Naval Exercises - Operation Kakadu

[gf0012-aust]

Last Update: Tuesday, July 26, 2005. 9:00am (AEST)
Top End gears up for Operation Kakadu

The Top End will play host to ships from six navies for the next two weeks as Operation Kakadu gets under way in waters north of Darwin.

Over the next two weeks, the seventh Operation Kakadu will involve forces from around the Asia Pacific in a series of exercises testing their navy and air force personnel on procedures and tactics for maritime warfare.

Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas will officially open the operation on board HMAS Kanimbla at Darwin's Fort Hill Wharf this morning.

Frigates from Indonesia and Malaysia will join two patrol boats from Papua New Guinea, two Singaporean Corvettes and aircraft from Singapore and New Zealand.

The Indian, French, Korean and Thai navies will also send observers.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1422176.htm

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no word yet on which vessels will be attending

 

[Aussie Digger]

From Australia: HMAS Adelaide (FFG), HMAS Ballarat, (ANZAC frigate) HMAS Kanimbla (LPA) HMAS Westralia (Underway replenishment) HMAS Warnambool (patrol boat) HMAS Farncomb (submarine), 3 Sea Hawks, 6 F-111's operating from RAAF Scherger, 8 F/A-18's operating from RAAF Tindal, 10 Hawk 127's and a single AP-3C from RAAF Darwin.


Foreign vessels: Indonesian Frigate: KRI Fatahillah, Malaysian Frigate KD Jebat, Papua New Guinean Patrol Boats, Tarangau and Dreger, Singapore Corvettes RSS Valiant and Valour. A Singaporean F-50 and RNZAF P-3K maritime patrol aircraft are also involved.

3 Pel-Air and one Raytheon target towing aircraft will also be involved.

All info provided from www.defence.gov.au.

Looks like a fairly big shindig with a bit of live fire thrown in for good measure...

 

[Supe]

I might venture into the city and take some pics of the ships.

 

[alexsa]

From Australia: HMAS Adelaide (FFG), HMAS Ballarat, (ANZAC frigate)

The RAAF commitment seems quite reasonable but only two surface combat units for such an exercise seems a bit light on. This being siad the RAN are pretty busy at the moment.

 

[Aussie Digger]

The RAN has just completed Tasmanex, plus Talisman Sabre within the last several months plus with it's ongoing operational commitments in the Gulf and with Operation Relex, and HMAS ANZAC's deployment to Europe, the RAN has been positively flat out this year so far.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kakadu is the last big ex for the RAN this year...

 

[alexsa]

the RAN has been positively flat out this year so far

No argument with that. It is still a pity that a few more units (even FPBs) could not participate but as you indicated the funds and resources (ships and manpower) will only stretch so far.

 

[ronny_and_ira]

G-Day guys, one of my mates left the RAN 5 years ago,and he told me that they only do live missile tests every 2 years, and the rest of these live fire exercises are mostly shooting drums and ballons with the .50's does this sound correct? if it is correct is it due to bugets and costs etc...

Last Update: Tuesday, July 26, 2005. 9:00am (AEST)
Top End gears up for Operation Kakadu

The Top End will play host to ships from six navies for the next two weeks as Operation Kakadu gets under way in waters north of Darwin.

Over the next two weeks, the seventh Operation Kakadu will involve forces from around the Asia Pacific in a series of exercises testing their navy and air force personnel on procedures and tactics for maritime warfare.

Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas will officially open the operation on board HMAS Kanimbla at Darwin's Fort Hill Wharf this morning.

Frigates from Indonesia and Malaysia will join two patrol boats from Papua New Guinea, two Singaporean Corvettes and aircraft from Singapore and New Zealand.

The Indian, French, Korean and Thai navies will also send observers.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1422176.htm

-- 0 --

no word yet on which vessels will be attending

 

[gf0012-aust]

G-Day guys, one of my mates left the RAN 5 years ago,and he told me that they only do live missile tests every 2 years, and the rest of these live fire exercises are mostly shooting drums and ballons with the .50's does this sound correct? if it is correct is it due to bugets and costs etc...

It probably depends on which one of our allies is decommissioning and then organising a SINKEX. That tends to point to the americans as they are more likely to have something available.

it can also depends on the exercises being run. eg Talisman Sabre 05 had a SINKEX and a HULKEX attached to it.

IIRC the USN has had 2-3 this year already.

One of the other aussies (RAN) in here is in a better position to say, but it all depends on whether he visits and sees this post.

 

[Aussie Digger]

I know RAN major surface combatants conducted live firing with their main guns during Tasmanex this year, plus 2 major RAN units (An ANZAC class and an FFG) live fired their main guns during Rimpac 04. I also believe one of the ANZAC class (HMAS Parramatta maybe?) Fired an ESSM during RIMPAC 04.

RAN frigates and RAAF Orions also fired Mk 46 torpedo's during RMPAC 04...

The RAN doesn't fire missiles or torps very often, but gunnery seems to be conducted fairly often, at least every year... If this is one of the RAN's last major ex's this year, there may be a bit of a "yippee shoot" at end of ex, where budgeted ammunition is fired off in a large scale shoot to end the year...