Canterbury completes Exercise Croix Du Sud
Commodore Parr visited CANTERBURY during a heightened period of activity during the Exercise. The ship was pestered by ‘protest vessels’ and simulated press kept watch on all the ships responses as the actions played out.
In the scenario, CANTERBURY - call sign “CRUSADER” - was tasked to provide assistance for the delivery and off-load of defence partner troops and vehicles as well as refuel and supply.
Commodore Parr said the progressive complexity of exercises - like that provided by Croix Du Sud - is seeing CANTERBURY tested in a joint Defence Force and combined-nations capability.
“This is by far the most complex exercise to-date in terms of realising our amphibious capability and we have made a lot of progress,” Commodore Parr said whilst on board.
“She’s proving her worth as a versatile amphibious sealift support ship and showing her utility in this sort of environment – supporting other ships, being able to support troops and other vehicles ashore.
“The beauty of this exercise is that it is not only a combined exercise with regional navies and armed forces, it is also a true joint exercise where you’ve got elements of army, navy and air force combining to take part in the exercise. The lynchpin of the whole thing is CANTERBURY - she is the platform which serves as the enabler for the activity and in that respect we are proving the ship is a true NZDF joint asset.”
Croix Du Sud runs until the 12th of April after which CANTERBURY sails back to New Zealand via Raoul Island to pick up DOC staff and supplies.
ENDS
Background:
Croix Du Sud is a biennial Exercise led by the French Armed Forces New Caledonia (FANC) and also involves the Defence Forces of Papua New Guinea, Australia, Vanuatu and Tonga.
NZDF assets to participate in this years exercise include: HMNZS CANTERBURY; two UH1H Iroquois helicopters; a platoon strength infantry unit from 3rd Land Force Group in Burnham; a Communications Unit and a Deployable Hydrographic Survey Unit (DHSU).