MATATAUA UNIT ON EXERCISE IN AUSTRALIA

HMNZS MATATAUA’s autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) team were among hundreds diverted from Australia’s largest military exercise after a helicopter crashed off Queensland’s coast.

The 10-person team was taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre from 22 July to 4 August. Embarked on USS MIGUEL KEITH, a large mobile mission platform style ship, they joined the Royal Australian Navy and United States Navy AUV and clearance dive teams to form a combined mine countermeasures (MCM) task force.

The MIGUEL KEITH was re-tasked to offer search and rescue capability when an Australian MRH-90 helicopter crashed in the vicinity of the Whitsunday Islands toward the end of the exercise, killing all four aboard.

Lieutenant Jack Walters, MATATAUA Detachment Officer, says they were shocked and saddened to learn of the crash.

“The MCM task force was able to respond at best speed using personnel and MCM equipment to locate the downed aircraft.”

Prior to the tragedy, the task force was practising their response to a scenario where sea mines had been placed by belligerent forces preventing access to the key port of Gladstone. AUV teams were deployed to conduct a sonar search of the area and provide an in-depth underwater examination. This information was provided to Clearance Dive Teams to then conduct a dive to the mines to disarm or destroy them.

LT Walters said the nations’ AUV teams worked together and proved interoperability by having members swapping out into each other’s teams to achieve training objectives and share lessons learnt as well as exposing personnel to new technologies and best practices.

“With the RNZN, RAN and USN all working together for Mine Countermeasures onboard the MIGUEL KEITH, it embodied the proverb He waka eke noa, in one canoe with no exception.”