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United States Navy submarine tender USS Emory S. Land has arrived in Western Australia to facilitate the first time that Australians will participate in a US SSN maintenance period in Australia.
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USS Emory S. Land arrived at HMAS Stirling in Rockingham on 16 August to execute several maintenance training activities with the Royal Australian Navy and support the upcoming Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period.
The stop is the ship’s seventh port visit in Australia since leaving Guam on 17 May.
Since January 2024, more than 30 Australian personnel have been aboard the Emory S. Land and participating in a knowledge exchange period and maintenance training.
“After several months at sea visiting a number of ports around Australia, USS Emory S. Land is visiting Western Australia,” a public statement made by the Australian Submarine Agency said.
“The Emory S. Land will execute several maintenance training activities with the Royal Australian Navy and support the upcoming Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period, which will mark the first time Australians have participated in a US nuclear-powered submarine maintenance period in Australia.
“During the US Navy crew’s time in WA, they will participate in Australian cultural activities and a range of local community activities.”
The mixed crew of US Navy and Royal Australian Navy personnel will take part in the STMP over the next several weeks as Australian technicians perform maintenance on a US Navy nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine (SSN) scheduled to arrive for a port visit.
The STMP marks a significant step towards Australia becoming sovereign-ready to operate, maintain, and support a fleet of conventionally armed SSNs, which is a central requirement in executing Pillar 1 of the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“Our knowledge exchange with the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Support Unit (FSU) since January has been exceptionally productive,” said Captain Brent Spillner, commanding officer of the Emory S. Land.
“Within weeks they were working shoulder to shoulder with US technicians on real submarine repairs, and for the last six weeks, we’ve had a team of US sailors embedded in the FSU West workshops at HMAS Stirling.
“We’re learning as much from them as they are from us, and we have Australian sailors and officers in the key management positions for the STMP.”
More than 30 Australian sailors will execute the majority of planned maintenance work under the supervision of US personnel, which will include the replacement of a mast in the submarine’s sail and a key hydraulic valve, along with the simulated removal of a large pump weighing more than 3,500 pounds from within the boat.
“Both of our navies are benefiting tremendously from the interoperability we’ve been developing during this deployment and are now better able to support each other’s fleets around the world. This STMP marks the first time that Australian workers will perform maintenance on an American SSN in Australian waters, but it’s really just the next step in a long partnership,” CAPT Spillner said.
“This is an important milestone and learning opportunity as we work together to establish Submarine Rotational Force – West, where both US and UK submarines will regularly transit through HMAS Stirling, with maintenance and logistics assisted by Australian personnel, as they develop their own intermediate-level maintenance capability for the eventual Australian SSNs.”
The deployment has been an opportunity for sailors from the three navies to work together.
“The opportunity to have RAN sailors from FSU integrated with my repair department has been phenomenal,” said Commander Derek Fletcher, repair officer aboard the Emory S. Land.
“The ability to work side by side in Guam on US SSNs and then continue that side-by-side work on RAN vessels and even a Royal Navy vessel while in Australia has truly demonstrated our interoperability. It’s been incredible to see our sailors working together to provide repair services to vessels from all three AUKUS partners.”
Since the start of the Emory S. Land’s deployment, 176 US sailors have participated in 18 community relations events, investing 731 hours into the communities of Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. While in port at HMAS Stirling, US sailors are planning an additional eight to 10 community relations events throughout the region, as well as having the ability to tour Western Australia.
“This deployment is like none other I have ever experienced and will not easily be forgotten,” said Lieutenant Commander Mark Miller, the Emory S. Land’s chaplain.
“The warmth and hospitality which the US sailors have received is truly heartfelt. We are grateful for the strong bond of our two nations and we look forward to our stop in Western Australia.”
The Emory S. Land is on deployment supporting the US 7th Fleet, the US Navy’s largest forward deployed numbered fleet, operating with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The Emory S. Land provides expeditionary intermediate-level maintenance, services, and logistics support to deployed submarines.
