Two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) vessels have finished nine days of maritime warfare training with four nations during ANNUALEX 2021. HMA Ships Brisbane and Warramunga joined the United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Canadian Navy and German Navy in the Philippine Sea to practice maritime communications, flying operations, replenishments at sea, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare.
Commander of the Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Mark Hammond, said ANNUALEX was an excellent example of positive navy-to-navy cooperation for the RAN. “Navy’s thorough program of engagement with our partner nations was key to Brisbane and Warramunga’s success during ANNUALEX 2021,” Hammond said. “We worked closely with each of the participating nations, integrating our ships into the exercise which highlighted the importance of our enduring commitment to cooperating with our regional partners.”
Commanding Officer of HMAS Brisbane, Commander Aaron Cox, said ANNUALEX 2021 had bolstered the ties between navies. “By working together to refine our common maritime skills and tactics we also reaffirm our shared values and commitment to a stable Indo-Pacific,” Cox said. “I thank Japan for hosting a great training event and we look forward to sailing with the United States, Canada, and Germany again.”
HMA Ships Brisbane and Warramunga are two of seven RAN major fleet units to conduct deployments this year and are expected to return to their homeports in December.
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