Northern Trident 2009 FAQ
Do you have a question about Operation Northern Trident 2009 (NT09)? We may have an answer for you below.
Why are Australian ships going on NT09?
The Northern Trident 2009 (NT09) six month international deployment supports the Australian Government’s diplomatic, security and defence industry efforts in Western Europe, North America and North Asia. During the deployment the Australian ships will have the opportunity to benchmark their core military skills against foreign navies and will also take the opportunity to promote Australian goods and trade opportunities to help boost the Australian economy.
What sort of ships are doing this deployment?
HMAS Sydney is an Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate and HMAS Ballarat is an Anzac Class Frigate. Sydney is the third of six Australian Adelaide Class ships. She has extensive international deployment experience, having deployed to Middle East four times as well as to East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Ballarat is the sixth of eight Australian ANZAC class frigates. Her four years of RAN service have seen Ballarat travel extensively around Australia and the world, including a deployment to the Persian Gulf in 2006.
How many people are going on the deployment?
The Royal Australian Navy consists of people from all walks of life – men, women, young and more mature personnel from a variety of backgrounds. Approximately 415 personnel will undertake this trip ranging in age from 18 to 52 years. Approximately 18% of the personnel on this deployment will be women.
What countries will the Australian ships visit?
This international deployment will visit 13 countries in six months: India, Egypt, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Samoa and Japan.
What countries will the Royal Australian Navy exercise with on NT09?
Opportunities to exercise with several foreign and allied navies are a particular feature of NT09. During the deployment the Australian ships will have the opportunity to exercise with ships of the Indian, Italian, French, Spanish, British, Canadian, United States, Bahamian , Panamanian, Mexican and Trinadad and Tabago Navies in order to further develop Royal Australian Navy capability in core mariner and military skills.
What are the highlights of NT09?
A highlight of the NT09 deployment will be a visit by both ships to Ferrol in Spain where the ships companies will view the building of the RAN’s new Landing Helicopter Dock ships. HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat will also visit a number of ports on the United States east coast in reciprocation of the 2008 United States Navy Great White Fleet celebrations in Australia. An individual highlight for HMAS Sydney will be transit of the Thames in the United Kingdom, followed by an official visit to London, while HMAS Ballarat’s highlight is destined to be the benchmarking of their core military and advanced seamanship skills by the British Royal Navy’s Sea Training team off the coast of Plymouth.
Why are the ships company wearing different uniforms on this operation?
The crews of HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat are wearing Disruptive Pattern Navy Uniform (DPNU). Originally trialed by the Royal Australian Navy between December 2007 and February 2008, it is now progressively being issued to serving members across the fleet. The DPNU are a two-piece fire-retardant uniform which replaces the traditional grey overalls worn by RAN personnel on operations, during training and when working with machinery.
How long with the NT09 ships be away?
The ships will depart their home port, Fleet Base East, on 20 April and will not return until September (HMAS Sydney) and October (HMAS Ballarat). Sydney will be away for approximately 155 days while Ballarat will be away for approximately 170 days.
Why are the ships returning at different times?
Toward the end of NT09, HMAS Ballarat will be joined by HMAS Success to travel to the Japanese ports of Yokohama and Kure in support of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces (JMSDF) 150th birthday celebrations. Ballarat will then be involved in a goodwill exercise with the JMSDF before returning to her home port to conclude NT09.
How do I find out more about this deployment?
The NT09 page on the Navy website will be regularly updated with information and pictures from the Australian ships as they travel around the world. There will also be video footage, filmed by sailors of their travels, uploaded to YouTube and the NT09 deployment can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Regular updates can be seen on morning television which will include interviews with sailors on HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat and regular text messages from the ship about travelling with the Navy and life at sea can be received by those who text ‘trident’ to 131901.
