Royal Australian Navy Hails Success Of Extensive ASW Exercise

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has just concluded ASWEX — its largest and most complex antisubmarine warfare exercise in more than a decade.

As per a recent Defence Australia press statement, the month-long manoeuvres took place off the West Australian coast and involved six warships, four MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force Poseidon P-8 aircraft, and a Collins-class submarine, as well as more than 1,300 Defence Force personnel.

Among the surface ships taking part were Anzac-class RAN frigate HMAS Stuart, Bay-class Landing Ship Dock HMAS Choules and air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart, the lead ship in its class, which joined the task group straight from a three-month deployment.

Commander Australian Maritime Task Group Captain Darin MacDonald commented: “The task group has done really well. This event has shown that with some investment in time and opportunity, many task group skills can be brought back to a high level, very quickly.”

He added: “They are focused, lethal, and ready – practising not just for the sake of training, but for the real challenges that lie ahead.”

The month-long exercise took in a wide range of drills including helicopter and air space operations, sea-boat personnel and stores transfers, officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres, ship handling, station-keeping, gunnery exercises, and maritime joint fires.

• You can read more details on the Defence Australia website