HMAS Kimbala. Preparing for the Canberra Class LHD & Rimpac 2010.

via Australian Navy Website. 

CMDR Byles told Navy News that RIMPAC would mark an important milestone for Kanimbla which will be one of only three amphibious platforms in this large scale joint exercise.
“Kanimbla for the first time is being used to launch and recover ten (a platoon) of US Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicles involved in a battalion size amphibious assault,” he said.
He said the lessons learnt by Kanimbla will help the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to develop its amphibious warfare doctrine which will contribute to the integration of the Canberra-class LHDs that will give the ADF a truly expeditionary capability.

Wow.  Amphibs.  Again!

The Australians are highlighting not their Subs, Frigates or Aircraft at Rimpac but rather an elderly Amphib that was discarded by the US Navy much too soon.  Surprisingly, the LST's having been some of the hottest sellers on the aftermarket (although a few LHA's that were sunk to form reefs would have been welcomed by allied navies too).

Australian Navy's "Minor War Vessel Concentration Period (MWVCP)"

I believe that the US Navy would consider this a type of combined Amphibious - Littoral Ops type operation.  From the Royal Australian Navy website...

The Minor War Vessel Concentration Period (MWVCP) sea phase has commenced in waters off Darwin, with five Royal Australian Navy ships practising general mariner, surface and amphibious warfare skills.

Interesting.  Since they practice amphibious warfare I wonder if the Canberra Class LHD's will be allowed to participate once they come online.

Australian Maritime Doctrine.

The US Navy just released another in a series of 'papers' on its operating philosophy and now...here is the Australian version.

Amd 2010

HMAS Parramatta intercepts pirates.

From the Australian Navy.

On Tuesday 25 May 2010, the Royal Australian Navy interdicted a vessel suspected of involvement in piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
During a counter-piracy patrol, HMAS Parramatta located a suspect vessel in the vicinity of a route heavily trafficked by merchant shipping frequently targeted by Somali pirates.
Parramatta’s Operations Officer, Lieutenant Tony Nagle, said that at the time the vessel or ‘skiff’ was sighted by Parramatta, the suspected pirates were throwing a range of items overboard, including suspected weapons.

Below are photos of the visiting, boarding, and inspection of the suspect boats.