Amphib exercise explored all options

There is a lot going on in the air, on land and at sea in Exercise Sea Explorer, which is landing on Cowley Beach in North Queensland until June 15.

CAPTION: Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, on board an Australian Army LCM-8 landing craft depart HMAS Canberra for beach landing serials during Exercise Sea Explorer. Story by Captain Dan Mazurek. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester.

The annual Sea Series of exercises is a tiered training program that hones the skills of Australia’s amphibious force, ensuring it is ready now and future-ready.

After last month’s planning exercise Sea Horizon, Exercise Sea Explorer allows nearly 1600 Army, Navy and Air Force elements to rehearse and perfect the intricate process of moving people and materiel from HMA Ships Canberra and Choules to shore.

Exercise Sea Explorer is the amphibious force’s preparation for July’s Exercise Sea Raider in which they will support the broader ADF as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.

CAPTION: Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, transit to an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter on board HMAS Canberra as part of a training serial during Exercise Sea Explorer. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester.

Coordinating the insertion of sailors, soldiers and vehicles – including main battle tanks – by air and sea requires a focused effort to overcome challenges while maintaining safe and effective training.

Commander Amphibious Task Force Captain Leif Maxfield said Army, Navy and Air Force personnel synchronised the complex management of the amphibious manoeuvre, while in the background, the ships’ companies also maintained rigorous internal training and maintenance regimes.

“There is certainly a lot going on,” Captain Maxfield said.

“Sea Explorer is our opportunity to bring our amphibious forces together to achieve initial training goals while ensuring we operate to the highest standards of safety before we pick up the pace on exercise Sea Raider.

“I am continually very proud of the hard work and professional approach of the embarked amphibious forces and crews of Canberra and Choules.”

During Exercise Sea Raider, the focus will shift to tactics and further integration with a company of US marines from Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, a strike company of Royal Marines from Bravo Company, 40th Commando Royal Marines, and a platoon of Japanese infantry from the Amphibious Ready Deployment Brigade.

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