Anti-submarine skills tested
Anzac Class frigates, Collins Class submarines and combat aircraft from Australia and New Zealand participated in a major exercise off Western Australia that served to enhance interoperability and anti-submarine warfare skills.

TOP GUN: HMAS Ballarat fires her gun during ASWEX-06 in the Indian Ocean off Perth. Photo: ABPH Quentin Mushins

LOOK OUT: SMN Simon Hockley on watch aboard HMAS Ballarat during the Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise off the coast of Western Australia. Photo: ABPH Quentin Mushins

Volume 49, No. 22, November 30, 2006

By Michael Brooke

Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise 2006 (ASWEX-06) was conducted off the coast of Perth November 13-24 and specifically tested the ASW capabilities of the RAN and the RAAF as well as our NZ counterparts.

ASWEX-06 featured four warships, two submarines and helicopters from the RAN and RNZN, and Long-Range Maritime Patrol aircraft from the RNZAF.

ASWEX-06 has allowed all of the anti-submarine warfare skills from the operator to command level to be honed and practised, as well as providing the opportunity to evaluate collective ADF and NZDF war-fighting skills in a challenging environment.

The first week involved pre-planned, but increasingly complex anti-submarine and air-warfare serials. In the second week ASWEX culminated in a 36-hour WAREX involving a harbour breakout, opposed transit, and choke-point operations before culminating in sea control/sea denial phase.

The exercise was observed by the CN VADM Russ Shalders AO, CSC, RAN, who embarked in both HMAS Ballarat (CMDR Mal Wise CSC, RAN) and HMAS Anzac (CAPT Ian Middleton).

Maritime Commander Australia RADM Davyd Thomas told Navy News that ASWEX provided the fleet with an opportunity to hone its core war-fighting skills in ASW.

“Training such as ASWEX-06 means the men and women operating the Navy’s warships and submarines and Air Force aircraft are among the best prepared, trained and supported service personnel in the world,” he said.

The importance of US Allies enhancing their ASW skills was stressed by the US Pacific Commander ADM Gary Roughead when he visited Australia this year to draw attention to the proliferation of advanced diesel-electric boats by several navies in the Asia-Pacific.

ASWEX-06 featured HMA Ships Anzac, with a S70B Seahawk helicopter embarked, Ballarat, Sirius and HMA Submarines Farncomb and Sheean.

Two RNZN Ships, HMNZS Te Kaha, with a SH2G Sea Sprite helicopter embarked, and HMNZS Endeavour, and a RNZ Air Force P-3K Orion maritime patrol aircraft, also participated in the exercise.

The commanders of HMA Submarines Sheean (CMDR Geoff Wadley) and Farncomb (CMDR Mark Hammond) said as hostiles they would do everything in their power to evade detection by the RNZAF’s submarine-hunting P-3C Orions – not that it would be easy.

Most of the ships and submarines will also be involved in the follow-on Principle Warfare Officers Sea Assessment Week the following week, where the PWO students complete their demanding six-month course and are formally assessed.

PWO Sea Assessment Week from November 27 to December 1 aims to provide an assessment for officers aiming to complete the RAN’s gruelling PWO Course.

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