[Australia-New Zealand]: Exercise Ocean Explorer 2004

[Owen]

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EXERCISE OCEAN EXPLORER 2004​

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Objectives:	Develop Navy's task group capability and to operate a number of ships under one commander and focus primarily on sea control operations which can include the full spectrum of maritime security operations from diplomacy and international engagement at one end, through to humanitarian and disaster relief, constabulary and peacekeeping operations, and at the upper end of the spectrum, warfighting. To test anti-air and anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike and interdiction, maritime advance force operations, maritime special operations and command and control.
Date:	30 October 2004 - Present
Location:	Tasman Sea, Jervis Bay, Jervis Bay Territory, Beecroft Weapons Range, HMAS Creswell, HMAS Albatross
Status:	Ongoing

BELLIGERENTS​

Australia Royal Australian Navy Australian Army New Zealand Royal New Zealand Navy Royal New Zealand Air Force

COMMANDERS AND LEADERS​

Vice Admiral David Johnston (Chief of Joint Operations, Australia) Vice Admiral Russ Crane (Chief of Navy, Australia) Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer (Commander Australian Fleet) Major General Mike Hindmarsh (Special Operations Commander Australia) Rear Admiral David Ledson (Chief of Navy, New Zealand) Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott (Chief of Air Force, New Zealand)

UNITS INVOLVED​

Royal Australian Navy: Fleet Command: Surface Combatant Group: HMAS Newcastle (Adelaide-class Frigate, 176x Regular Personnel) HMAS Parramatta (Anzac-class Frigate, 163x Regular Personnel) HMAS Macquarie (Anzac-class Frigate, 163x Regular Personnel) HMAS Tobruk (Bay-class Landing Ship, 158x Regular Personnel) Australian Army: Special Operations Command: Special Forces Group: 2nd Commando Regiment: 1st Platoon, B Company (40x Special Forces) 3rd Platoon, B Company (40x Special Forces) Royal New Zealand Navy: Maritime Component Command: Naval Combat Force: HMNZS Anzac (Anzac-class Frigate, 163x Regular Personnel) HMNZS Wellington (Anzac-class Frigate, 163x Regular Personnel) Naval Support Force: HMNZS Endeavour (Endeavour-class Tanker, 50x Regular Personnel) HMNZS Canterbury (Canterbury-class Multi-Role Vessel, 78x Regular Personnel) Maritime Air Command: 2 Squadron (7x Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprites, 27x Regular Personnel) Royal New Zealand Air Force: Air Component Command: No. 4 Wing: No. 16 Squadron (Training) (6x Aermacchi MB-339s, 18x Regular Personnel)

 

[Basedcnt]

0130 19 October
HMNZS Anzac would make port at Naval Base Devonport 12 days before the end of her Operation Territorial Watch deployment, and 6 before CTG1 would depart. She would do this in order to conduct maintence, restock and let the crew have a few days of R&R before leaving Devonport again.

1000 25 October
HMNZ Ships Anzac, Wellington, Endeavour and Canterbury would depart Naval Base Devonport with full complement, who would be well-rested and in good spirits. The group of New Zealand vessels would recieve the designation Combined Task Group 1. All ships would have all sensors operationally ready, with EMCOM procedures practiced throughout the 14 hour sail (RF -> QF). One NH.2A aircraft would be constantly in the air with Patrol loadout, conducting ASW, ASuW and targeting interoperatability training with all ships in CTG1. If the NH.2A on air watch had to stay airbourne for a considerable amount of time, HMNZS Endeavour would be able to refuel the helicopter while in-flight. CTG1 would steam at 14 knots the entire trip.

HMNZS Endeavour would be loaded with her maximum amount of fuel, 7,381 tons/7500 tonnes, and would carry TA.1A spare parts and weaponry in the 4 standard size containers on her deck. In her hanger Endeavour would have a single NH.2A helicopter.

HMNZS Canterbury would have on-board the maintence personnel for the 6 RNZAF TA.4A, 50 personnel from 3SQN, plus 10 LMPSV-T vehicles from 3SQN. In the cargo hold, Canterbury would have 20 containers each with spare parts and weapons for the TA.1A and NH.2A aircraft, plus another 5 containers with spare parts for the vessels in CTG1, and another 5 with weapons including 16 RIM-7P Sea Sparrows to reload the ANZAC's Mk41. She would also be carrying 4 NH.2As in her large hanger space. Her navigation RADAR would be active 24/7.

HMNZS Anzac and Wellington would have their full regular weapons loadout, plus helicopter and ship personnel. All weapon and sensor systems would be operational. The ANZACs would have all sensor systems in passive mode apart from the Sea Giraffe RADAR and the navigation RADAR, which would be active 24/7 to monitor the air and sea space around CTG1. All weapons systems would be on 'Standby', except for the 127mm main gun wich would be off. All decoys would be active and operational, and the Nulka and MASS systems would immediatly be deployed by the 9LV Combat System in the case a missile threat is detected. Mark 36 SRBOC would be crew-deployed due to its interference with the ship's systems.

2330 28 October
CTG1 would enter Australian waters at 35°39'27"S 154°49'12"E. They would adhere to any sensor or weapon restrictions, as well as all maritime laws and safety regulations.

0900 29 October
On the 30th of October, 6 TA.1As of 16SQN, RNZAF, would depart RNZAF Base Woodbourne, making a stop at Takaka Aerodrome to refuel before the long flight to HMAS Albatross. They would be equipped with 2 fuel tanks each. Their on-board systems would be fully operational and active, including the laser system and RWR.

1030 29 October
Upon entering Australian air space, the 6 TA.1As would follow all Australian aviation rules and ATC instructions in order to land at HMAS Albatross.

Simultanously, CTG1 would be positioning itself 15km off Jervis Bay area, and would keep in contact with Australian authorities and the ADF through secure and open comms channels.

Lieutenant Easty would be assigned as the Liasion Officer between CTG1 and the RAN's contribution to Exercise Ocean Explorer. He would be aboard HMNZS Canterbury, and would await near 1 of the 3 NH.2A aircraft assigned to the Australian frigates.

Owen

 

[Owen]

At Fleet Base East in Sydney Harbour, HMAS Newcastle, Parramatta, Macquarie and Tobruk would load up a full complement of personnel and supplies. HMAS Tobruk would load up with 80 members of the 2nd Commando Regiment who are based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney. The ships would exit Sydney Harbour into the Tasman Sea for a short 150km journey heading south down the New South Wales coastline towards Jervis Bay. They would be moving solely within the QF square.

Once they reached the entrance to Jervis Bay they would notice the Royal New Zealand Navy ships on the radar.

"New Zealand ship Canterbury, you are authorised to proceed to navigate your task group into Jervis Bay."

Point Perpendicular Lighthouse, operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, would be at the bottom of the Beecroft Peninsula and would be a navigational aid for ships to enter Jervis Bay and the Royal New Zealand Navy would be advised to use it for a visual approach. The lighthouse was the first lighthouse in New South Wales which was built of precast concrete blocks.

(just some p*rn for Odinson)
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Once inside Jervis Bay, the vessels would be allowed to dock in turns at HMAS Creswell which was located on the southern end of the bay in the Jervis Bay Territory.

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The captains of the vessels, once they had disembarked at HMAS Creswell, along with the Commander of HMAS Creswell, would give a warm welcome to their New Zealand counterparts, shaking their hands. The New Zealand Defence Force personnel would not be issued a Special Purpose Visa by the Australian Border Force on arrival as they were all New Zealand citizens which granted them freedom of movement into Australia. All would be issued with a Special Category Visa instead for indefinite stay.

As the area was pretty open and public-facing, with the public able to view the ships from the shoreline inside Jervis Bay, the Australian Federal Police from the Protection Operations Group along with military police from the Royal Australian Navy based at HMAS Creswell would ramp up patrols in the area around Jervis Bay. They would work with local NSW Police at Sussex Inlet and St Georges Basin and local Australian Federal Police officers from Jervis Bay Territory Policing and would patrol an area between Currarong and Murrays Beach in the JBT constantly, looking for threats to the exercise. NSW Police would deploy OPV Nemesis and a couple of other police boats from the Marine Area Command in Sydney and Wollongong to patrol the waters off the coast of Jervis Bay.

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[Basedcnt]

CTG1's commander, Captain Rory Zichy-Woinarski, would be aboard HMNZS Canterbury when the Australian message came through.

The Communications Operator would have the message spoken into his headset, and direct the Captain to listen. The Captain would then order the reply, "Thank you, (name of the ship that sent the message). Wilco. Request rotary-wing landing spot at Jervis Bay. We are also sending the naval helicopters. Over."

3 NH.2As from Canterbury would take off, with Patrol loadout and 3 maintenance personnel, and fly the distance to the Australian group, and land 1 heli on each frigate, 1 Adelaide-class guided missile frigate HMAS Newcastle, and the 2 ANZAC-class helicopter frigates HMAS Parramatta and Macquarie.

At the same time, CTG1 would change into a line formation, with Canterbury at the front and Wellington the rear, and start steaming at 10 knots towards the lighthouse indicated by the Australian authorities. Once within 5 kilometers of shore, the group would slow to 4 knots and deploy 4 RHIBs and a clean NH.2A with the Captain (or Commander CTG1), the CO of Canterbury, the Surface Warfare Officer of Anzac and the Air Warfare Officer of Wellington. The helicopter would fly to, and land at, the location provided by Australian authorities. The 4 RHIBs would have 4 personnel each, all looking for FOD in the water and for natural obstacles, as the New Zealand Group hadn't been provided depth maps of the bay.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"You will be able to land at HMAS Creswell on the parade ground. It's about 125 metres by 150 metres, so certainly a few could land on there to onload and offload passengers. For a more intense operational environment, Jervis Bay Airfield will need to be used. Over." They would radio back to the Canterbury.

As the Seasprites landed at the parade ground at HMAS Creswell the Commanders of HMAS Creswell and the ships would welcome their New Zealand counterparts. Royal Australian Navy flight deck marshalls would guide the aircraft onto the flight deck. HMAS Tobruk would also be able to take another helicopter.

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[Basedcnt]

HMNZS Canterbury's Communications Operator would send back, "Recieved. Will send one times rotary wing to land on Creswell's parade ground. Out."

Just before lift-off, the NH.2A from Canterbury would inform the Australian Navy personnel at HMAS Creswell about their intent to land there, based on prior information provided by the RAN group. The helicopter would then land on HMAS Creswell's parade ground, and the 4 occupants would disembark and the aircraft would power down.

3 Sprites would land on the 3 frigates in the RAN task force. They would power down and the all personnel would disembark the helicopter. The New Zealand pilot would request that the NH.2A be moved into the hanger of the ANZAC or Adelaide-class frigate. This is because the helicopter from HMNZS Wellington would be incoming with sling-loaded maintenance equipment in a short amount of time, and would require the helipad to deposit the load on to each ship. HMAS Tobruk would not recieve a NH.2 due to the task force have 1 per ship + 3 extra for the Australian frigates.

Owen

 

[Owen]

The flight deck marshalls would direct the helicopters into the respective hangars of the Newcastle, Parramatta and Macquarie. Meanwhile at HMAS Creswell, the top brass would walk into the mess hall together and would get to know each other and have a few chats over a dinner and some drinks. This would allow the members of the exercise to develop much needed relationships. Royal New Zealand Navy crews would be shown their accomodation at HMAS Creswell, usually used for officer cadets of the Navy, but would be used by the RNZN personnel as the navy decided to send the officers to other schools in Australia to do specialised training (such as the School of Survivability and Ship Safety in Sydney) whilst the exercise was taking place. The personnel would all get a much needed rest after their dinner ready to start the next day with the exercise.

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[Basedcnt]

The NH.2A from HMNZS Wellington would drop equipment on to the flight decks of the 3 RAN frigates. It would then land back on HMNZS Wellington.

The at-shore command personnel from CTG1 would accompany their opposities and make small talk, and have dinner at the on-shore facilities. Commander CTG1 would ask the Commanding Officer of HMAS Creswell how many could be housed at the facility, because he would allow all personnel from HMNZS Anzac to sleep on-shore that night due to their extended traning routine.

Simultanously, HMNZS Canterbury would unload 6 LMPSV-Ts. They would be driven off by Navy personnel to HMAS Albatross, with supplies for the 6 TA.1As that had recently landed. After the half hour drive, the 3 vehicles would unload and take all 12 flight personnel back to HMAS Creswell. The 4 RHIBs would also go back to each ship.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"There's more than enough here Commander." The Commander of HMAS Creswell would say.

"So, what shall we begin with tomorrow? There's plenty of options for how we wish to have this exercise evolve. We could do weapons testing on the Beecroft Peninsula. We could train Australian Special Forces in being able to raid a vessel. We could test our humanitarian disaster response with Canterbury and Tobruk. An array of options." The Commander of the exercise would say.

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[Basedcnt]

"Thank you, they shall come ashore shortly in that case." Zichy-Woinarski would turn to the SFO of Anzac and tell motion him to go. The SFO would depart the mess and radio Anzac from the NH.2A's cockpit, and then come back. HMNZS Anzac would then dock and all personnel would disembark.

Turning back to the Australian exercise Commander, he would say, "I suggest we conduct helicopter-based exercises, including vessel boarding operations, anti-ship operations, ISR sensor tests, and VERTREP procedural exercises."

Wellington's AWO would then say, "We also have the 6 Air Force light fighters at HMAS Albatross, sir. We can co-ordinate with their commander, as they should get here - by car - soon."

Zichy-Woinarski would nod and say to the Australians, "Would you also like to conduct anti-aircraft operations tomorrow, or later in the exercise?"

Owen

 

[Owen]

"I think tomorrow we should conduct the helicopter-based exercises with the exception of vessel boarding, as we want to combine vessel boarding with both air and sea boarding operations involving Special Forces. Then the day after we can conduct anti-aircraft operations using your light fighters and then the day after we can do vessel boarding operations."

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[Basedcnt]

After consulting with his present staff, Zichy-Woinarski would say, "Yes, that is agreed then. My staff and I will modify the OPORD to that end." As he would finish, 3 RNZAF officer instructors, escorted by a New Zealand Navy Warrant Officer, would walk in and greet the New Zealand and Australian commanders. The WO would come up to Zichy-Woinarski, come to attention and announce, "Sir, 3 Air Force officers accounted for. Squadron Leader William, Flight Lieutenant Furneaux and Flying Officer Pihere." The driver would then about-face and leave.

Owen

 

[Basedcnt]

Later that night, after the meeting had concluded, CTG1's command group would meet aboard HMNZS Canterbury and finalise the OPORD for the next day. It would be delievered to shore by 2030.

Owen

EX OCEAN EXPLORER 04 - DAY 1 OPORD

CONFIDENTIAL / PROTECTED​

Operations Area

Weather: Sea State 2, cloudy, low chance of rain

BLUFOR:
New Zealand Ships and aircraft on those ships
HMNZS Wellington, Anzac, Canterbury
3 x NH.2A
Australian Ships and aircraft on those ships
HMAS Newcastle, Parramatta, Macquarie
3 x NH.2A

REDFOR: swapped from BLUFOR as necessary

30 OCTOBER
0400
Commencment of preperation activities.

0550
All participating ships to be restocked and resupplied with (NZDF) Classes 1 through 9 of supplies by this time.

0600
HMNZ Ships Wellington, Canterbury leave port to about 40km off the coast of Jervis Bay at 35°16'08"S 151°11'25"E.

0800
HMNZ Ship Anzac to leave port and rendezvous with HMNZS Wellington and Canterbury. HMA Ships Newcastle, Parramatta and Macquarie to leave port.

0900 - 1630
RNZN and RAN Ships would practise helicopter-related activities, including crossdeck logistical and maintenance support between Australian and New Zealand vessels, anti-shipping operational practises and simulated engagments, anti-helicopter and anti-missile simulated engagments and procedures, VERTREP practises, transport procedures, takeoff and landing procedures, and Airbourne Early Warning / datalink procedures.

1700
All ships to procede back to Jervis Bay, ending Day 1.

1800
Personnel to conduct maintenance of equipment.

1830
HMNZS Anzac to put into port at Jervis Bay and disembark for the night.

2030
Ships to re-stock and re-supply ahead of the exercises the next day. HMNZS Canterbury to transfer 1 x NH.2A to HMAS Newcastle.

 

[Owen]

The next morning the logistics personnel at HMAS Creswell would assist with preparing the RNZN ships for departure out to sea, albeit not very far but still a fair distance. The Australian ships would be prepared for departure to just off the coast of Jervis Bay at 0800 about 2 hours after the RNZN ships would leave. They would await further instructions from their New Zealand counterparts as they would be the ones with the helicopters. The AFP and ADF security elements would remain vigilant around Jervis Bay and NSW Police would continue to patrol the waters off the coast for any security threats though steering clear of the ongoing exercise.

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[Basedcnt]

The helicopters aboard each of the side's ships would take turns in conducting vertical replenishment, transport and quick-stow exercises and procedures on the Australian and New Zealand ships.

This would continue until midday, when the helicopters would be outfitted with missiles and drop tanks. After then, the Australian ships would simulate Harpoon attacks on the New Zealand ships using the NH.1A aircraft's sensors to guide the weapons, and the New Zealand ships would practise anti-helicopter operations in an effort to stop the lock on by the Sea Sprites. Simultanously, the Sea Sprite pilots would practise lock-on and firing procedures with the AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and how to detect and share missile targets with the ANZAC and Adelaide frigates.

For the last few minutes, the pilots would practise landing operations, training the Australian deck crews for the rapid securing of just-landed aircraft.

Owen

 

[Basedcnt]

Owen

 

[Owen]

The Australian crews of the Australian ships would participate in the landing operations and would practice their ability to land aircraft as well conduct vertical replenishment and quick-stow operations. There would be dummy cargo that they would practice loading on and off to the Australian vessels from the New Zealand helicopters and back to the New Zealand vessels. Once the day had concluded, the ships would reanchor in Jervis Bay and the sailors would return to shore and would be granted a few days leave to celebrate Christmas at HMAS Creswell. A giant Christmas dinner would be prepared for the Australian and New Zealand sailors. A Christmas tree and decorations would deck the mess hall of HMAS Creswell. The Royal Australian Navy Band detachment to HMAS Creswell would perform Christmas songs. A few of the sailors at Creswell would participate in the annual Australian Defence Force Christmas video, which would be short few snippets of ADF personnel currently deployed overseas and in Australia wishing all the best for the holidays and to their families.

Crew of HMAS Newcastle decorating their ship in Christmas decorations

Official Christmas message from the Chief of Navy
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[Basedcnt]

Once back in port, the New Zealand sailors would participate in the Christmas celebrations.

The RNZN Commander would ask the Australians if they would still prefer to do the air defence exercise tomorrow. If they would say yes, the New Zealand command group would hand over their Day 2 OPORD to the Australian commander.

Owen

EX OCEAN EXPLORER 04 - DAY 2 OPORD

CONFIDENTIAL / PROTECTED​

Operations Area

Weather: Sea State 2, cloudy, low chance of rain

BLUFOR:
All New Zealand and Australian Ships and aircraft on those ships
HMAS Newcastle, Parramatta, Macquarie, HMNZS Wellington, Anzac, Canterbury
6 x NH.2A

REDFOR: 6 x RNZAF TA.339A

30 OCTOBER
0\500
Commencment of preperation activities.

0720
All participating ships to be restocked and resupplied with (NZDF) Classes 1 through 9 of supplies by this time.

0730
All perticipating vessels (see BLUFOR) to leave port to about 40km off the coast of Jervis Bay at 35°16'08"S 151°11'25"E.

0900 - 1800
4 x RNZAF TA.339 aircraft to take off from NAS Albatross. They would be equipped with 2 x EW/ECM/jamming pods and 4 x fuel tanks. Their goal would be to conduct simulated air strikes against the Australian and New Zealand ships, with weapons similar to the AGM-65 Maverick. The Australian and New Zealand vessels would have to (simulate) defending themselves against such an air attack. The aircraft can use any tactics available. The ships can use any and all active and passive countermesures, including IPDMS/ESSM, Nulka and Phalanx. Once exhausting their fuel, the aircraft would land and refuel. This would occur and repeat until 1800.

1630 - 1800
2 x RNZAF TA.339 aircraft to take off from NAS Albatross. They would have 4 x AGM-65 and 2 x fuel tanks each. They would use Maverick missiles to target decoys deployed by HMNZS Canterbury's helicopters. This would be a live-fire exercise to test the missile's capabilities. They would refuel/resupply and repeat their test until 1800, when they would land.

1800
All ships to procede back to Jervis Bay, ending Day 2.

1830
Personnel to conduct maintenance of equipment.

2030
Ships to re-stock and re-supply ahead of the exercises the next day.

 

[Owen]

As the next phase of the operation would get underway after the Christmas and New Years break, the Australian commander would take charge for the air defence component.

Newcastle, Macquarie and Parramatta would depart Jervis Bay and would go to the designated coordinates. They would hopefully depart with their New Zealand counterparts. Once in position the crew of those ships would prepare for a simulated air attack from the New Zealand "Mackies" as some of the older Royal Australian Navy crew members would call them from the days when the RAAF used to operate this aircraft and that was its nickname. They would prepare a suite of countermeasures and simulated surface to air missiles.

They would wait in silence out in the ocean for the RNZAF aircraft to leave Nowra.

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[Basedcnt]

The New Zealand ships would depart with the Australians and the Kiwi commander would ask his Australian counterpart who wanted to go first in commanding the combined group against the REDFOR aircraft.

Owen