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Operation Talisman Sabre 2015 wraps up.


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(Many more photos 82 in all)

Talisman Sabre is a military exercise that is held every two years in and around Australia. Principally it is an exercise involving the United States military and the Australian military, but also typically includes the armed forces of New Zealand. For the first time, in 2015, elements of the Japanese Self Defense forces were also included.

These are large, joint military exercises, involving land, sea, and air forces from the various nations involved.

In 2015, over 30,000 troops were involved and large assault exercises were conducted that included amphibious assault, air assault, and paratroop assaults. The forces at sea, on land, and supported by air force groups all had numerous important objectives to accomplish associated with the overall goals of the exercises.

Armed forces involved:

US Navy
US Marines
US Air Force
Australian Navy
Australian Army
Australian Air Force
New Zealand Navy
New Zealand Army
New Zealand Air force
Japanese Self Defense Force (Army)

Major surface vessels involved in the exercise:

USS George Washington CVN-73 Nimitz class nuclear aircraft carrier
USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship
USS Green Bay LPD-20 San Antonio Class Landing Platform Dock
USS Blue Ridge LC-19 Command Ship
USS Ashland LSD-38 Whidbey Island Class Landing Ship Dock
USS Antietam CG-54 Ticonderoga Class AEGIS Cruiser
USS Mustin DDG-89 Burke Class AEGIS Destroyer
USS Prebble DDG-90 Burke Class AEGIS Destroyer
HMAS Choules L100 Bay Class Landing Ship Dock
HMAS Melbourne FFG05 Adelaide Class guided missile frigate
HMAS Arunta F151 Anzac Guided-missile Frigate
HMAS Perth F157 Anzac Guided-missile Frigate
HMAS Launcston PB94 Armidale class Patrol Boat
HMNZS Endeavor A11 Replenishment Ship
HMNZS Te Kaha F77 Anzac Guided-missile Frigate

This album includes photographs of the overall exercises and shows the types of activities that were involved at sea, on land, and in the air, and how the forces operated together to jointly accomplish the goals of the exercises.

More photos of the World's Greatest Navy!

INDIAN OCEAN (July 16th, 2015) Quartermasters prepare to raise the national ensign aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a maneuvering exercise between the Royal Australian Navy and the U.S. Navy. Ashland is in the Indian Ocean participating in Talisman Sabre 2015, a bilateral exercise intended to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 19, 2015) Family and friends observe as the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) arrives at its home port at Naval Station Mayport after completing a seven-month deployment. New York, part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, with the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU), supported maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark Andrew Hays/Released)

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INDIAN OCEAN (July 16th, 2015) The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) is underway during a formation exercise between the Royal Australian Navy and the U.S. Navy. Ashland is in the Indian Ocean participating in Talisman Sabre 2015, a bilateral exercise intended to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

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INDIAN OCEAN (July 19, 2015) The Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO-199) is underway alongside the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a replenishment-at-sea. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ty C. Connors/Released)

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ROTA, Spain (July 20, 2015) Gas Turbine Systems (Mechanical) 1st Class James Wainio, from Ashland, Wis., greets family members pierside in Rota, Spain after completing a patrol aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71). Ross is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/Released)

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Magnificent

TIMOR SEA (July 19, 2015) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) prepares to come alongside the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) for a replenishment-at-sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Dionne/Released)

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WASHINGTON (July 22, 2015) The statue of the Lone Sailor looks toward the American flag as it flies at half-mast at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama ordered American flags flown at half-staff at federal facilities in honor of the five service members killed July 16, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tenn. (U.S. Navy photo by Oscar Sosa/Released)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 19, 2015) Lt. j.g. Chris Boniwell, assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), kisses his wife after arriving at homeport at Naval Station Mayport. New York, part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU), supported maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark Andrew Hays/Released)

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INDIAN OCEAN (July 19, 2015) Sailors hook supplies onto an SA-330 Puma helicopter during a vertical replenishment as the ship transits ahead of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard and Green Bay are assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and are on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Derek A. Harkins/Released)

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BANDA SEA (July 21, 2015) Aviation Electricians Mate 3rd Class Dylan Walton, from Longview, Texas, left, and Aviation Electricians Mate 2nd Class Mark Washington, from Kansas City, inspect an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 in the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, are on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. George Washington will conduct a hull-swap with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) later this year after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Clemente A. Lynch/Released)

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What happened?

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The USS The Sullivansgot more than it expected during a test launch of a SM-2 “Standard” missile today. The DDG-68 ship was sailing off the coast of Virginia performing when the missile was boosted out of the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer’s Vertical Launch System cell and the SM-2 detonated in spectacular fashion.

Luckily nobody was hurt and damage to ship was minimal, with a small fire breaking out on its stern.

The SM-2 “Standard” missile has been the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s cruiser and destroyer force for decades, mainly being used against air breathing aerial threats, although the RIM-66M/SM-2MR – particularly the dual radar/infrared seeker wielding Block IIIB – can even attack surface targets. Later versions of the SM-2 have a range of over 100 miles.

Here is the official Navy statement:

On July 18 at approximately 9 a.m. (EDT) a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) test missile exploded after suffering a malfunction as it was fired from the guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) during a planned missile exercise off the coast of Virginia. There were no injuries and only minor damage to the port side of the ship resulting from missile debris. The ship returned to Naval Station Norfolk for assessment. An investigation into the malfunction has been ordered and is being conducted by the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems, which is part of Naval Sea Systems Command. It is too early to determine what, if any, effect this will have on the ship’s schedule.

If anything, this failed test just goes to show how a modern U.S. Navy surface combatant can take an indirect hit and keep on functioning. As far as the missile goes, these are complex rockets, packed in a sealed coffin for long periods of time and battered by the sea for months at a time. Failures are bound to happen, especially with older stocks. As long as they don’t occur in VLS cell itself, the ship, in most cases, can just launch another and continue to fight.

Here is a close-up of the somewhat violent and fiery affair that is a Standard Missile launch:

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I suspect the rocket motor exploded. If rocket motors which are solid propellants are not handled properly and stored securely cracks may develop in the motor. Cracks or a distortion will cause the rocket motor to explode. They may explode shortly after launching as the rocket motor burns down to the crack or distortion......and the older the rocket motor is the more prone it is to go kaboom. Fortunately these accidents don't happen frequently.

That's my guess. Of course I was not there.

EXCELLENT video fo F-35C trials, catapult take-offs, arrested landings, aboard the USS Nimitz, CVN-68.

test bd said:

I suspect the rocket motor exploded. If rocket motors which are solid propellants are not handled properly and stored securely cracks may develop in the motor. Cracks or a distortion will cause the rocket motor to explode. They may explode shortly after launching as the rocket motor burns down to the crack or distortion......and the older the rocket motor is the more prone it is to go kaboom. Fortunately these accidents don't happen frequently.

That's my guess. Of course I was not there.

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Thanks for your info.

Here's a great video of the evolution of the US Army's uniform.

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Naval Today said:

A ceremony at the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard celebrated the start of fabrication of the future USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), July 21.

The future USS Delbert D. Black honors the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON).

Black, a 30-year veteran, rose from the ranks of master chief gunner to senior advisor of the Navy; the title later changed to MCPON. The MCPON is an advocate and voice of all Sailors and their families, serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations.

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USS Delbert Black will be the 40th Flight IIA Burke AEGIS destroyer. There are currently seven Flight IIA Burke class DDGs at various stages of construction at two yards in the US.