Following participation in the initial phases of exercise Talisman Sabre, HMS Prince of Wales arrived at the Australian naval base, HMAS Coonawarra on 23rd July.
RAN navigation pilot on the bridge of HMS Prince of Wales, assisting the ship’s navigator with its port entry.
The new 322m-long Kuru Wharf at HMAS Coonawarra was opened in May 2024.
Commodore Howard (Maritime Component Commander, Royal Australian Navy) meets COMUKCSG on the Bridge Wing of HMS Prince of Wales.
Once ashore, Capt Will Blackett and Cdre James Blackmore were joined by dignitaries for a ‘Welcome to Country’, a ceremony of the Larrakia people to welcome visitors to their land as the traditional land owners and Darwin region custodians.
The other ships of the UK-led Carrier Strike group previously visited Darwin for a short break and logistic stop but are back at sea for exercise Talisman Sabre, which continues until 4th August. HMS Prince of Wales has been at sea for just over 3 weeks since leaving Singapore on 30th June.
At the start of the exercise on 18th July, the UK group met up with the George Washington Carrier Strike Group for a PHOTEX and dual carrier operations in the Timor Sea.
Pictured are USS George Washington, USS Robert Smalls, USS Shoup, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Dauntless, RFA Tidespring, HMAS Sydney, HNoMS Roald Amundsen and HMCS Ville de Québec. An USN flypast was conducted, consisting of F-35C, F/A-18E, F/A-18G and E-2D Hawkeye aircraft. Photographed from a MV-22 Osprey.
On 17th July, RFA Tidespring was replenished with 6,000 cubic meters of fuel by US Military Sealift Command tanker MT Badlands Trader, which provides logistic support to the USN in the region. The RFA has a long history using commercial tankers to top up its naval tankers at sea.
Great portraits of HNoMS Roald Amundsen.
HMCS Ville de Quebec.
HMAS Sydney detached from the UK carrier Strike Group on 19th July.
ESPS Méndez Núñez pictured with her half-sister HMAS Sydney (Photo Royal Australian Navy).
Spanish frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez has temporarily detached from the Carrier Strike Group and is forward deploying towards Japan. She is not participating in exercise Talisman Sabre for political reasons.