Driven with precision
According to Commander Australian Amphibious Force (AAF) CAPT Chris Doherty, an amphibious force is like a finely tuned Swiss clock.
“You spend months and months tuning it so it’s driven with precision and ready to go when you need, to respond to any situation or defend our homeland,” CAPT Doherty said.
That finely tuned machine is currently embarked in HMAS Choules and sailing to Indonesia for Exercise Keris Woomera with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, or TNI).
Almost 500 personnel are on board, comprising 308 embarked soldiers from 2RAR in Townsville, 170 sailors from Choules and 20 staff from AAF headquarters.
2RAR is an amphibious battalion specialising in security and stability operations, evacuation and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
'Together we are a stronger and a much more capable force. That’s how we achieve the mission.'
Supply ship HMAS Stalwart and frigate HMAS Perth will join Choules, forming a combined task force capable of operating anywhere across the region.
“Indonesia is one of our closest neighbours and we share a very special relationship, which is getting stronger every year,” CAPT Doherty said.
“I have worked with the TNI on many occasions over my 28-year career and always look forward to interacting with my counterparts.
“We’ll passage together and conduct amphibious landings to secure an area, as well as other combat operations, high-end warfighting and a live-fire exercise.”
During the exercise, 84 Indonesian marines will embark Choules to integrate with their 2RAR counterparts.
“This is all about integrating our forces at sea and projecting that combined force from the sea to the shore,” CAPT Doherty said.
“It’s really important we can combine our forces to respond to any contingency or situation in the region, or to defend either of our homelands.
“Together we are a stronger and a much more capable force. That’s how we achieve the mission.”
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