HMAS Perth Conducts Successful Series of Gunnery Exercises

Fresh from winning the Gunnery Prize during RIMPAC 2012 in Hawaii, HMAS Perth has followed up with a successful series of gunnery exercises for Exercise KAKADU 2012.

In company with KRI Frans Kaisepo¸ JDS Shimakaze and HTMS Rattanakosin, Perth fired its five inch gun down range in the North Australian Exercise Area.

“The Phased Array Radar and Upgraded Combat System continue to perform extremely well”, Gunnery Officer Lieutenant Dave Smith said.

“It was also good to know that the ship’s performance at RIMPAC was not a one-off success and that it demonstrates a strong warfare system and effective teamwork across the ship.”

In addition to surface gunnery exercises, HMAS Perth has been engaged in anti-air warfare, damage control, and helicopter landing activities during Exercise KAKADU 2012.

Many of these evolutions were done in company with allies from the Asia Pacific region including Brunei, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand whose ships also took part in gunnery serials.

Commanding Officer, Captain Mal Wise, was impressed with the execution of the various ships activities during Exercise KAKADU 2012.

“The crew have performed superbly for Exercise KAKADU and we’re looking forward to the final stage which is the freeplay war scenario”, he said.

HMAS Perth will complete Exercise KAKADU before returning home to Fleet Base West in Rockingham, Western Australia.

[mappress]
Naval Today Staff, September 19, 2012; Image: Australian Navy