The final week of Exercise KAKADU 2014 has commenced with ‘free-play’ that provides participants with the opportunity to test their naval warfare capabilities, with the ships and aircraft divided into opposing fictional ‘Blue’ and ‘Red’ forces. The ‘Blueland’ forces, lead by the Royal Australian N
Royal New Zealand Navy’s amphibious heavy lift ship HMNZS CANTERBURY returned to Devonport Naval Base today. The vessel was deployed for three months during which it took part in Exercise RIMPAC in Hawaiian waters, Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia as well as two trips to Townsville to unload
A search involving boats and aircraft is underway to locate a Pakistani sailor who went missing from Pakistan Navy Ship PNS Nasr in the early hours of 7th September 2014. It is belived the sailor went overboard while the ship was at anchor in Darwin Harbour during Exercise KAKADU 2014. The Austral
Marine Helicopter Crashes in the Gulf of Aden A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) crashed at 2:00 p.m. (GMT), yesterday, at sea in the Gulf of Aden as it attempted to land aboard USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19). HMS Queen Elizabeth Unde
Australian Defence Force members have demonstrated their commitment to supporting regional neighbours in need, as Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia comes to an end. Croix du Sud, which means “Southern Cross” in French, is a multinational military exercise organised every two years by the Fren
The Royal Australian Navy helicopter squadron New Squadron 725 (NUSQN 725) has sent another nine Hellfire Missiles off the rails of the MH-60R Seahawk Romeo Maritime Combat Helicopter during a major missile firing exercise in Jacksonville, Florida. The Australians took part in Exercise Grey Fox, t
The participants of the KAKADU exercise from the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions have completed the first sea phase of the Royal Australian Navy’s largest maritime warfare exercise. Occurring off the coast of Darwin from 25 August to 12 September 2014, eight ships and 26 aircraft from Austra
As Australia’s largest naval warfare exercise for 2014, KAKADU is providing an important opportunity to hone and exchange knowledge for Australia and fourteen coalition nations working together on a variety of air defence, anti-submarine and surface warfare serials. Five of the participating natio
On Tuesday 2 September 2014, eight ships of the coalition Task Force defended themselves against 11 opposition aircraft as a part of an air defence exercise for KAKADU. The ships faced threats from a range of aircraft and had to respond to a simulated use of long range and short range missile deploy
Over the weekend, the ship’s company of HMAS Stuart, weighed anchor to mark the start of the sea phases of Exercise KAKADU 2014. Stuart led the ‘Red Force’ Task Group 628.2 out of Darwin Harbour, before conducting Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres with members of the Command Task Group. HMA Ships Ar
At 0900 hours on Sunday 31 August, HMAS Sydney took the lead of ‘Blue Force’ Task Group 628.1, consisting of JS Hatakaze from Japan and BRP Ramon Alcaraz from the Philippines, sailing in formation from Darwin Harbour to kick off the sea phases of Exercise KAKADU 2014. Exercise KAKADU is focused on
Before the sea phases of Exercise KAKADU 2014 kicked off, teams from HMAS Stuart and BRP Ramon Alcraz took the opportunity to conduct additional joint training to exchange expertise and develop skills in boarding operations. The training was conducted under the watchful eye of Petty Officer Chris
The KAKADU 2014 fleet has sailed from Darwin to conduct major maritime warfare serials in the North Australian Exercise Area including gunnery, air defence, flying operations and more. The eight-strong fleet of warships includes the Royal Australian Navy’s HMA Ships Sydney, Stuart, Arunta and Newc
In preparation for Exercise KAKADU 2014 , HMAS Sydney and Japanese Navy Ship JS Hatakaze conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) en route to Darwin 22-24 August 2014. Throughout the time ‘in company’ together, the ships conducted Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres (OOWMANS), Replenishment at Sea Approa
