Australian Navy ships in Malaysia for exercise Mastex

Royal Australian Navy replenishment ships HMAS Sirius and frigate HMAS Stuart visited Malaysia for the exercise Mastex 19.

Stuart’s commanding officer, Commander Luke Ryan said interacting with the two regional partners was an important part of the ongoing East Asia Deployment, in which 11 ships are participating in multinational exercises and engagement activities across the region.

“We were pleased to join the Philippine Navy to commemorate historic naval battles, and in Malaysia we look forward to exercise Mastex 19, in which we will further develop the strong relationship we have with their navy,” he said.

During the four-day transit from the Philippines to Malaysia, the ships conducted a replenishment at sea, engineering break-down drills and officer of the watch maneuvers. Stuart’s MH-60R helicopter also conducted day and night flying.

Exercise Mastex will encompass seven days of bilateral training exercises with the Royal Malaysian Navy, in harbor and at sea.