After 20 days of increasingly intensive operations on land, air and sea, Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 2015 has come to a close with an official ceremony on Monday held on board the United States Navy Flagship USS Blue Ridge in Brisbane.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Darren Chester said the Australia-US bilateral military exercise marked a significant milestone in building the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) combat training, readiness and interoperability.
“This is the first time the exercise has taken place simultaneously in two strategically important locations,” Mr Chester said.
“The Bradshaw Field Training Area, south west of Darwin in the Northern Territory and the Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton in Queensland have again proven their worth in terms of mid intensity and high end training.”
One of the key activities was a large amphibious landing by Australian soldiers from 2RAR and US Marines at Fog Bay near Darwin. The Royal Australian Navy’s Bay Class Landing ship HMAS Choules worked alongside the US Navy’s amphibious force to deliver Australian and US personnel onto the beach.
“By all accounts this operation has been a tremendous success,” Mr Chester said.
We have learned a great deal about how to operate alongside the US Navy and the US Marine Corp as a result of what was a textbook amphibious operation.
“The feedback from the local community has also been very positive.
“Shoalwater Bay near Rockhampton again showed its value as a Defence training area. Australian Army units exercised alongside the US and New Zealand Military at Shoalwater Bay to test and adjust their training and procedures.
“Defence remains committed to training at Shoalwater Bay in the future,” Mr Chester said.