HMAS Darwin Welcomes Aboard Tiger 80
8 July 2009
HMAS Darwin has welcomed aboard its first embarked flight detachment since 2005 with the arrival of ‘birdies’ from 816 Seahawk Squadron for Tactical Co-ordinator and Sensor Operator training.
For LEUT Dehan Hood and SBLT Sid Raper, the deck landing training Tiger 80 on Darwin as she ‘steamed’ north to Queensland for Exercise TALISMAN SABER (TS09) marked a first in their own careers. The Squadron will also take part in the joint Australian and US Exercise as Darwin’s extended ‘eyes and ears’ during anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare operations.
The clear deck landing serials have given members of Darwin’s own flight deck support a chance to train up with AB Aviation Technician Avionics Paul Geutjes and AB Aviation Technician Avionics Chris Marks from 816 Squadron under the gaze of Flight Deck Marshall PO Aviation Technician Avionics David Hazell and Flight Commander LCDR Darren Murphy.
"The aim of this training is to consolidate crew experience whilst at the same time contribute to the ship’s aviation capability and tasking," said LCDR Murphy.
"Exercises on the scale of TALISMAN SABER not only provide opportunities to conduct training with other nations but also present a backdrop for Navy to evaluate our own mission readiness for combined combat operations with Army and Air Force," said LCDR Murphy.
Darwin’s Commanding Officer, CMDR Christopher Smith, RAN CSM described the posting of 816 Squadron and Tiger 80 on board as a welcome boost to the ship’s own training regime and crew confidence and morale.
"For the first time in four years Darwin’s standing sea fire and emergency party has an opportunity to hone its emergency response to a Crash on Deck Exercise involving an actual aircraft and flight crew," CMDR Smith said.
Darwin will participate in a range of ‘real-time’ surface, sub-surface combat operation scenarios, force escort, live firings and amphibious landing support during TALISMAN SABER 09.
The biennial combined training exercise involving around 25,000 Australian and United States personnel taking place in six Defence training areas across Central and Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory as well as in Hawaii and mainland United States. Maritime forces will be operating in Coral, Timor and Arafura Seas.
