Exercise La Perouse

The French Navy leads the exercise La Pérouse, including FN Ships Tonnerre, an amphibious assault ship, and the frigate Surcouf. Somerset, an amphibious transport dock ship of the United States Navy, participates in the drill. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has dispatched the destroyer Anzac, a frigate, and the tanker Sirius to participate in the exercise. In contrast, the destroyer Akebono displays the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF). In addition to the ships, the exercise will include integrated helicopters deployed onboard ships. Surface warfare, anti-air warfare, military air defence exercises, weapon fire exercises, cross deck flying operations, tactical manoeuvres, and even seamanship evolutions, including replenishing at sea, will all be part of Exercise La Pérouse.

Exercise La Perouse is a Multinational Naval Exercise

The French navigator Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse (1741–88), who disembarked on the northern side of Botany Bay west of Bare Island on January 26, 1788, was given the name La Perouse. Exercise La Perouse is a multinational naval exercise that allows US forces to interact with Australian, French, Indian, and other Japanese forces to meet maritime integration learning goals that emphasise collaboration, warfighting, integration, and preparedness in a dynamic theatre, maritime supremacy, and projecting power. “Somerset’s commanding officer, Capt. Dave Kurtz, described La Perouse as “a possible pursuit to cooperate with allies and partners in an exceptionally crucial region of the world’s oceans.” Displaying interoperability across a wide range of mission areas sends the message to potential competitors that the US is interested in collaborating with and assisting countries dedicated to free trade. Somerset’s team is ecstatic to be able to train alongside these major countries!”

The 15th MEU may engage in maritime manoeuvring exercises and air defence operations, including live firing exercises among partners or forces. Even during exercise, USS Somerset has embarked UH-1Y Venom helicopters attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced). La Perouse is also another platform for the Royal Australian Navy to exercise alongside our partners that increase our capacity to work together in the maritime domain following our common values and interests in the region,” stated Commander of the Australia Fleet, Rear Admiral Mark Hammond. La Perouse is a drill even during yearly Mission Jeanne d’Arc, a deployment of French Navy midshipmen. The exercise aims to perform training to improve cooperation in maritime surveillance, maritime interdiction, and aviation activities.

La Perouse is a drill during the yearly Mission Jeanne d’Arc, a deployment of French Navy midshipmen. The exercise aims to train and improve maritime surveillance and interdiction coordination, including aviation operations. The USS Somerset is deployed in the US 7th Fleet’s scope of control under the command of Operational Strike Group 7 to improve cooperation across allies and partners and perform as a ready response force to protect security and harmony in the Indo-Pacific region.

La Pérouse Exercise 2021

This was the first time India joined the French, US, Japanese, or Australian navies as in La Perouse exercise country. 

• India’s participation in maritime exercise brought the Quad Forces’ participation to an end.
• The Indian Navy’s INS Kiltan or INS Satpura and the P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft participated in the event.
• The exercise was held in the Eastern Indian Ocean from the 5th to the 7th of April.
• Anti-air warfare, surface warfare, air defence exercises, cross deck flying operations, weapon fire exercises, seamanship evolution which included replenishment at sea, and other tactical manoeuvres, were among the current and complicated naval operations shown during the exercise.
• Its goal was to promote maritime cooperation, build closer ties, and improve the fleets’ competence in the participating countries.
• It is also expected to foster cooperation, coordination, and interoperability between the friendly fleets.
• The French Navy had been involved in the drill by FN Ships Tonnerre, the amphibious assault ship, and the frigate Surcouf.
• The US Navy was served by the amphibious transport dock ship Somerset. In contrast, Australia was served by HMAS Anzac with tanker Sirius, and Japan was served by the destroyers Akebono.

Conclusion

The Indo-Pacific is gradually but steadily becoming a serious naval theatre for multinational activity and establishing a free, open, inclusive, yet rule-based Indo-Pacific order to ensure freedom of navigation with peaceful, cooperative usage of the oceans. The purpose is to uphold international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and peacefully resolve territorial sea conflicts. The role of QUAD warships in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) has already been effectively highlighted by multi-national Naval powers’ efficient and effective engagement capabilities, including naval exercises such as formation sailing, live-fire drills, Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and so forth. This was all the required information regarding exercise La Pérouse 2021.