HMNZS CANTERBURY
- Exercise SEA LION
By LT Elaine Lovett RNZN
In mid-February CANTERBURY deployed to Australia to participate in Exercise SEA LION, an amphibious exercise with the ADF. The exercise took place to the north of Townsville, in the Herald Island and Cowley Beach Training Areas, off the Queensland coast. The RAN participants were HMAS KANIMBLA, and six Landing Craft (Heavy) HMA Ships BALIKPAPAN, BRUNEI, TARAKAN, LABUAN, WEWAK and BETANO, along with Clearance Diving Team One and a RAN Sea King helicopter. The Australian Army contributed two LCM8s, two LARC-Vs, (amphibious vehicles capable of driving on both land and water) two Blackhawk helicopters and embarked troops from 3 Brigade with a number of support battalions.
Phase one, SQUADEX, was five days long and was focused on rehearsing various evolutions before the arrival of the embarked forces the following week.
- LOLO (Lift On, Lift Off) operations were practised, which involves vehicles being lifted from the cargo deck by crane and loaded onto waiting landing craft.
- Ramp marriages with LCH’s & LCM8’s were also rehearsed. The first ramp marriage between a LCH and CANTERBURY took place during this week, which proved to be a success.
- Finally, the embarkation and disembarkation procedures of troops and their equipment were rehearsed.
The following week was Exercise Sea Lion. CANTERBURY embarked elements from 3 RAR and various support units including Cavalry, Logistic and Transport units. The week consisted of long days and very early starts, as the tides were the governing factor as to when landing craft could beach. On the morning of the main assault the Infantry deployed from the ship to the beach via helicopter with the support elements and vehicles close behind in landing craft. CANTERBURY remained busy throughout the day changing between stern door marriages, rafting exercises and flying operations, in order to offload all Embarked Forces and vehicles.
The day of the withdrawal proved to be very busy for the Operations Room as we were given the duty of Primary Control Ship (PCS). CANTERBURY’s Ops Team were responsible for the movement of all vessels including ensuring the first landing craft was on the beach at 0300 to start the process of bringing back Embarked Forces to both CANTERBURY and KANIMBLA. After the withdrawal was complete and post-exercise discussions had been held, all ships weighed and proceeded, in order to head to either Cairns or Townsville.
We headed south back to Townsville in order to berth at 0600 on Friday 6 March to offload all of our Embarked Forces and vehicles prior to an unscheduled early sailing - to escape from the newly formed Tropical Cyclone Hamish off the North Queensland coast.
Apart from the excellent opportunity to be involved in an amphibious exercise, Exercise Sea Lion also provided valuable in-company time with many sets of Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres and Screenplays being carried out for the benefit of the Bridge team.
Amphibious Exercise a Complete Success
For CANTERBURY, Exercise Sea Lion was aimed at developing interoperability with Australian amphibious ships and landing craft as well as elements of the Australian Army. Overall the exercise provided a valuable experience for the ship’s company of CANTERBURY as well as giving the ship the chance to work closely with equipment of the ADF. It proved to be a rewarding and successful exercise that is a key step in developing CANTERBURY’s amphibious sealift capability.
The CO of CANTERBURY, CDR Jim Gilmour said, “Exercise Sea Lion 2009 was a complete success with CANTERBURY fully involved with Amphibious Sealift operations - vehicles and personnel were transferred to shore without port services being available. A key objective of the exercise from the NZDF perspective has been the internal integration of Navy, Army and Air Force personnel as well as the external integration with ADF units.
"CANTERBURY has achieved both objectives completely to my satisfaction with all of our personnel working closely as a team and CANTERBURY operating very effectively as an element (within this exercise) of the Australian Amphibious Task Group”.
Vice Regal Salute on Sydney Harbour
Prior to CANTERBURY returning to NZ, she visited Sydney, which was preparing to host a special week of naval celebrations – it is 150 years since the formation of the Royal Navy’s Australia Station.
HMAS SYDNEY led 15 RAN ships through Sydney Heads as part of an historic Fleet Divisions ceremony on 13 March. The ships converged on Sydney Harbour for a Fleet Review by the Governor of New South Wales, after six weeks of exercises off the east coast, as part of the 2009 Fleet Concentration Period.
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO, was the guest of honour, inspecting the fleet from onboard the Admiral’s Barge along with the Commander Australian Fleet, RA Nigel Coates AM, RAN. Ships participating in the Fleet Review included HMA Ships SYDNEY, DARWIN, NEWCASTLE, ANZAC, BALLARAT, STUART, MANOORA, KANIMBLA, SUCCESS, SIRIUS, DIAMANTINA, HAWKESBURY, YARRA, NORMAN and GASCOYNE along with the Collins-class submarine HMAS FARNCOMB and HMNZS CANTERBURY.
Her Excellency Professor Bashir, who is an honorary Commodore in the Navy, was acknowledged with a traditional Cheer Ship by sailors as the Admiral’s Barge moved past each warship. Fleet Divisions also saw a flypast by RAN Sea King, Sea Hawk and Squirrel helicopters, including a Sea Hawk helicopter carrying a large Australian flag.
“This has been a historic day for our Navy and one I’m sure all those involved have felt privileged and proud to be part of”, RADM Coates said. “Seeing so many of our Navys ships out there on Sydney Harbour was an impressive sight and it was great to see so many other pleasure craft out on the water to watch and support us.”
The next day, 14 March, Sydney city centre was a sea of white with 4,600 sailors marching in a Freedom of Entry parade. The parade formed at The Rocks and Circular Quay, where the Royal Guard was inspected by the Governor-General, before the parade stepped off to march along George Street, into Liverpool street and to finish at Darling Harbour.
CANTERBURY sailed from Sydney in company with HMAS KANIMBLA and our ship returned to Devonport naval base on Friday 20th.
Variety Bash!
On Saturday 28 March over 40 Variety Bash vehicles, including a dozen quirky fire engines and a bubble-blowing car descended on the naval base through Devonport - all in the aid of charity.
The spectacular convoy drove through the gates of PHILOMEL in order to board CANTERBURY. The amphibious ship then sailed across the harbour to Princes Wharf, where the Variety Bash vehicles departed for their charity run the length of NZ.
CANTERBURY stayed alongside to host a public open day that afternoon. The Navy Band’s Dixie-land combo entertained the crowd during the open day, which was a success, attracting 1200 visitors.
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