USS Green Bay arrives for Talisman Sabre

Photo By Sgt. Steven Peterson | Onboard the USS Green Bay, LPD-20, journalists from local news stations in Australia toured the LPD to learn about its history and what the ship would be doing during the joint American-Australian training operation known as Talisman Sabre 2015. Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise that provides an invaluable opportunity for nearly 30,000 U.S. and Australian defense forces to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries’ ability to plan and execute a full range of operations from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Steven Peterson/Released)  

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA

07.07.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez 

Pacific Air Forces

DARWIN, Australia - Approximately 900 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aboard USS Green Bay (LPD-20) arrived to participate in Talisman Sabre, July 7.

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport ship was docked in Darwin Harbour before continuing operations in support of the biennial Australian and U.S. exercise. Talisman Sabre is an opportunity to maximize combined maritime prepositioning and logistics operations in maritime and littoral training areas of Australia. This is the first year the exercise is primarily located in Northern Australia.

Green Bay is part of Expeditionary Strike Group Seven, and joins the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), and the Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) in Northern Australia to support high-level amphibious training between the U.S. and Australian militaries.

“We already know what we are capable of as individual Sailors and Marines, and as a ship,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Kristy D. McCallum, commanding officer of Green Bay, during a press conference July 8. “But when we join with our amphibious readiness group and grow that into a task force that is combined with several Australian ships and the Australian marines, and tie in joint capabilities on both sides –the seamless interoperability that we demonstrate here builds our confidence.”

The ship’s primary mission is to transport Marines afloat and ashore to perform a wide range of missions, including humanitarian assistance operations, all supporting the Maritime Strategy.

Marine Lt. Col. Eric Malinowski, Combat Logistics Battalion 31 commanding officer, is in charge of the Marine air, ground and logistics elements aboard Green Bay. While Marines are the primary assets, the inventory of equipment includes UH-1 Iroquois and AH-1 Cobras helicopters.

“Most of our Marines and Sailors are headed down to the Bradshaw Training Area,” Malinowski said.

While there, U.S. and Australian military personnel will face realistic and challenging conditions to improve both nations’ ability to work bilaterally, to provide security in the region and around the world.

McCallum expressed her excitement to work with the Australians here in the Northern Territory.

“We’re ready to go,” she said. “We’re excited about this exercise, we’re excited about working with Australia and we want to show what we’re capable of as a combined force.”

• Date Taken: 07.07.2015
• Date Posted: 07.08.2015 05:32
• Story ID: 169348
• Location: DARWIN, AU