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RAN, US ships prepare for Talisman Sabre
By Graham Davis
Volume 50, No. 10, June 14, 2007 |
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COMING IN: The USS Juneau comes under the Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, top, and the 3,400 tonne HMAS Ballarat, below, pivots on her anchor while turning to berth at the Sugar Wharf. Both ships are taking part in Talisman Sabre 07.
Photos: Graham Davis |
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It was ‘all hands on deck’ for the preparation phase of Talisman Sabre, a bilateral exercise with the United States. Three US Navy vessels were joined by HMAS Ballarat in the Brisbane River on June 6.
RAN planners anticipated the mass arrival and brought in extra berthing parties from as far away as HMAS Cerberus to meet the demand.
The 23 person contingent from Cerberus was joined by a number of soldiers from the surrounding area, and personnel from the ADF School of Signals at Oakey, Queensland. Fifteen RAN reservists who live in the Brisbane region were also called upon to assist.
The first vessels to arrive were large amphibious ships USS Tortuga and Juneau.
The two vessels were berthed at adjoining wharves at Hamilton.
Ballarat (CMDR Mal Wise) was the next to arrive, berthing at the Sugar Wharf, after turning on her anchor.
The final arrival was the US landing helicopter dock ship USS Essex.
Essex was restricted to a berth closer to the entrance of the Brisbane River due to her deeper draft.
Talisman Sabre is due to complete on the July 2.
The RAN commitment to Talisman Sabre 07 includes HMA Ships Newcastle, Ballarat, Parramatta, Sirius, Kanimbla, Manoora, Tobruk, Balikpapan, Betano, Wewak, Bundaberg, Norman, Yarra, Melville, Shepparton and Benalla; Submarine Rankin; and MSAs Bandicoot and Wallaroo; Clearance Diving Teams 1 and 4; and helicopters from 723, 816 and 817 Squadrons.
US ships involved include the flagship of the Commander 7th Fleet, USS Blue Ridge, the USS Kittyhawk carrier strike group (Commander Task Force 70’s flagship), amphibious vessels US Ships Essex, Juneau and Tortuga and associated escorts, cruisers and destroyers.
For more information see http://www.defence.gov.au/exercises/ts07/default.htm. |
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