Australia’s ‘gold standard’ tactical warcraft conference has gone global, with service members from all ‘Five Eyes’ nations and Japan descending on HMAS Watson to participate in the second Australian Maritime Weapons and Tactics Conference (AUSMAR WEPTAC).

Following the output from the inaugural conference at Watson’s future focused Naval Synthetic Warfare Centre in May, international partners were keen to attend the second iteration and join ADF personnel in developing key naval critical thinking skills and practice driving innovation of tactical development.

Director Maritime Warfare Centre Captain Ben Hissink said it was encouraging to see Australia’s partners participate in the second AUSMAR WEPTAC, with 12 more planned during the next four years.

“The fact this conference has already piqued the interest of all Five Eyes members and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in just its second iteration shows that we have created a truly world-class program supporting the development of a verifiable integrated tactical procedure,” Captain Hissink said.

“Our hard-working and dedicated officers and sailors are truly driving innovation of tactical development in Navy, and our allies are taking notice.” 

Commander Shohei Yamaguchi, of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, said the exercise was important to advance understanding and mutual cooperation.

“We are both island nations and our threats always come from the sea and air, so we share the same perspectives, which is why our cooperation is key to maintaining stability and peace in the region,” Commander Yamaguchi said.

'It’s critical to the future because it is a stepping stone. Every step we go, we learn a little bit more, we interoperate a little bit more, we share more ideas and we build common capabilities'

From a Royal Canadian Navy perspective, Lieutenant Commander Sean Milley said it was beneficial to see the thought process play out among allies, who all do ‘the same thing, just differently’.

“It challenges your own head space when you’ve been ingrained to do something a certain way most of your naval career and somebody comes from a different force or country that talks about how they would handle the same situation,” Lieutenant Commander Milley said.

“It changes the way you think about using your own capability.”

Commander Christopher Stolle, of the United States Navy, said being armed with situational awareness of how partner navies think was key to creating a shared mental model, so that in conflict or crisis, forces operate on the same page.

“It’s critical to the future because it is a stepping stone. Every step we go, we learn a little bit more, we interoperate a little bit more, we share more ideas and we build common capabilities,” Commander Stolle said.

The key to the success of AUSMAR WEPTAC is also that it is open to all ranks, bringing a broad spectrum of experiences and ideas.

Able Seaman Zachary Harris said he learnt about the outside capabilities for ships and how they enable navies to provide force.

“I think it’s great for all branches and all ranks to further their own knowledge and have a deeper understanding of organisational awareness to how it affects us and how we’re doing our job,” Able Seaman Harris said.