Divers from the navies of U.S. and Australia met in Perth, Western Australia, for a round of mine counter measure drills recently.
The United States Navy explosive ordnance disposal Mobile Unit Five flew from Guam to Perth to join Australian Clearance Diving Team Four and Australian Mine Warfare Team 16.
The training took place in the pristine surrounds off Garden Island, where the teams shared valuable experience and equipment during autonomous underwater vehicle and unmanned surface vessel evolutions bolstering their deployable mine counter-measures capabilities.
Officer-in-charge of Expeditionary Reconnaissance Clearance Team 4, Lieutenant Beau Mulraney , said that the two weeks of training provided the opportunity to enhance interoperability with regionally based US Forces.
“Team 4 already have a strong rapport with our US counterparts and the training allowed the teams to conduct tactical development of various techniques, tactics and procedures in addition to fostering international engagement,” Lieutenant Mulraney said.
“It also provides an excellent opportunity to stress and develop our tactics and procedures in consultation with the US Navy.
“Mobile Unit Five have indicated a strong desire to establish an ongoing relationship where this training is conducted with Australian Clearance Diving Teams,” he said.
Commanding Officer Mine Warfare Team 16 Lieutenant Commander Ryan Carmichael said that international engagement opportunities were key.
“This tactical training activity was designed to enhance individual and collective skills, and to develop techniques and procedures in very shallow water mine counter-measures scenarios,” Lieutenant Commander Carmichael said.
“The team’s underwater vehicles capability implementation crew have been embedded within the US Mobile Unit element throughout the activity to gain practical experience in the planning and conduct of underwater vehicle operations,” he said.