Media Release

28 August 2012

Kiwi, Australian And Japanese Navies Work Together

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has successfully completed a short tri-lateral exercise with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force and the Royal Australian Navy.

In what is believed to be a first for the RNZN, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) ship JS SHIMAKAZE has been refuelled at sea from HMNZS ENDEAVOUR.

HMNZS TE KAHA and ENDEAVOUR conducted a number of training manoeuvres with HMAS DARWIN and PERTH and JMSDF JS SHIMAKAZE enroute to Darwin, Australia. Exercise Pacific Bridge, was conducted on passage between Guam and Darwin from 22-28 August.

It has been an unique opportunity for the three nations to operate jointly and further enhance the tactical level of working together conducting ship manoeuvring and warfare training scenarios, says Commanding Officer of HMNZS ENDEAVOUR, Commander Keith Robb.

"Pacific Bridge was an excellent opportunity for the RNZN to work closely with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and Royal Australian Navy. This was amplified by the signing of the agreement allowing the NZ Defence Force to refuel the JMSDF at sea for the first time.

“It was a natural extension of the partnership fostered by the three nations in Exercise RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) which took place in the Hawaiian waters last month.”

ENDS

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