US ship visits to Darwin

Recommended Citation

"US ship visits to Darwin", Briefing Books Australian Defence Facilities, October 24, 2015, https://nautilus.org/briefing-books/us-ship-visits-to-darwin/

See also

Introduction

Australian navy and visiting foreign navy ships normally berth at Fort Hill Wharf or occasionally at East Arm Wharf.

Log of US Navy ship visits to Darwin, 2000 – 2014 (updated 1 April 2014)

 

BOMHOMME_RICHARD

 

 

USS Bonhomme Richard

2015

Green Bay arrives in Darwin after Talisman Sabre 2015, Petty Officer 3rd Class Derek Harkins, DVIDS, 27 July 2015

The amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) arrives in Darwin, Australia, July 27.

The ship will make preparations for continuing operations at sea while onloading members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and their equipment as they return from Talisman Sabre 2015 operations.

The ship’s port visit coincides with its completion of Talisman Sabre 2015. During this bilateral exercise, members of the 31st MEU and the Australian Defence Force successfully conducted a beach landing in Australia from Green Bay’s well deck in 32 combat rubber raiding craft.

Green Bay supported the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) with intelligence and communication, in addition to aviation and well deck support for a variety of training scenarios and mission requirements.

“Talisman Sabre 2015 was more than an amphibious exercise for Green Bay,” said Capt. Kristy D. McCallum, commanding officer of Green Bay. “We sharpened our maritime warfare edge in air defense, information dominance, and surface warfare. Green Bay Sailors embraced the training and support provided by the guided-missile destroyer, USS Preble and the Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Perth and that has made us better war fighters.

Green Bay is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard ESG and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise intended to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations.

U.S. Marines embark on the USNS Sacagawea to begin Exercise Koa Moana 15.2, Cpl. Reba James, DVIDS, 28 June 2015

A platoon of U.S. Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, have been preparing for the bilateral training exercise Koa Moana 15.2 in Dili, East Timor, beginning June 22.

The Marines will highlight the exercise by focusing on the fundamentals of squad and platoon-level tasks with the East Timor Defence Force.

Aside from the bilateral training, the Marines are experiencing and adapting to ship life aboard the USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE-2) going to and coming from East Timor. The U.S. Navy Dry Cargo/Ammunition ship is part of an initiative to employ alternative sea-based platforms for embarking Marines in addition to traditional amphibious warfare ships to enhance maritime flexibility.

“What’s amazing about this in coming from Marine Rotational Force – Darwin is the ability to get on a platform such as this, the T-AKE (U.S. Navy Dry Cargo/Ammunition) ship, specifically the USNS Sacagawea and project from Darwin to conduct this training here.”

2014

News: Marines share history aboard USS Peleliu before and after 9/11/2001
Staff Sgt. Joseph Digirolamo, DVIDS, 11 September 2014

The 31st MEU/Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group is currently conducting Amphibious Integration Training in preparation for the regularly schedule Fall Patrol ’14. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region.

The USS Peleliu is scheduled to be decommissioned early 2015, making the 31st MEU the last Marine unit to embark on the ship.

USNS Bobo brings MRF-D Marines and gear Down Under”, DVIDS, 31 March 2014

USS Kidd visits Darwin, Ensign Brooke Schaffer, DVIDS, 19 February 2014

The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) arrived in Darwin, Australia, for a port visit, Feb. 15. Kidd is deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

2013

USS Denver loads 31st MEU, departs Darwin, DVIDS, 12 September 2013

Amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), departed Darwin, Australia, Sept. 12, following a two-day port visit. Denver’s departure signifies the end of Exercise Koolendong with the 31st MEU at the Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in Australia’s Northern Territory. Denver is on patrol with the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, commanded by Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11, and is currently conducting routine joint-force operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

Darwin welcomes USS Bonhomme Richard, Darwin Port Corporation, 28 August 2013

The impressively sized and equipped 40,000-tonne USS Bonhomme Richard arrived in Darwin Harbour today. It is in Darwin to participate in joint exercises with Australian Defence forces and is currently berthed at Fort Hill Wharf. The amphibious assault ship can carry more than 3000 US sailors and marines, along with an array of weaponry, helicopters, Harrier jump jets and V-22 Osprey hovercraft. The Osprey hovercraft made exciting viewing as they maneuvered around Darwin Harbour earlier this morning. There are public viewing vantage points around Darwin City, however access to Fort Hill Wharf is restricted to authorised personnel only.

Project coordinator: Richard Tanter
Updated: 25 October 2015


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