British patrol ship HMS Spey has taken part in one of the Pacific’s largest military exercises – the first time the Royal Navy has joined in Exercise Keen Sword, say the Royal Navy here.
According to a news release, with 36,000 military personnel, 30 ships and 370 aircraft participating – drawn primarily from Japan and the USA, with Australia and Canada also joining in, the ten-day exercise is a major test of forces by land, sea and air.
“This year the ten-day military workout focused on a combined response to armed attacks aimed at testing the readiness of participating countries whilst improving the ability of the participating nations to work seamlessly together.”
We are the first RN ship to participate in Ex Keen Sword, one of the Pacific’s largest military exercises involving 36,000 military personnel, 30 ships & 370 aircraft from Japan & the USA, with Australia & Canada also joining in the 10 day exercise. 🇬🇧⚓️🇯🇵🇺🇸⚔️🇦🇺🇨🇦 #GlobalBritain pic.twitter.com/ryQO1oxxPF
— HMS Spey (@HMS_Spey) November 20, 2022
“For the crew of HMS Spey, the opportunity to take part in Exercise Keen Sword 23 has offered countless opportunities to further develop our ability to work together and continue our great working relationship with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force and the many other allies and partners participating in the exercise,” said Lieutenant Commander Bridget Macnae, the ship’s Executive Officer.
You can read more on this directly from the Royal Navy here.
Great news. The bonus of having a navy ship in the pacific is getting to take part in exercises with allies in that part of the world. It must be a sought after deployment for crew
While I am happy we are at RIMPAC again I have to ask what kind of utility a River class OPV can offer at a high end exercise.
Better to wait until the next CSG deployment to the Far East and show up in style.
I agree . This just highlights the hollowness of Boris Johnson’s “tilt to the Pacific”. Even the longer term plan to replace Rivers with Type 31s will add little to the combat power of a USN led task group of regional allies.
It’s an exercise. I am certain I read that ships like this can be allocated virtual weapons, and can carry out tasks just like a full frigate or destroyer.
Thing is, the RN has a ship there, loads of other nations don’t.
Type 31: top notch radar, sea ceptor (number unknown yet) effectively 3 Long range CIWS, helicopter with Sea Venom and Martlet. Something to bring to the party.
AA
How many other nations have deployed a carrier group to the pacific…
Yep it’s all about winning friends and influencing people. Spey and Tamar are definitely doing that. The UK is back. Next on the agenda is TPP.
Let’s hope we can do this every couple of years in light of the increasing cooperation between UK and Japan, and as part of the Indo-Pacific tilt. It would be nice to also send a frigate or destroyer out there if we have one to spare. I’d guess a Type 31 won’t be available until 2028, but maybe a Type 23 could do a FONOP run through the SCS in a couple of years and combine the two (if that’s not going to trigger a war).
Article on Navy Lookout says HMS Spey provided Costal guard to protect primary ships from High speed surface boats (Orcs with RpGs etc) or in real world first target for any shore launched missiles which with 1 x 30mm = new artificial reef, T-31 would be better equiped for the role when eventually deployed.