http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DeptTpl.cfm?CurrentId=692 TANDEM THRUST 2001 PACC 162/01 Tuesday, 22 May 2001 "HULKEX" Element of Exercise Rescheduled ROCKHAMPTON. The HULKEX element of Tandem Thrust 2001 exercise originally scheduled to take place May 21 has been rescheduled for May 31. HULKEX is the sinking of a decommissioned U.S. Navy cruiser (the Former USS Reeves) as part of combined aerial and surface bombardment training. Bad weather and high seas delayed the safe and timely delivery of the vessel to its pre-established and environmentally approved target location 175 miles off the coast of Australia. "Since the safety of our personnel is our number one priority we decided not to rush through this valuable training," said Vice Admiral James Metzger, USN, Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet and Commander, Combined Task Force for Tandem Thrust 2001. "However, to ensure our training objectives can be met, we have rescheduled the event." For Further Information Contact: MAJ Rob Barnes Combined Joint Information Bureau 0419 995 411 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DeptTpl.cfm?CurrentId=709 Defence MEDIA RELEASE 31/05/2001 Departmental 176/01 JETS SEND SHIP TO WATERY GRAVE A de-commissioned US Navy war ship was sent to its final resting place today off the coast of Queensland through the precise strike capability of the Royal Australian Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. The ex-USS Reeves was sent to its watery grave approximately 170 nautical miles east of Fraser Island in 12,000 ft of water. The sinking of the Leahy Class guided missile cruiser was the final military activity in the month-long, combined Australian and United States Exercise Tandem Thrust. The Hulk Exercise (HULKEX) involved Australian and US air and naval units, though the sinking was credited largely to the four RAAF jets. "We achieved two direct hits with Mk-82 500lbs bombs, leaving a six foot gaping hole in the starboard side of the hulk," said RAAF Flight Lieutenant Jason Gamlin, who was the lead pilot on the mission. Just 30 minutes later the 6000-tonne hulk sank below the surface at approximately 12:30pm AEST. The HULKEX was a fitting finale to Exercise Tandem Thrust 2001, providing significant military training value to Australian and US naval and air forces. The exercise involved aircraft from both the US and Australian Air Forces and ships from the US Navy, firing a variety of guns, bombs and missiles at the hulk in order to test their performance in a simulated battle environment. The sinking was the culmination of months of planning, including careful environmental analysis through Australian and US environmental certification procedures. The hulk spent several months berthed in Newcastle, New South Wales, where it was stripped of all weapons and cleaned of hazardous substances, then assessed by Environment Australia to confirm suitability for disposal at sea. The sunken hulk will become a new home for a variety of aquatic life. Note to Editors and Chiefs of Staff: Pool vision of the aerial strike by Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18s on the hulk including interview with mission lead pilot will be available from Channel 10 Brisbane from 6am, 1 June 2001. Contact Dick Butler, Channel 10 Brisbane on 07 32141073. For further information or stills please contact Squadron Leader Bree Hutchinson on 0407941282 or Flight Lieutenant Rachel King on 0408480273. Issued by Public Affairs and Corporate Communication, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600 Media releases area available by email if you register at the Defence Media Centre at www.defence.gov.au