U.S. and Australian Troops Used Chat Rooms to Conduct Joint Exercise

Navy and Marine Corps units participating in the recent joint Talisman Saber exercise in Australia relied on Internet chat rooms and portable satellite radios for operational command and control.

The USS Blue Ridge, command ship of the 7th Fleet, controlled the exercise while the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship, launched helicopters and tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys off its flight deck and amphibious vehicles from its well deck. The operation, which ran from July 15 through Aug. 5, included 18,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian military personnel.

The ships, along with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, operated off the northeast coast of Australia with Marines conducting operations ashore in partnership with Australian Army units near Townsville. Read more...