Pictures: Exercise Kakadu 2024 ends as navy commanders and crew reflect on highlights

After war gaming by day and night for a straight week, Australia’s largest biennial maritime warfare activity has come to a close. SEE THE PICTURES.

The .50 calibre machine gun was a big hit with visitors aboard HMAS Warramunga. Picture: Department of Defence.

After war gaming by day and night for a straight week, Australia’s largest biennial maritime warfare activity has come to a close, with the exercise director reflecting on a number of “firsts” from the massive event.

From September 12, the multinational cohort of warships turned the Timor Sea into a free-roam training area, enabling commanders and crew to test themselves across complex activities, including anti-submarine and anti-air operations.

However, for the crew members of Japan’s JS Ariake, Indonesia’s KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai and Singapore’s RSS Supreme, perhaps the most memorable highlight was a day aboard HMAS Warramunga, which provided its Asian guests a starring role in a force protection exercise.

Crew members had the chance to brass up floating targets. Picture: Department of Defence.

Aimed at targeting hostile, fast-attack water craft, the international visitors had the chance to blast away at moving targets with the .50 calibre machine gun, F89 Minimi and EF88 rifle.

Japanese helicopter pilot Sub-Lieutenant Hiroaki Ozaki said he enjoyed the thrill pulling various triggers on deck.

“Today, on the ship, I had a lot of fun and my favourite part was operating the guns.”

A C-27J Spartan drops essential supplies in the Timor Sea below. Picture: Department of Defence.

On the logistics front, a maritime aerial delivery (MAD) of a securely wrapped 100kg package also made a splash via a C-27J Spartan, providing younger crew members a first-hand understanding of how to conduct a well-executed resupply at sea.

“This means the ship can remain on task for much longer and give our engineers the chance to recover equipment,” Maritime Logistics Officer Lieutenant Commander Chris McLaughlan.

“It’s also really useful if there isn’t a friendly port nearby.”

The Vietnamese People’s navy corvette VPNS18 joined Exercise Kakadu for the first time. Picture: Department of Defence.

For exercise director Captain David Tietzel, the involvement of a certain corvette was particularly noteworthy.

“We were delighted to welcome the participation of the Vietnamese People’s navy corvette VPNS18 in a constabulary role.”

With layers of language and cultural differences between the participating nations, Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Chris Smith, said the success of the exercise hinged on human connection.

“The exercise is about so much more than ships and aircraft,” he said.

“This is about bringing our partners together; to discuss shared values and security challenges and to continue to strengthen our mutual understanding.”

Logistic activities were also conducted at sea, providing international and new crew members an understanding of how to resupply on the move. Picture: Department of Defence.

A rigid-hulled inflatable boat in action. Picture: Department of Defence.

Warships in formation and on course. Picture: Department of Defence.

An Australian F-35a conducting a fly-by overhead. Picture: Department of Defence.

For many crew members, breakfast, lunch and dinner was also a reported highlight. Picture: Department of Defence.

EF88s getting a (black) firing hit out. Picture: Department of Defence.

Small water crafts had plenty of work to do throughout the exercise. Picture: Department of Defence.

Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy officers on-board container ship Kokopo Chief during Exercise Kakadu 2024. Picture: Department of Defence.

Commanding Officer HMAS Warramunga Commander Dylan Phillips CSM observes the ships actions in the operations room. Picture: Department of Defence.

Commanding Officer HMAS Warramunga Commander Dylan Phillips CSM observes the ships actions in operations room with Lieutenant Amy Steele controlling air operations to the left and Lieutenant Matt Featherstone monitoring the tactical space to the right. Picture: Department of Defence.

Able Seaman Communication Information Systems Lance Sapanghila operates the signal flags on board HMAS Warramunga Picture: Department of Defence.

Lieutenant Amy Steele monitors air operations from the operations room on board HMAS Warramunga. Picture: Department of Defence.

Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Rear Admiral Kazushi Yokota, Commander, Escort Flotilla 3 and Sub-Lieutenant Ayaka Matsumoto and Commander Kakiuchi Hayato watch a live fire force protection demonstration on board HMAS Warramunga. Picture: Department of Defence.

HMAS Warramunga Navigation Officer, Lieutenant Ryan O'Hara directs the ships during a photography exercise. Picture: Department of Defence.

Sub Lieutenant Abraham Gardner operates on the bridge wing of HMAS Warramunga. Picture: Department of Defence.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force pilot, Sub Lieutenant Hiroaki Ozaki had an opportunity to fire the ADF’s small arms weapon systems. Picture: Department of Defence.

Indonesian and Australian sailors exchange patches from the exercise. Picture: Department of Defence.

Originally published as Pictures: Exercise Kakadu 2024 ends as navy commanders and crew reflect on highlights