Australia certifies amphibious force

An M1A1 Abrams main battle tank is transported via a mexefloat to the beach head with HMAS Adelaide in the background during Exercise ‘Sea Raider' 2023. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has certified its Australian Amphibious Force (AAF) and the new service is now ready for deployment, Janes has learnt.

A DoD spokesperson told Janes on 24 Julythat the AAF, which is headquartered atthe Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) Fleet Base East in Sydney, comprises RAN ships including HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Choules.

The AAF also includes elements of the Australian Army's 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR); 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR); 10th Force Support Battalion (10 FSB); 5th Aviation Regiment; 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (9 Regt); 17th Combat Sustainment Support Brigade; 16th Aviation Brigade, as well as “a variety of critical enablers” from the wider army, navy, and air force, the spokesperson said.

“The AAF provides the government with a variety of options to deal with various situations as they occur within the Indo-Pacific. This includes responding to humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions and peacekeeping activities,” the spokesperson said. The AAF is led by a specialised headquarters that can deploy capabilities to support amphibious operations and is designed to move at short notice as required, the spokesperson added.

AAF capability will be supported by a series of annual training drills including Exercise ‘Sea Explorer' and Exercise ‘Sea Raider'. Conducted at sea and ashore near Bowen and Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, the most recent iterations of these two ‘Sea' exercises were completed earlier in July, after which the DoD certified the AAF.

Deployed from HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Choules,