USS Preble completed cooperative deployment with HMAS Melbourne.

The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) completed a cooperative deployment with the Royal Australian Navy Adelaide-class guided-missile frigate HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) in the Philippine Sea on April 19.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) and the Royal Australian Navy Adelaide-class guided-missile frigate HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) transit in formation during a cooperative deployment (Picture Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Niegel)

The two ships rendezvoused for a full day of training between the well-established allies. The American and Australian crews completed ten successful cooperative evolutions, including a rescue and assistance drill; helicopter deck landing qualifications; divisional tactics; and a visitation, board, search, and seizure team exercise.

“As a prior frigate sailor, it was great to see a frigate still operating at such a high level. Our Australian counterparts are excellent technicians, and I really enjoyed sharing past frigate experiences with them,” Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Juan Alaniz from Baytown, Texas, said.

Throughout the event, members of both crews spent time working closely with their counterparts on each other’s ship in order to accomplish in-rate training. Sailors received lessons in the counterparts’ equipment and operating procedures onboard in order to increase understanding and proficiency when coordinating bilateral operations.

“It was such a pleasure to work with the crew of the HMAS Melbourne,” Cmdr. Leonardo Giovannelli, USS Preble commanding officer, said. “We appreciate the opportunity to operate and train with such high-calibre mariners and military professionals. Because of the close relationship that our two countries share, we were able to execute an incredible amount of valuable training in a short amount of time.”

The U.S. Navy regularly flies, sails, and operates with allies and partners, both bilaterally and multilaterally to improve interoperability and strengthen our capabilities. Preble, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.