The Philippine Navy once again unlocked another milestone of its capability in the conduct of interoperability operations between allied navy. An important logistics maneuver was executed during conduct of Replenishment at Sea (RAS) between BRP CONRADO YAP (PS39) of the Philippine Navy and its counterpart from the Royal Australian Navy, HMAS ANZAC (FF150). The at-sea event of the Philippine Navy and Royal Australian Navy (PN-RAN) Exercise LUMBAS 2023 kicked off on July 20th and ran until July 22nd, 2023, held at the Naval Forces Northern Luzon Area of Operations.
Exercise LUMBAS 2023 started on July 18, 2023, held at the Naval Operating Base -Subic Guesthouse, Subic, Zambales. The exercise started with a series of Subject-Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) and Table-Top Exercises between the participants. The Royal Australian Navy introduced to the personnel of BRP CONRADO YAP the utilization of the Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Training Target (EMATT). The EMATT provides signal-imitating submarines while launched at sea and will be best for SONAR training of the Anti-submarine vessels.
The two warships sailed toward the exercise area at the vicinity of Cabra Island, Occidental Mindoro. Its objectives aim to test the Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures of Anti-submarine Warfare capability and in the conduct of interoperability during Joint Naval Operations. Highlights of the activities were the conduct of anti-submarine detection and neutralization through the deployment of an Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target EMATT and the Replenishment at Sea, which encompasses a major role in the conduct of joint naval operations. Personnel exchanges for the Subject Matter Experts were conducted in the morning from both ships to provide supervision on the highlighted events.
The experience and knowledge acquired during Exercise LUMBAS 2023 were valuable to BRP CONRADO YAP and the Philippine Navy in general, especially in the introduction of EMATT and RAS. It highlights the importance of common operating practices between partner nations and like-minded navies. These events continue to deepen the relationship between the Philippine Navy and the Royal Australian Navy in the conduct of Joint Naval Operations. Other activities comprised of maneuvering exercises, Surface Exercises, and Night Steaming in Company that also develops interoperability between the two navies.
