The realistic and complex nature of the Royal Australian Navy’s annual Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASWEX) gave Australian and Japanese participants the ideal environment to hone operational skills and build capabilities.
Commander of the Australia Maritime Task Group Captain Darin MacDonald praised all units involved for their dedication to practising and perfecting skills during the week-long activity off Australia’s east coast.
“From ships to helicopters to submarines, to Royal Australian Air Force aircraft and a Japanese frigate, all involved were focused on honing our best practice and practising real-world tactics,” Captain MacDonald said.
“ASWEX gives us the annual opportunity to let our enabled surface and air forces detect, track and counter sub-surface threats, while concurrently exercising our submarine force in its ability to remain undetected by surface and airborne sensors.
“I commend and thank all units and their personnel for putting their all into this activity for the improvement and development of the Australian Defence Force.”
This year’s exercise involved four Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships, two RAN submarines, four RAN MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) frigate JS Kumano with its embarked helicopter.
‘I have enjoyed having submariners embarked on board Brisbane to give their perspectives.’
Commanding Officer HMAS Stuart Commander Aaron Scott spoke of the perspective obtained by working as a task group.
“ASWEX has been a great exercise for Stuart’s ship’s company to go from working as a single-ship to working in a task group environment,” Commander Scott said.
“It has allowed us to elevate our thinking – not only in the warfare domain, but also in contested logistics, engineering support and aviation operations too.”
Commanding Officer HMAS Brisbane Commander David Mason commented on his personal highlight of the exercise.
“I have enjoyed having submariners embarked on board Brisbane to give their perspectives. This has enabled us to get into the mind of a submarine captain or an operator to improve our skill sets to defeat the submarine mission,” Commander Mason said.
“ASWEX has tested all aspects of anti-submarine warfare, including all the enabling functions such as planned maintenance and task group logistics, which is vital in enabling us to conduct our mission in a contested environment.”
A key logistics provider for the exercise was the auxiliary oiler replenishment ship HMAS Supply, led by Commanding Officer Commander Kylie Turnbull.
‘ASWEX has been a great exercise for Stuart’s ships company to go from working as a single-ship to working in a task group environment.’
Supply operated three out of five of its replenishment stations during ASWEX, transferring diesel fuel, aviation fuel, frozen food and ammunition to other task units, while its MH-60R helicopter contributed to the anti-submarine warfare effort.
“As the task group’s underway logistics hub, we worked 24/7 to overcome the challenges of weather, navigation hazards, equipment failure and fatigue to ensure that we could provide the task group with what they needed, when they needed it, to enable them to win the anti-submarine warfare fight,” Commander Turnbull said.
For JMSDF participants on board Kumano, the key takeaway was an understanding of different naval operations and communication protocols.
For them, the exercise reiterated the importance of effective coordination and flexibility for successfully executing complex and high-tempo anti-submarine warfare operations.
Commanding Officer Kumano Commander Okumura Kenji observed a benefit brought by ASWEX that transcended the level of operations.
“During ASWEX, on Anzac Day, we conducted a joint Japan-Australia memorial service for the fallen with Australian Navy personnel on board our ship,” he said.
“The very moving ceremony showed how Japan and Australia are strongly connected not only in operations and logistics but also in spirit.”
