Article Posted on : - Aug 01, 2011

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. Photo: Department of Defence, Australia.

SYDNEY (BNS): The defence personnel of US and Australian Defence Force (ADF) successfully concluded the largest combined Australian and United States military training exercise, Talisman Sabre 2011 (TS11), with a closing ceremony at Camp Rocky, Rockhampton on Thursday.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 featured 14,000 US and 8,500 Australian personnel across six Defence training areas in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Maritime forces exercised in the Coral, Timor and Arafura Seas, according to a press statement issued by the Australia's Department of Defence.

In addition to the 22,500 troops, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 involved an estimated 18 sea vessels, 25 aircraft and 1,500 road vehicles.

The biennial exercise is jointly conducted by the US Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force (ADF) Joint Operations Command to train the US 7th Fleet and Australian Deployable Joint Headquarters staffs as a designated Combined Task Force.

The exercise is conducted to improve combat readiness and interoperability on a variety of missions, from conventional conflict to peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance efforts.