HMAS Manoora Participates in ANZAC Amphibious Training
16 November 2008 By LEUT Victor Lee
HMAS Manoora (CMDR Paul Mandziy) has participated in numerous amphibious exercises during 2008 but by far the most significant was EX JOINT KIWI 08. This important exercise was the inaugural New Zealand led amphibious training activity aimed at enhancing amphibious interoperability between the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Manoora commenced the exercise in Lyttelton, New Zealand, on May 11 where 137 New Zealand Army personnel were embarked from the NZDF Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles (QAMR) as well as 12 Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs), 16 trucks and other assorted vehicles. Force Integration Training (FIT) commenced with gusto following embarkation, which was observed by Major General L.J. Gardiner, ONZM, NZ Chief of Army, and Major General R.R. (Rhys) Jones, Commander Joint Force New Zealand.
Commanding Officer of HMNZS Canterbury (CMDR A. Millar, RNZN) embarked as the Commander Amphibious Task Force (CATF) bringing with him the majority of Canterbury’s Command Team as well as desk officers from HQ JFNZ. Commanding Officer QAMR (Major A. Dunn, NZDF) also joined Manoora, in his capacity as the Commander Landing Force (CLF), as well as New Zealand Army Public Relations personal to cover the event.
The exercise officially commenced the following day with Manoora sailing for the ‘at sea’ component of the FIT in the approaches to Lyttelton. The FIT involved driver vehicle training across Manoora’s stern door, whilst married with an LCM8 Landing Craft, as well as ship familiarisation training for the embarked troops. Driver training was an interesting experience for the New Zealand Army personnel who had never been previously exposed to such an activity.
After proving that the evolution was achievable the drivers got the experience of driving on and off Manoora whilst at anchor and as they became more comfortable conducted the evolution whilst underway. Unfortunately, King Neptune had other ideas and the large swell meant that the underway evolution had to be curtailed.
Following Force Integration Training, Manoora proceeded north to Hawkes Bay, in the vicinity of Napier, and conducted the amphibious rehearsal phase. This phase prepared participants for the assault phase by testing the procedures and timings to be used. The rehearsal phase also clearly demonstrated the capabilities of the LCM8 Landing Craft and Manoora’s embarked Sea King helicopter to the NZDF sea riders.
On the morning of the assault, with officials, media and local residents looking on, the NZ Army took Napier Beach by storm. The assault consisted of over 130 soldiers and their support vehicles landing on the beach in the early morning hours. Over 60 successful LCM8 and several helicopter transfers were conducted to complete the insertion and subsequent extraction of personnel, their vehicles and stores.
Manoora’s Sea King was also used during the ‘Snatch and Grab’ component of the exercise to capture ‘targeted enemy personnel’ for further interrogation. The amphibious assault phase, as the major highlight of the exercise, was conducted over the following two days in Napier Harbour and allowed the NZDF CATF and CLF to achieve all exercise objectives.
The exercise was a major success for both the ADF and NZDF, and clearly demonstrated the continued interoperability of the two defence forces. With the New Zealand Navy having acquired its first Amphibious Support Ship, HMNZS Canterbury, Commander Millar and his command team were able to significantly improve their knowledge and understanding of amphibious operations during the exercise. This bodes well for future ANZAC amphibious force interoperability, which will continue to develop in the coming years.
