The Australian Defence Force’s (ADF's) first enhanced regional engagement activity in the Pacific for 2019 concluded with the return of HMAS Choules to Townsville earlier this month.
HMAS Choules’ month-long deployment incorporated a series of bilateral activities in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
In PNG, Choules strengthened ADF relationships with the PNG Defence Force by delivering tools and equipment to the Lombrum Naval Base and providing on-board training opportunities to the PNG Defence Force Maritime Element, including training with the ship’s MRH-90 helicopter.
Personnel from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and the 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit provided training in the Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara. In Vanuatu, the ADF personnel conducted a programme of training and engagement to support the needs of the Vanuatu Police Force, including the Vanuatu Mobile Force and the Police Maritime Wing.
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The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
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