brunei (LEUT Byron Williamson) and Tarakan (LEUT Willmore) join units from the Army and RAAF, including 3 Brigade, 10 Force Support Battalion and 5 Aviation Regiment.

Sea Lion focuses on the planning and conduct of amphibious operations, particularly embarkation and disembarkation procedures. It is particularly focused towards a triservice approach to amphibious capability.

Sea Lion has an emphasis on planning and loading cargoes, watercraft and helicopter drills and amphibious formations and procedures.

Finishing on March 19, Sea Lion is operating within strict environmental guidelines, as well as safety and risk management constraints.

Sea Lion plays a vital part in testing the ADF’s capability to test and maintain force readiness.

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