At the start of November RESOLUTION, MANAWANUI, the Mine Counter Measures Team (MCMT), and the Operational Diving Team (ODT) all sailed for Noumea to participate in the international Lagoon Mine Exercise.
The various participating units were tasked with locating the mines and starting their removal. Our RNZN force was joined by French and Australian vessels and diving teams, while the USN provided their Diving Platoon and Marine Mammal (dolphin) Mine Countermeasures Unit.
Our passage to Noumea took five days. MANAWANUI left DNB two days ahead of RESOLUTION, which stayed behind to embark the MCM and ODT personnel and equipment after their recent deployments to Singapore (for Ex Bersama Lima) and Samoa. With favourable weather, mild seas and a warm breeze, we were quickly acclimatised for the white sands and blue waters of New Caledonia.
RESOLUTION undertook ECCDs, MOBEXs and Damage Control exercises enroute, as well as weapon handling training. A rigorous PT session each day made sure we were in tip-top shape for engagement with one of the local rugby teams after arrival. Our final day at sea was in less than 10 knots of wind, with blue skies and smooth seas, a fantastic way to end the passage. After our live firing of the Steyrs we ended the day with a Hands to Bathe, in 25ºC water.
After a weekend of briefings and preparations—during which the MCMT transferred to RESOLUTION for the operation, while the ODT relocated to MANAWANUI—the MCMT commenced underwater survey operations utilising two REMUS Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (which had been recently used in the search for the Tongan ferry). The MCMT task was to map the sea floor and identify potential contacts of interest, which the ODT would then validate as mines (or otherwise) visually during diving operations. The plan was for the mines to then be lifted off the seabed using air-filled lifting bags to allow explosive destruction below the surface.
RESOLUTION also enjoyed the company of several fresh faces, and some familiar faces being posted on for the exercise. CDR Tuffin assumed his old post as CO of RESOLUTION, LTCDR Arndell remained in NZ to await the birth of his first child, while SLT Davies posted on as Navigator. A contingent of freshly qualified Midshipmen watch-keepers and several Ordinary Hydrographic Survey Technicians fresh out of BBT meant that the ship was a hive of activity as questions were asked, evolutions studied and task books signed off.
The Exercise continues until 24 November, with both ships programmed to return to PHILOMEL on 28 November. We anticipate it will be a steep learning curve for many of our Hydrographic, MCM and Diving personnel, as we all learn how our foreign partners approach littoral warfare and actually undertake real mine clearance. Of course we all plan to make the most of the tropical conditions here, prior to the onset of summer in New Zealand!
By MID Hayden Conmee RNZN
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