VP-8 conducts combined operations with RAAF in Exercise Ocean Raider

Courtesy Photo | QUEENSLAND, Australia (Nov. 30, 2017) Lt. Kelly Ranz, left, assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 Combat Aircrew 6 of conducts mission planning with Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Greg Toft, at Amberley Air Base, Japan. VP 8 is currently deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations conducting missions and providing maritime domain awareness to supported units throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. John North /Released)  

QLD, AUSTRALIA

12.01.2017

Courtesy Story

Patrol Squadron EIGHT (VP-8)

Ocean Raider is an annual exercise comprised of a series of events designed to train naval and air forces in Task-Group-level, Joint, Combined sea combat. Led by Mission Commander Lt. Dallas Svrcina, Combat Aircrew Six (CAC-6) and the Tiger maintenance team demonstrated the next-generation capabilities of the P-8A to the dozens of warships, submarines, and aircraft involved in the week-long exercise. VP-8 worked closely with several RAN and RAAF surface and subsurface assets, including HMAS Canberra (L02), HMAS Anzac (FFH 150), and HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05), as well as other maritime patrol aircraft from RAAF 92 Wing. CAC-6 logged over 50 hours of flight time while demonstrating their tactical proficiency and garnering ASW readiness.

The RAAF trains their personnel in the P-8A alongside the U.S. Navy at VP-30 in Jacksonville, Florida. “Close coordination with the Australians allows us to hone our skills, and our squadron benefits from the experience just as much as they learn from working with us,” Svrcina said. Ocean Raider was a unique opportunity to conduct combined on-station training operations with P-8A aircraft from multiple countries.

“Working with the Australians while they are new to the P-8A gives us a unique opportunity to not only teach our counterparts, but also to get a fresh outlook from them as they develop their own procedures for flying the same asset,” Svrcina said.

Patrol Squadron 8 is currently deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and providing maritime domain awareness to supported units throughout the Pacific theater.

• Date Taken: 12.01.2017
• Date Posted: 12.14.2017 01:25
• Story ID: 258814
• Location: QLD, AU