NAVY News :: Features

The US Navy has described HMAS Rankin as “a formidable opponent” after her performance in the last major training exercise before the start of RIMPAC.

Rankin (LCDR Steve Hussey) was the centrepiece of Exercise Silent Fury as a “hostile” submarine, pitted against a highly capable US Navy USW task group last month.

The US guided missile destroyers USS O’Kane and USS Paul Hamilton, guided missile frigate USS Reuben James, nuclear submarine USS Key West, Destroyer Squadron 31, six Patrol Squadron anti-submarine P-3C Orion combat crews and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37 united themselves against the Australian “Black Knight”.

“Silent Fury was an excellent opportunity for us to challenge our air crews in our primary mission area of undersea warfare,” said CMDR David Smith, Commanding Officer of the US Patrol Squadron 4.

“Rankin was a formidable opponent and provided unique training opportunities for the entire task force and us,” he said.

“Silent Fury was an outstanding precursor for us as we get ready for RIMPAC.”

The US recognises that the Collins class diesel submarines are superb at exceptionally silent underwater operations.

Rankin took a break from an 18,000 nautical mile odyssey, completing a maintenance period in Pearl Harbour Naval Base prior to the exercise.

The submarine will take part in further operations with the US Navy before returning to Australia in September.

It was a long journey for the Black Knight, having departed Australia in April.

Her first port of call was Jinhae, Republic of Korea, for a quick rest before participating
in Exercise Pacific Reach, an escape exercise off the coast of Korea.

Here the team swapped tales with submariners from across the Pacific Rim and enjoyed some of the local hospitality and cuisine.

The Black Knight became the second Australian Collins class submarine to visit the land of the rising sun, arriving in the naval port of Kure, Japan, in May via the Inland Sea.

While in port the ship’s company was treated to outstanding traditional Japanese entertainment care of host submarine JDS Fuyushio and once again everyone indulged in the delicious local fare.

Rankin also became the first Collins submarine to conduct a goodwill exercise with the Japanese Self Defence Force, dodging typhoons to work with both Japanese surface units and aircraft.

Exercise a pearler for Aussie units

By Graham Davis

For the 850 ADF personnel who took part in RIMPAC 2004 it was “all go”.

The RAN fired a missile and other armaments, the Army conducted amphibious landings and the Air Force carried out anti-submarine sorties.

And these were just part of the action packed program from late June until July 23.

Australia was one of seven nations which took part in the Pacific region’s largest multi-national maritime exercise.

It brought together assets and personnel from Canada, Chile, Japan, Republic of Korea, the US and the UK.

More than 35 surface ships, seven submarines, 90 aircraft and almost 18,000 sailors, airmen, marines, soldiers and Coastguardsmen were involved.

The exercise began with a harbour and land phase in and around Pearl Harbor.

Then it was out in ships, up in planes and out on to the beaches as the exercise proper got under way.

Eight months of hard work by CMDR Mike Noonan and his ship’s company in HMAS
Parramatta paid off with a successful anti-ship missile defence exercise.

Parramatta fired her first Evolved Sea Sparrow missile, discharged her 5 inch gun, deployed NULKA decoys, let fly with .50 calibre machine guns and activated her chaff decoy system.

She has now successfully operated all sensors and weapons in tactically realistic scenarios.

Parramatta also used her boarding parties sending them aboard the Chilean ship Lynch.

HMAS Success (CMDR Mark McIntosh) was also busy with maritime interception operations.

There was a reciprocal boarding between Success and the USS John Paul Jones, enabling the two nations to exchange skills in boarding foreign vessels.

The RAN’s four vessels, HMA Ships Newcastle (CAPT Trevor Jones), Success, Parramatta and Rankin (LCDR Stuart Hussey) conducted warfare exercises, joining battle groups in a warfighting scenario.

AUSCDTONE had a team at RIMPAC and it went aboard the Hobart-built US high-speed catamaran Swift for diving operations with US counterparts.

Meanwhile, a Deployable Joint Force Headquarters - Maritime operated from Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Pearl Harbor, providing logistic and operational support to ADF units deployed to the exercise as well as integrating into multinational command functions.

Eleven specialist RAN and RAAF personnel also embarked in USS J.C. Stennis, USS Tarawa, USS Dubuque and HMCS Algonquin.

CDRE Davyd Thomas, the Deputy Commander of the Combined Task Force and second in command of the exercise, said: “RIMPAC provides the opportunity to practise warfighting skills in a combined forces situation.

“The aim is to improve readiness and efficiency in operating with allies and friends.”

All ships and units were due back in Pearl Harbour on July 23.