By
LCDR Jo Buchanan and SBLT Phil Parkes
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Arunta’s
Squirrel helicopter lifts a RMN officer from the ship while
Kasturi manoeuvres astern.
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The
3,400 tonne frigate HMAS Arunta (CMDR Brad Wheeler) has taken
part in an important exercise in support of the Five Power Defence
Arrangement (FDPA).
Arunta arrived in Singapore on April 29 to attend briefings for
Exercise Bersama Shield 2004 (BS04).
This was the first of two exercises this year to support the FDPA
between Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom and New
Zealand.
The
second Exercise, Bersama Lima 2004 (BL04), will be held in September.
BS04 commenced in the early hours of May 4 with Arunta sailing
at action stations in company with HMS Exeter, KD Leiku, KD Kasturi
and RNS Victory.
Arunta and Kasturi comprised the opposing Task Force. Stage One
of the exercise involved RAS (fuelling and jackstay), OOW manoeuvres,
NGS, CASEX and ADEX serials involving a multinational air force
of F111s, F16s, F18s and A4s.
There was an opportunity for a Personnel Exchange Program (PEP),
whereby officers and sailors of Arunta and Kasturi were able to
spend 12 hours on “exchange” with the other ship.
Members of the respective ship’s companies were able to learn
and share ideas with their counterparts, especially with respect
to aviation operations, various warfare skills, logistics and
communications.
The FPDA was established between the five countries in 1971, initially
to plan a response to an attack on either Malaysia or Singapore.
These days the FDPA enables the respective militaries to advance
the operational effectiveness of all participants.
