Minor War Vessels Concentrate Off Darwin

[buglerbilly]

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued June 3, 2010)

The Minor War Vessel Concentration Period (MWVCP) sea phase has commenced in waters off Darwin, with five Royal Australian Navy ships practising general mariner, surface and amphibious warfare skills.

During the week-long activity, HMA Ships Glenelg, Pirie, Bundaberg, Balikpapan and Betano will work focus on collective competencies including boarding operations, tactical manoeuvring, and seamanship.

“Darwin based 2nd Cavalry Regiment., with an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), General Motor Vehicle and three Unimogs, will join Navy in an amphibious landing, simulating a non-combative evacuation operation. The activity will practise relocating to a place of safety non-combatants threatened in a foreign country,” said Commander Mine Warfare, Hydrography and Patrol Boat Force, CAPT Vaughan Rixon.

“Maritime interception skills will also be honed with boarding operations practiced on the merchant ship MV Sapphire Bay with aerial support provided by a Navy Augusta A109E helicopter from 723 Squadron.

“Gunnery shoots will also be conducted against towed air targets.

“This exercise is an important part of Navy’s ongoing training program, aimed at enhancing its capability to protect Australia and its interests,” CAPT Rixon said.

MWVCP is part of ongoing efforts to improve ADF capability to protect Australia and its interests, and enhance interoperability within the ADF and with the many agencies involved in the border protection task. It is a carefully planned activity and will be conducted within strict environmental, safety and risk management constraints.

-ends-

[Gubler, A.]

Be interesting to see how the 25mm Typhoon performs in anti aircraft. It’s a very accurate weapon compared to the old 40mm L60 used by patrol boats.

The Sapphire Bay is a specially modified fishing boat that can resemble either a FFV or SEIV and has a special flotation system that enables it to be flooded and still stay afloat. It is used for VBSS (boarding) training by the RAN under contract from the owner operator.

[buglerbilly]

Aforesaid TYPHOON firing.............


HMAS Glenelg conducts a 25mm anti-aircraft firing serial, right astern of HMA Ships Bundaberg and Pirie during Minor War Vessels Concentration Period.


HMAS Glenelg at anchor near Beagle Point, Darwin during Minor War Vessels Concentration Period 2010.

[Unicorn]

I used to love MWV FCP.

The atmosphere was a lot more relaxed than the major war vessel FCP and it was conducted with a lot of humour.

Hell, I got to con a Fremantle Class in a man overboard exercise. The order from the wreckers over the radio was to find the 'least experienced' person on each vessel and report back who was going to be in command for the serial.

The skipper looked around, his eyes fell on me and he got the biggest shit eating grin.

Everyone else was reporting recruit seaman, cooks, etc, he reported that he was handing over to the PR guy, which resulted in a "say again over" from the chief wrecker.

He repeated it, emphasising that he was handing over to the Navy PR guy, while the rest of the bridge crew pissed themselves laughing, partly at what he was saying and partly at the expression on my face. The laughter must have been heard over the radio, because the response was "why the hell not, go for it".

Fortunately, I had watched the serial several times so I didn't frak it up too much. We weren't the fastest, but we weren't in the bottom half of times either, so we were all satisfied.

Me, I was just relieved at first, later I was pretty stoked.

Unicorn