Stalwart support for Indo-Pacific partners

It’s a mission worthy of her name.

For more than a month, HMAS Stalwart has been serving in the South China Sea, enabling the RAN and regional partners to carry out their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific

On deployment, Stalwart recently rendezvoused with US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt while executing a replenishment at sea (RAS).

A RAS is a critical capability for keeping vessels at sea and operational, allowing ships to refuel and restock supplies without having to return to port.

Completing a RAS with a Nimitz carrier is an experience few forget. It is a virtual floating city at sea. At more than 300 metres in length, Theodore Roosevelt was an impressive sight for AB April Mathysz-Hamblin.

“The first thing that struck me was the size of the aircraft carrier. I'd seen them in movies before, but seeing one in person was something completely different,” AB Mathysz-Hamblin said.

“It felt a bit like stepping into Top Gun. It was amazing to see all the aircraft lined up on the flight deck. It's not something you get to see every day."

For those on the bridge, a RAS presents a routine but dangerous activity, requiring careful planning and masterful execution; a careful balancing act of safe navigation, ship handling and logistical planning. For officer of the watch LEUT Dominic Benzie, the sight of the carrier alone presented an additional challenge.

'It felt a bit like stepping into Top Gun. It was amazing to see all the aircraft lined up on the flight deck. It's not something you get to see every day.'

AB Mathysz-Hamblin

“It took a lot of concentration on the task at hand and to not get distracted by the sheer number of aircraft sprawled across [the] deck,” LEUT Benzie said.

“The RAS evolution ran very smoothly and demonstrated the continued interoperability of our two navies.”

This RAS was only the most recent activity for Stalwart, with the Australian warship partaking in a number of regional exercises and supporting Theodore Roosevelt’s Carrier Strike Group 9.

LCDR Adam Powell, Stalwart’s navigating officer, found the experience greatly rewarding.

“It’s been great experience working with the wide array of ships over the last four weeks and building our collective experience; from replenishing HMS Tamar during Exercise Bersama Lima to working with Carrier Strike Group 9, it’s clear we’re working with peers who are expert mariners and ship handlers,” LCDR Powell said.

HMAS Stalwart will continue on her regional presence deployment, representing Australia and continuing her support for allied vessels in the region.