Australia, NZ armies share professional techniques

The Royal Australian Navy’s Maritime Geospatial Warfare Unit (MGWU) participated in an exercise run by the Royal New Zealand Navy, giving the two countries a chance to share expert knowledge.

As the primary organizer of Exercise Anchorite, HMNZS Matataua offers their Military Hydrographic Group (MHG) an annual opportunity to train in various environments.

MHG Survey Search and Rescue Team operations in Port Underwood and MHG Mine Countermeasures Team operations on Great Barrier Island requested MGWU to participate.

The MGWU team started by performing survey operations to aid Land Information New Zealand’s national charting initiative.

According to Petty Officer Hydrographic Systems Manager Duthie, it was an opportunity to visit his family in the region and a helpful training environment.

Petty Officer Duthie said, “In addition to training and integrating with Royal New Zealand Navy, the ongoing exercise has allowed me to reconcile with my family.

From a professional and personal standpoint, it has been a priceless experience.

MGWU had access to cutting-edge tools and technology, including the REMUS 300 AUV, through working with the Mine Countermeasures Team to undertake autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) training.

The chance was crucial for enhancing the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy, according to Lieutenant Callan, who took part in the exercise.

The REMUS 300 is at the forefront of AUV technology, and Lieutenant Callan remarked, “We were very fortunate to experience it first-hand.”

About 50 MGWU members are actively involved and spread out among three cities: Sydney, Cairns, and Nowra. The unit covers various capabilities, such as mobile meteorological and oceanographic teams and deployable geospatial survey teams.