On 18 October HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) completed a four week maintenance availability at Naval Base San Diego in the US. In August, Brisbane departed Sydney for a five month Interchangeability Deployment.
"Interchangeability enables Australian and US ships and squadrons to integrate fully into each other’s fleet and operate seamlessly. Interchangeability can encompass systems, weapons, procedures, logistics, training and the understanding and working relationships between people at all levels," Defence said on its website.
The maintenance availability was conducted with the assistance of the US Navy's Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) and included work on watertight doors, a full hull inspection, and general maintenance in Brisbane's food service areas.
“This was an excellent example of ‘interchangeability’ between the USN and Royal Australian Navy, and builds on similar activities in Hawaii and back at home maintaining US Warships," said Brisbane's Commanding Officer, Commander Bernard Dobson.
"SWRMC has been very accommodating, and through our interactions, we have increased our knowledge and identified efficiencies as we move towards more of these types of activities across the Indo-Pacific. Knowing those nuances will help strengthen future partnerships in these challenging times as Australia undertakes maintenance on USN units, and the reciprocal."