5 March 2025
The first regional presence deployment (RPD) for 2025 has opened HMAS Hobart to a number of training opportunities with counterparts from across the Indo-Pacific region.
After departing Darwin in late January, Hobart participated in Exercise La Perouse, a French-led multilateral training activity in the Malacca, Sunda and Lombok straits around Indonesia.
This year’s La Perouse was the largest iteration of the exercise in its history, involving a range of missions and the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
Commanding Officer Hobart Commander Alisha Withers said the ship’s crew conducted a number of training and integration activities with French vessels, including a replenishment at sea with AOR Jacques Chevallier.
“It was a great honour to work with the French CSG. They are not a navy we work with often, so it was a great experience for all,” Commander Withers said.
“The whole ship’s company was excited to put our training to the test during such a challenging but rewarding event.
“The success of this exercise is a direct result of the professionalism and dedication of every sailor and officer on board. It is a privilege to see our team, and our partners, operate together so seamlessly.”
Hobart then made headway to the Philippines to participate in a multilateral maritime cooperative activity with naval and air force units from Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States.
'It is a privilege to see our team, and our partners, operate together so seamlessly.'
Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft joined Hobart for the activity, further strengthening cooperation and readiness to respond to shared security challenges with partners.
Hobart then participated in a transit of the South China Sea alongside the United States Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold and Royal Navy’s River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey.
RPDs such as this underline Australia’s commitment to regional and international cooperation in support of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Hobart was welcomed into the ports of Bali, Indonesia, Subic Bay, Philippines and Singapore during the RPD.
For Able Seaman Jazmin Garrard, the deployment was a dream come true.
“These are the kinds of activities and travel experiences you dream of doing during initial training,” Able Seaman Garrard said.
In all ports, Commander Withers and members of the ship’s company were presented with warm hospitality from their hosts.
The RPD wrapped up with Hobart’s participation in the Indonesian International Fleet Review in Bali, followed immediately by the Indonesian-led Exercise Komodo with 14 other nations.
