By Andrew McLaughlin
This was the first operational deployment of a Hobart class DDG.
“This deployment has been a real test of our preparation for and readiness to deliver Destroyer capability and is the culmination of two years of hard work,” Hobart’s CO, CMDR Ryan Gaskin said in a statement.
“The success of Hobart’s mission is a credit to the ship’s company, embarked staff and those working in support of the ship from ashore. They’ve all worked superbly together as an integrated team.
“We’ve proven the Hobart Class Destroyer is not only ready to perform on the multinational stage in a high-end warfare exercise context but has also proven a highly effective command platform for Task Groups at sea.”
Task group commander CAPT Andrew Quinn added, “HMAS Hobart served as the host ship for the embarked Maritime Task Group Command team at sea, demonstrating the new RAN destroyers capability to fulfil this role.
“Over the past several months our Navy people have generated presence in the East Asian region and conducted complex exercises with our partners,” he added. “This has built on our respective operational skillsets and furthered our ability to work together to help keep the region secure.”
This article was published on December 12, 2019 by ADBR.
The featured photo shows Royal Australian Navy ship, HMAS Hobart, sailing in formation with participants of exercise Annualex.
Eleven vessels, four maritime combat helicopters and more than 1,000 personnel across two groups visited regional partner in the Northern and Southern Asia for multinational exercises and regional engagement activities.
This is the Royal Australian Navys second multiple task group activity in the region this year and comprises HMA Ships Sirius, Hobart, Stuart, Parramatta, Arunta, Leeuwin, Ararat, Gascoyne and Diamantina as well as two submarines.
Task group ships visited Guam, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Ships in the different task group elements participated in Exercises Nichi Gou Trident, Haedoli Wallaby, Annualex, Pacific Vanguard, Bersama Lima, MASTEX, New Horizon, Multinational Mine Warfare and Hyuga Nada.
They also took part in a Mine Counter Measure Symposium and the South Korean International Maritime Defence Industry Exposition as the ADF participated in Commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Surigao Strait.