Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025: Allied military forces amphibious training

Allied military forces stormed ashore as part of phase one of amphibious training exercises during Talisman Sabre 2025.

An Australian army M1A2 Abrams tank is loaded onto US Army Vessel Paulus Hook in Townsville. More than 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations are participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest-ever joint military drills held across Australia and, for the first time, Papua New Guinea, focusing on multi-domain operations including land, sea, air, space, and cyber warfare. Picture: Ian Hitchcock-Getty Images

Allied military forces kicked into action in North Queensland as part of phase one of amphibious training exercises during Talisman Sabre 2025.

The rehearsal at Cowley Beach between Townsville and Cairns included vehicle loading and unloading drills, beach recovery operations and patrol movements alongside New Zealand and Japanese forces, with vehicles and personnel disembarking from HMAS Canberra and HMAS Choules.

The coastal training area in the Cassowary Coast Region provided the setting to prepare for more complex amphibious missions at Bowen and Shoalwater Bay.

Corporal Joshua Jauchius, a plant operator foreman from the Amphibious Beach Team within Australia’s 10th Force Support Battalion, said the training was critical for preparing troops to operate in coastal conditions.

“We’re creating access lanes, rolling out beach mats and rehearsing vehicle recovery – making sure everything from tracked vehicles to personnel can get safely from ship to shore.”

An Australian army M1A2 Abrams tank is loaded onto US Army Vessel Paulus Hook in Townsville. Picture: Ian Hitchcock-Getty Images

He said amphibious operations were “not just about digging trenches”, saying heavy machinery such as dozers and loaders played a key role.

“It’s all about keeping the beach open so if something gets stuck or bogged, we’re ready to recover it fast so the landing keeps moving.”

An Australian soldier from 2 RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) is seen providing reconnaissance before the commencement of an Air Mobile Operation in Bowen as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Picture: Ian Hitchcock-Getty Images

Six New Zealand soldiers were integrated within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Amphibious Beach Team, practising a number of tasks that included guiding vehicles on and off landing craft.

A U.S Marine is seen providing reconnaissance before the commencement of an Air Mobile Operation in Bowen. Picture: Ian Hitchcock-Getty Images

Lieutenant Gabby Williams of the New Zealand Army’s 2nd Combat Support Battalion said the training provided a valuable opportunity for the Kiwis to practise amphibious operations alongside Australian forces.

“New Zealand doesn’t get to train in the littoral environment very often, so to have an opportunity like this to work alongside Australia is incredibly valuable,” she said.

“It’s a crawl, walk, run process – this phase is about learning so we’re ready to fully integrate at Shoalwater Bay.”

The serials were part of a broader push to improve joint amphibious capability across the region, ensuring forces can respond together when called upon.

Originally published as Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025: Allied military forces amphibious training