Navy flagship HMAS Canberra departs
THE flagship of the Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Canberra, and HMAS Anzac, the lead ship of the Navy’s Anzac-class frigates, have left Darwin to join the task group taking part in Indo-Pacific Endeavour 21 (IPE21).
Chief of joint operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said the deployment reinforced Australia’s strong and enduring partnerships in Southeast Asia.
Centred on a maritime task group, IPE21 involves about 700 people, including Australian Defence Force and civilian defence personnel, and sea riders from partner nations.
The task force’s engagements in the region have been modified in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They will be carried out primarily through contactless port visits, including a range of virtual workshops and at-sea activities.
Commodore Mal Wise, commander of the IPE21 task group, said while the deployment would remain contactless, the opportunities to conduct engagements were meaningful.