Several foreign military ships are still headed to Queensland for Talisman Sabre despite COVID

Ship spotters delight: At least 12 invited foreign military ships will grace the Queensland coast over the next few weeks to take part in Exercise Talisman Sabre.

At least 12 invited foreign military ships will grace the Queensland coast over the next few weeks to take part in Exercise Talisman Sabre.

The USS America and its eight supporting vessels is expected to be the largest contingent of the visiting ships, with a combined total of about 6000 US sailors and Marines on board.

At least three of Australia’s partner nations are also sending a ship with about 200 crew on each vessel.

Although most will remain off shore, keen ship spotters might be able to catch a glimpse of the vessels off Mackay, Gladstone, Brisbane, Bowen or Townsville over coming weeks.

Talisman Sabre 2021 (TS21) Exercise director, Air Commodore Stuart Bellingham, 53, said although four foreign navies are still participating in the maritime component, their crews would not be permitted to come ashore this year because of the coronavirus pandemic and Australia’s 14-day quarantine restrictions.

“USS America will be at the centre of the expeditionary strike group,” he said.

“There will also be a destroyer from Japan and Korea and a frigate from Canada, as well as the Australian maritime component.”

The USS America is expected to participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 off the coast of Queensland. Picture: US Navy

About 17,000 Australian and foreign military personnel are involved with the nation’s largest biennial military training exercise with the US, which runs from now through to August 1 in and off various parts of coastal Queensland.

The number of service personnel has dropped from more than 34,000 in 2019, thanks to the pandemic.

That year also involved 20 ships, making TS19 the largest exercise Australia had ever conducted.

An amphibious assault ship, the USS America (LHA 6), is part of the Japan-based US 7th Fleet.

It is the lead ship of an Expeditionary Strike Group that includes Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31MEU) and is designed to accommodate the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters – or stealth multirole combat jets – as well as a combination of rescue, combat and support helicopters including MV22B Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallions, AH-1Z Super Cobra and UH-1Y Venom aircraft.
MH-60 and MH 60R seahawks helicopters are also on board.
US Navy Lieutenant Commander Sherrie A. Flippin said the USS Germantown, a dock landing ship, and the amphibious transport dock, the USS New Orleans are also with the America, along with the guided missile destroyer the USS Rafael Peralta.

USS America and its support vessels will have a combined total of 6000 US sailors and Marines. Picture: US Navy

While the USS Germantown participated in Talsiman Sabre 2011, LDCR Flippin said it was the first time for the USS America.
“The leadership and crew are incredibly excited to work alongside partner nations and allies to build trust and interoperability among key allies through shared experiences and tough, realistic training,” she said.

The USNS Rappahannock, a Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler and the USNS Alan Shepherd, carting ammunition and dry cargo, are the support ships for the US fleet.

The USNS Alan Shepard is anticipated to pull into port for supplies, most likely in Townsville, while a US Ready Reserve ship, the MV Cape Orlando, arrived in Gladstone on July 9.

The USS Rafael Peralta, was fresh from participating in Exercise Pacific Vanguard off Sydney with the air force and with JS Makinami from Japan, the ROKS Wang Geon from South Korea, the HMAS Brisbane and the HMAS Rankin, a Collins-class submarine.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is designed to work with an expeditionary or other types of strike groups and is also capable of carrying out undersea warfare.

The ROKS Wang Geon, a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer in the Republic of Korea Navy will be participating in Talisman Sabre for the first time after observing during 2019.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) fires its 5-inch gun during Exercise Pacific Vanguard off Sydney. Picture: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Serianni/US Navy

While the 4,400 tonne-class guided missile destroyer will remain at sea, eight South Korean military personnel, who have completed hotel quarantine, will take part with the exercise on land.

At a press briefing June, Boo Seung-chan from Seoul’s defence ministry said the nation wanted to improve their ability to conduct combined operations.

“We’ve decided to join the exercise for the first time this year with a goal to improve our capabilities of conducting combined operations,” he said, according to the Yonhap news agency.

The Royal Canadian Navy has sent the HMCS Calgary, a Halifax-class frigate, while 13 Canadian service personnel are on land.

The JS Makinami, a Takanami class destroyer, is also taking part, while 33 members of the Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) will take part on shore.

It is the second time Japan has participated in Talisman Sabre after first being an observer.

Military personnel from New Zealand and the UK are also once again part of TS21.

Republic of Korea Navy destroyer ROKS Wang Geon prepares to come alongside Fleet Base East in Sydney for a COVID-Safe port visit ahead of Exercise Pacific Vanguard earlier this month. Picture: Supplied

Air Commodore Bellingham said no one from the foreign ships are allowed to come ashore this year, even for the beach landing that often occurs at the end of the exercise.

But, he said some US Marines from the Darwin-based Marine rotational force, some British Royal Marines and some members of the JSDF, who have completed hotel quarantine, will be embedded with the Australian amphibious forces on board Royal Australian Navy ships to ensure they can still participate in the beach component of the exercise.

Some of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships and submarines involved with the exercise include the HMAS Canberra, the lead ship of the two Canberra Class amphibious assault ships and amphibious landing ship the HMAS Choules, among others.

The HMAS Canberra can carry up to 18 helicopters with six operating simultaneously from the flight deck, while the Choules can carry 300 people, 23 Abrams tanks, 150 light trucks, landing craft mechanised – designed to carry people and trucks from ship to shore – and various helicopters.

Air Commodore Bellingham said Queenslanders might still spot some of the vessels over following weeks if they need to obtain supplies.

HMAS Brisbane, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Makinami, Republic of Korea Navy destroyer ROKS Wang Geon, and United States Navy destroyer USS Rafael Peralta sail through the East Australian Exercise Area during Exercise Pacific Vanguard, a quadrilateral exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability with like-minded partners in the region. It was the fourth time the exercise had been held and the first time ever that Australian waters. Picture: Supplied

“If they need to do logistic resupply you may see them come alongside the ports of Gladstone, Townsville or Brisbane but it will be a contactless resupply only, no sailors will be taken off ship,” he said.

“As per any other ship coming into port, it’s how we (Australia) is doing business at the moment. It’s a cordoned off area on the wharf supplies are taken off and no contact on board the ship and crew.”

At least one ship might also head to the Mackay area.

Air Commodore Bellingham said an air warfare destroyer and three ANZAC class frigates, as well as minehunters and submarines, would also be involved in the exercise.

Other countries invited to observe TS21 included France, Indonesia, India and Germany, while a Chinese spy ship has been spotted off the coast this week.

The peak of the mock war-games are scheduled to take place in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in Byfield, north of Rockhampton, Townsville and Bowen.