Sept 06 - Exercise Bersama Padu
The sounds of battle resonated around the South China Sea as the New Zealand Defence Force launched air and sea training exercises with its Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) partners. Exercise Bersama Padu is a major joint and combined FPDA Field Training Exercise and Command Post Exercise focusing on the operational and tactical levels of warfare.
The New Zealand contingent included TE KAHA and ENDEAVOUR and the nine-man operational dive squad, whose focus was primarily on mine laying and disposal exercises.
Hosted by Singapore, Exercise Bersama Padu ran from September 4 - 22 and focused on the operational and tactical levels of warfare. It included simulated battle scenarios as well as mine laying and recovery operations. Navy, Army and Air Force personnel from New Zealand worked alongside the 25 ships and 78 aircraft from the Australian, British, Malaysian and Singaporean defence forces.
TE KAHA’s Boarding Party exercised Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIOPS) with other FPDA navies onboard MV KENDRICK, a chartered vessel hired specifically for practice for a joint forces boarding team made up of personnel from New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia. The scene was set onboard MV KENDRICK, with the stashing illegal weapons, prepping the crew on how to act, and other aspects to test the skills of the Boarding team.
Photo: The combined boarding team
New Zealand Joint Forces Commander Rear Admiral Jack Steer said the aim of Exercise Bersama Padu was to ensure the FPDA partners could work together effectively when called upon. “Without joint operations like these our defence forces could not hope to work together effectively in a time of need. Bersama Padu gives us exactly the type of opportunity we need”
The event enabled defence personnel to gain experience in new and challenging situations and allowed New Zealand show off its capabilities and commitment to security in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.