On September 20th, Spanish fleet replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’ returned to her home port in Garden Island after a collaboration period with the Australian frigate HMAS ‘Stuart’ and the New Zeeland frigate HMNZS ‘Te Mana’ in east Australian waters during the last three weeks.
During this deployment, the ships carried out numerous activities. The ‘Cantabria’ collaborated with day and night replenishments at sea and participated in anti-air, anti-submarine and asymmetric warfare exercises, as well as many flight operations.
On this occasion, the Spanish Navy ship embarked an Air Unit from the 723 RAN Squadron, made up of two AS350BA ‘Squirrel’ helicopters and a 26-strong contingent of RAN members.
It is the first time a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Air Unit embarks on a foreign warship. Their presence has allowed training and qualification of new 723 Squadron pilots. It has also been an opportunity for the ‘Cantabria’ to train in complex flight operations, as it was the first time the ship operated with two embarked helicopters.
The ‘Cantabria’ set sail again on Tuesday to deploy in the multinational exercise ‘Triton Centenary 13’, prior to her participation in the ‘International Fleet Review’ to be held from the 4th to the 11th of October.
[mappress] Press Release, September 27, 2013; Image: Spanish Navy