Head west for action

Corporal Chris Jones, of No. 11 Squadron, shows Midshipman Ben Hammond a sonobuoy ready to be loaded on to an Orion at RAAF Base Pearce. Two AP-3Cs from No. 92 Wing, 10 Hornets from No. 77 Squadron, four F-111s from No. 1 Squadron and more than 200 support personnel have converged on the west to provide air support to the Navy’s annual Principal Warfare Officers Sea Assessment Week and Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise. The Orions will also take part in the Fincastle competition.

Photo by CPL Gary Dixon

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Corporal Chris Jones, of No. 11 Squadron, shows Sub-Lieutenant Stephen Conville how a sonobuoy is loaded.

Photo by CPL Gary Dixon

RAAF Base Pearce is experiencing a hive of activity this month as it plays host to a large contingent of Air Force personnel and aircraft taking part in two military exercises and the Fincastle anti-submarine warfare competition off the coast of Western Australia.

Ten F/A-18 Hornets from No. 77 Squadron, four F-111s from No. 1 Squadron, two AP-3C Orions from No. 92 Wing and more than 200 support personnel have converged on the west to provide air support to the Navy’s annual Principal Warfare Officers Sea Assessment Week and Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise, held in the Western Australia Exercise Area from November 10-21.

To provide a realistic air environment to the exercises, the fast jets and maritime aircraft are conducting anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike and air defence operations in coordination with the Navy.

Following the exercises will be Fincastle 2003 – the annual anti-submarine warfare competition held between the maritime patrol squadrons of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Two Nimrod aircraft from Kinloss in Scotland, two Aurora aircraft from Winnipeg in Canada and a P-3K from Auckland in New Zealand will take on our two AP-3Cs from 92WG from November 21-26 in a test of their submarine tracking skills.

A parallel competition for maintenance crews will also be held. This is the first year the prestigious international competition – which provides an opportunity for professional and social interaction between maritime personnel from allied forces – has been hosted by a non-maritime base.

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