Publication:Navy Annual 2005/816 SQN - HMAS KANIMBLA 2004
Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Tigers of War 816 Squadron Detachment to HMAS KANIMBLA, July - August 2004
BY SUB LIEUTENANT MATT GILKS, RAN
Photos courtesy of CMDR Lockey and PO Moon.
During July and August, Darwin frequently plays host to a variety of units, from both Australia and overseas, for exercises on, under, and over the sea to our north.
816 Squadron (SQN) and its Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters, based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra on the NSW South Coast, are frequent participants in these events. Normally operating from RAAF Base Darwin for these exercises, the Squadron and its aircraft conduct a variety of anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare tasks. However, in 2004, 816 SQN was fortunate in being able to use an operating base not previously used before by the aircraft type, in a way in which they had not operated for over two decades.
On a cold, wet and windy morning in July 2004, a detachment from 816 Squadron (CMDR Brad White, RAN) embarked three Seahawks on the Amphibious Transport Auxiliary HMAS Kanimbla (Commander Stephen Woodall, RAN). The purpose of this detachment was to conduct aircrew and maintainer training, and to participate in Principal Warfare Officers' (PWO) Sea Assessment Week, exercise OCEAN PROTECTOR NORTH and exercise SINGAROO, in the Northern Australian exercise Area. This occasion represented the first time that 816 SQN had embarked this many aircraft on a single ship since fixed wing Grumman Tracker aircraft were flown from the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne in 1982 before her decommissioning later that year. At the time of embarkation in HMAS Kanimbla, 816 SQN had nine aircraft embarked on seven ships, a record for the Seahawk fleet. With the able assistance of the Ship's aviation department, the aircraft were stowed and secured in their hangars with little difficulty, before the Ship departed through Sydney Heads into heavy seas to make its way north.
Flying commenced the following day, with the first of a total of 90 sorties and over 175 flying hours that were flown during the five week embarkation. A wide variety of sorties were flown, including passenger transfers, deck-landing practice, Medical evacuations (MEDEVAC), anti-ship, antisubmarine and navigation exercises. One of the key roles of 816 SQN is to provide training for aircrew so that they are qualified for posting to a ship's flight on either Anzac class frigates (FFH) or Adelaide class guided missile frigates (FFG). The nature and the amount of flying whilst embarked presented a great opportunity to carry out a significant amount of aircrew training. As a result, surface warfare qualifications were gained by two observers and one aircrewman, two pilots achieved their deck-landing qualifications and one aircrewman gained his Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) qualification. In addition, one observer and one aircrewman advanced their surface warfare training. This significant number of training achievements resulted in some of these personnel being posted, almost immediately, directly to a ship's flight to take up full flying duties.
The Seahawks performed admirably during this time. During the course of the embarkation many maintainers, at all ranks, achieved a significant number of training milestones. Junior sailors with limited experience were exposed to a variety of maintenance tasks, which enabled them to gain valuable experience towards being assessed as qualified to work on Seahawks. Some gained this authorisation during the period of embarkation. Senior sailors were also able to build on their experience in other ranks to prepare them for their roles as maintenance managers or Responsible engineering Officers (REO). As the Training Aviation engineering Officer (TAEO) I was responsible for the planning of the embarkation, and encountered many valuable training opportunities on a very steep learning curve. This included at one stage being the senior Aviation engineer onboard, under the expert guidance of the Squadron Aviation engineering Officer (AEO) LCDR Scott Lockey, RAN.
Of course, there were many opportunities for recreation to be had in port, with runs ashore permitting plenty of time for sight-seeing, exploring and socialising in many of the fine establishments in Darwin. During one period in port, the chance was taken for some to travel inland and check out the scenery in Kakadu National Park.
As all good things come to an end, all aircraft and personnel disembarked in Darwin on 18 August 2004. In his final address before disembarking, 816 SQN Commanding Officer, CMDR Brad White, RAN, stated that the intention was to operate from HMAS Kanimbla as a miniaircraft carrier, and that we were successful in this regard. The presence of Kanimbla with three Seahawks proved to be a potent asset in exercises, with the ability to have aircraft, around the clock.
