From Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain – The New Zealand-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) recently wrapped up a joint focused operation with CTF 153, formerly led by Australia, called Anzac Tiger.

The Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Te Kaha operated alongside the Indian Navy ship INS Tarkash during Anzac Tiger, in which a range of intelligence organizations collaborated to identify contacts of interest. The CTF 150 staff, headquartered in Bahrain, prioritized the contacts, directing the surface ships and air assets to investigate as required.

“Operation Anzac Tiger was our introduction to operations in support of CTF 150 this year,” said Te Kaha commanding officer, Royal New Zealand Navy Cmdr. Fiona Jameson.

Once ordered to investigate a contact, the ship’s Seasprite helicopter and task group air assets visually identifed the contact, confirmed the position, and observed their activities.

“When the patterns of life demonstrate suspicious activity, that’s our cue to deploy the boarding team to go and take a closer look,” Jameson said.

The ships conducted six boardings during Anzac Tiger, with one major seizure by Tarkash and a small seizure by Te Kaha. Together, crews from both ships seized 2,508kg of narcotics, including 2386kg of hashish and 122kg of heroin. Since New Zealand assumed command in January, units working in support of the task force have seized more than $23 million worth of illicit drugs.

The New Zealanders also conducted boarding training with the Indian ship’s crew, which helped each crew understand the other’s tactics and procedures.

“Working with other maritime professionals to maintain maritime security, learning through shared experiences, and developing comradeship between Navies is an important part of working in a combined task force,” Jameson said.

Royal New Zealand Navy Cmde. Rodger Ward, CTF 150 commander, said Anzac Tiger provided a genuine opportunity to further our goals of, using words from the Māori language, “whakapono” (trusted partners), “kaitiakitanga” (guardianship), “mahi tahi” (working together) and “he heremana tatou” (the development of our sailors).

“This was our first focused operation since taking command and we were very fortunate to have our sister Task Force 153, under the command of Captain Jorge McKee, Royal Australian Navy, offering their experience to this joint focused operation,” Ward said.

“The power of the Combined Maritime Force and its five task forces is our ability for member forces to come together, conduct an operation and then disperse for other tasks. I think this is possibly the only place on the planet where 46 nations’ naval forces do that on a regular basis,” he said.

HMNZS Te Kaha is an Anzac-class frigate in the Royal New Zealand Navy and plays a vital role in protecting New Zealand, its exports, maritime resources and those of allies.

INS Tarkash is a Teg class frigate of the Indian Navy, and is part of the Western Fleet under Western Naval Command, based at Mumbai.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under CMF, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

Combined Maritime Forces is a 46-nation naval partnership upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.