Photo: LCPL Penny Surdukan, USMC

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle from Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska, arrives at Andersen AFB, Guam for exercise air operations.

The integration of the Australian and U.S. personnel was as complete as one can achieve. It ranged from the combined Australian-U.S. exercise staff located in Hawaii, down to the Australian liaison officers augmenting U.S. intelligence and logistics staffs on the USS Kitty Hawk. Such integration is a necessity to

Photo: Sr. Amn. Eric Beaman, USAF

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) personnel finish refueling an anti-submarine SH-60 Seahawk helicopter for operations in TANDEM THRUST 99.

iron out numerous organizational and operational differences. As Cmdr. Danny Mason, USN, Deputy Director of the Air Operations Center said, "There was the plain issue of what procedures to follow if, for example, a U.S. aircraft can't communicate with friendly forces."

Photo: ABPHOT Torrin Nelson, RAN

The Australian warships HMAS Success (AOR-304) and HMAS Perth (DDG-38) conduct a dual-rig refueling at sunset off the coast of Guam.

A unique feature of TANDEM THRUST 99 was the fact that it was a "free play" exercise. Opposition Force commanders were free to maneuver combinations of forces to accomplish their objectives. This meant that friendly forces had to react to unknowns, as in a real war, not a predetermined script. As U.S. Navy Cmdr. Al Elkins, exercise planner for Task Force 70 observed, "TANDEM THRUST is as close to war as we can possibly get." Two years of careful planning for the exercise ensured that there would be minimal impact on the environment and on historical and cultural artifacts of the exercise area, the Mariana Islands.

Photo: ABPHOT Torrin Nelson, RAN

A U.S. Air Force Reserve B-52 is uploaded with bombs for exercise operations.

The exercise was carried out in two phases. The first, a week-long command post exercise, tested the abilities of Australian and U.S. operational planners to react to a developing crisis and carry out simulated movements of forces. Phase two involved the actual employment of forces in a field training exercise.

Photo: PH1 (NAC) Spike Call, USN

The cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) launches an SM-2 Standard Missile during exercise operations.

Approximately 800 Canadian naval and air personnel acted as the Opposition Force. They deployed the warships CS Huron (DDH-281), CS Calgary (FFH-335), and CS Protecteur (AOR-509), plus a Canadian patrol aircraft.

Photo; JO1 Craig P. Strawser, USN

One of the Canadian naval rigid hull inflatable boats plays opposition force during TANDEM THRUST 99.

The Australian force consisted of about 1,000 Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force personnel. The Royal Australian Navy contributed four warships HMAS Perth (D-38), HMAS Sydney (F-03), HMAS Newcastle (F-06), and HMAS Success (AOR-304). Three Royal Australian Air Force P-3 patrol aircraft, crews and support personnel composed the air element.

Photo: ABPHOT Torrin Nelson, RAN

Australian Able Seaman Oliver Kaese stands watch at the helm of HMAS Perth (DDG-38) during TANDEM THRUST 99.

The U.S. element totaled about 8,800 personnel, including 7,000 U.S. sailors and Marines at sea, and 1,800 U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps personnel ashore. These included 900 soldiers from bases in Alaska and Hawaii, 600 U.S. Air Force airmen and 23 aircraft from bases in Japan and the U.S., and 400 U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan. The centerpiece was the powerful USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) Carrier Battle Group with its three guided missile cruisers, a guided missile destroyer, a fast frigate, the submarine USS

Photo: SPEC Daniel Ernst, USA

The Combined Task Force Commander, Vice Adm. Walter F. Doran, USN, commands exercise operations from his flagship, the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). Australian Army Maj. Gen. J. M. Connolly (to his right) attends the ongoing teleconference.

Cheyenne (SSN-773), and an embarked force of 70 combat aircraft. The USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), the U.S. Seventh Fleet's command ship, which served as the combined task force's command ship. The landing ship dock USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) provided amphibious capabilities as part of the combined naval forces. Also, a Maritime Prepositioning Force ship from Military Sealift Command participated in TANDEM THRUST, as in a real contingency operation.

Photo; J01 Craig P. Strawser, USN

A Canadian Defense Forces helicopter plays exercise "enemy" for realistic training.

A landing force of 200 U.S. Marines aboard the USS Fort McHenry joined another 150 Marines to play the role of opposition ground forces during the field training portion of the exercise, adding realism for coalition forces defending and liberating the fictional country of Arura. U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft flew combat missions throughout the Marianas area in support of the task force, and a Marine amphibious assault was conducted to retake the enemy held area.

Photo: SR. AMN. Eric Beaman, USAF

The USS Kitty Hawk launches U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets for exercise air strikes.

Specialized missions, such as the rescue of hostages held in enemy territory, were carried out at night by high tech U.S. Air Force Special Operations MH-53J Pave Low helicopters, carrying Special Operations-qualified Marine security elements and Air Force pararescuemen. To execute these missions with stealth and precision, Sr. Amn. Seth Meashey, an MH53J gunner, states, "We train for a time-on-target goal of plus or minus 10 seconds, giving us the ability to get troops in and out quickly and accurately."

Photo: ABPHOT Torrin Nelson, RAN

An Australian naval boarding party is lowered from HMAS Perth (DDG-38).

Realism was an important aspect of the field training exercise. To provide maximum realism, a combined arms/live fire exercise was conducted in the Guam-Tinian area. To demonstrate the Royal Australian Navy's interoperability capabilities, HMAS Success (AOR-304) conducted actual replenishment at sea operations for U.S. and Canadian ships, as well as the Australian ships. In addition, Australian Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team personnel conducted an ordnance disposal operation.

Photo: SSGT Michael E. Buytas Jr., USA

U.S. Army infantrymen from Alaska patrol a safe area during a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) exercise.

Australian Defence Forces have become important partners in TANDEM THRUST. When the exercise series began in 1992, it was a U.S.-only exercise. In 1995, Australian Defence Forces participated as observers. In 1997, Australian Defence Forces joined U.S. forces at Australia's Shoalwater Bay Training Area for the largest TANDEM THRUST exercise held to date. For Australian forces, TANDEM THRUST has become an important learning and testing ground for their own developing joint task force concepts and operations. (See sidebar article).

Photo: LCPL Penny Surdukan, USMC

U.S. Marines mounted on Light Armored Vehicles arrive on Tinian from a landing craft.

For Australian and U.S. task force participants, TANDEM THRUST 99 provided fresh lessons in the myriad aspects of conducting effective joint and combined task force operations - lessons that will better prepare these forces for the day when a real regional contingency arises to which they must respond.

Photo: JO1 Craig P. Strawser, USN

A U.S. Navy MK-V special warfare craft participates in TANDEM THRUST special operations.

Photo: ABPHOT Torrin Nelson, RAN

TANDEM THRUST 99 is the latest event in a long historical military partnership between the U.S. and Australia. Australian Able Seaman Eddie Stanley talks with U.S. Navy Petty Officers Alicia Zehring and Tammy Smith.