Searching for submarines

Volume 48, No. 23, December 14, 2006

By Michael Brooke

NINE Hornets from 75SQN and four Hawks from 79SQN joined forces with New Zealand P-3s and Australian and New Zealand warships and submarines in two major tri-Service exercises, held off the coast of WA recently.

Air Force assets were a major feature of both the Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise 06 (ASWEX06) and the Principle Warfare Officers Course, held from November 12 out of RAAF Base Pearce.

During the exercise, RAAF and RNZAF aircraft conducted strike and anti-surface missions in support of several Navy ships training off the west coast, which served to enhance Coalition interoperability and strengthen the ANZAC partnership.

75SQN F/A-18s served as ‘Blue Force’ air defence assets tasked with engaging enemy aircraft, played by 79SQN Hawks.

Maritime Commander Australia RADM Davyd Thomas said ASWEX06 enhanced Coalition interoperability while testing the anti-submarine warfare and air defence skills of the participating Navy and Air Force units.

79SQN CO WGCDR Stephen O’Halloran said the exercise provided a valuable opportunity to develop tactics and aircrew proficiency in the maritime strike environment.

During the exercise, Air Force aircraft joined forces with RAN and RNZN Anzac-class frigates in the hunt for rogue submarines being played by the RAN Collins class boats, HMA Submarines Sheean and Farncomb.

WGCDR O’Halloran said the inclusion of Hawks as hostile strike aircraft added an additional threat element to the submarine hunt.

The captains of Sheean (CMDR Geoff Wadley) and Farncomb (CMDR Mark Hammond) said as ‘hostiles’ they were pushed to the limit trying to evade detection by the RNZAF’s sub-hunting Orions.

ASWEX06 was followed by the Principle Warfare Officer’s Sea Assessment Week, which was conducted off the west coast from November 26 to December 1.

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